Beverly Hills : Group to Study Property Use

The City Council on Tuesday approved the makeup of a group of private consultants and city officials to make recommendations to the council on how best to use city-owned property.

Heading the “asset management team” is Gerald M. Trimble, a real estate and redevelopment consultant who has directed similar groups in San Diego and Pasadena and for the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency and USC.

The team’s economic analyst is A. Jerry Keyser of Keyser Marston Associates, a real estate consulting firm specializing in pre-development and economic evaluation services. The law firm of O’Melveny and Myers will serve as legal counsel.

The council approved contracts of $50,000 for each of the consultants and for the law firm, although fees are expected to reach about $100,000 for each by the end of the 15-month study.

Howard Rattner, deputy finance administrator, will serve as the city’s liaison to the group.

Mark Scott, director of environmental services, said the group will explore public/private partnerships on such projects as additional parking structures and a new municipal service facility or human resources center.

The group is expected to make its first recommendations in late December or early January.