Outgoing West Hollywood Mayor, now council member Lauren Meister, received a Crystal Award and a Proclamation in recognition for her service as Mayor from September 2021 to January 2023. She was honored at the city of West Hollywood’s annual City Council Reorganization and Installation meeting on Monday, January 9, 2023.
“I’d like to thank outgoing Mayor Lauren Meister for her service and leadership as Mayor since September of 2021,” said newly sworn-in West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne. “Thank you for leading us throughout a challenging, yet resilient year as we strongly weathered another year of the pandemic and continued to support the diverse needs of the community.”
The proclamation acknowledged council member Lauren Meister for being elected to the West Hollywood city council on March 3, 2015. She was re-elected two additional terms in 2019 and 2022. She has served the city as mayor for two terms, including the most recent term from September 2021 through January 2023.
Below is a list of a number of initiatives council member Meister put forward as Mayor of West Hollywood:
- Taking steps to increase the City Hall’s community resilience efforts internally and with the business community.
- An item to update the City’s Emergency Operations Plan to include a section on pandemic and public health crises preparedness, and to maintain necessary supplies on hand – such as gloves, masks, sanitizers, etc. – in case of another COVID-19 surge or other public health crises.
- Increasing the number of Security Ambassadors in the City’s business districts during the holiday season.
- Initiating local cultural resource proceedings for Great Hall/Long Hall and Fiesta Hall.
- A Tree Giveaway Program and monthly tree planning.
- Co-sponsorship of a summit on combating antisemitism. Thanks to ICAN and Kol Ami for taking the initiative to further education on this important issue.
- A community education and awareness program on cryptocurrency scams.
- An ordinance to prohibit the sale and use of glue traps in West Hollywood (Jim Jensvold and his team for made her aware of this inhumane trapping system).
- A study to look at limiting maximum unit size in residential and mixed use projects.
- Evaluating possible measures and partnerships the City can pursue to conserve and reuse groundwater that has been removed through dewatering on construction sites.
- Developing a commercial public safety camera rebate program to increase the number of cameras on commercial corridors and to talk to businesses about creating a model for a Business Neighborhood Watch.
Newly installed Mayor Pro Tem Erickson, is credited for co-sponsoring the following initiatives with Mayor Meister:
- Require registration for all rental units in West Hollywood.
- Reimagine the City’s Residential Neighborhood Watch program.
- Increase foot patrols on the commercial corridors and add security ambassador kiosks in our most frequented commercial areas.
- Implement and education campaign to promote safe adult use of cannabis, and tips to keep children and pets safe.
Newly installed Mayor Shyne co-sponsoring Meister’s initiative to conduct an independent satisfaction survey of residents in affordable housing buildings in West Hollywood, and for staff to conduct an internal audit of the affordable and inclusionary housing units to ensure they are being used for their intended purpose.
She also credits former Council member John D’Amico for co-sponsoring a proposal to look at modifying the City’s Mixed-use Bonus to require majority affordable units in new mixed-use developments in order to meet 6th cycle RHNA numbers.
“I transitioned out of the mayoral role,” Council member Meister posted on her official Facebook account the day following the city of West Hollywood’s annual City Council Reorganization and Installation meeting. “I didn’t have an opportunity to express my thanks to the community, City staff, and my colleagues, so I will do so here! I’m proud of what I accomplished. Thanks to all of you and my colleagues, these past 16 months…I hope we can continue to work together to promote public safety, housing affordability, and community resilience in our city!”
Mayor Meister was re-elected to the council on November 2022. She took an oath of office during the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of West Hollywood on Monday, December 19, 2022. A resident of West Hollywood for more than 30 years, Meister has been both a renter and a homeowner in the City. Her parents, sister, and rescue dogs, Suki and Sammy, also call West Hollywood home.
Meister along with Heilman are the only two that are in it for the people and not their own self promotion. Bravo Councilmember Meister. And THANK YOU.