CLB

Chelsea Lee Byers

Councilmember2022-12-19 – 2026-12-01 (sworn in December 19, 2022 at the regular City Council meeting per City of West Hollywood release; month-level end: December 2026 four-year term, seat on the November 3, 2026 ballot per Beverly Press and WeHo Online)

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
1

Term ending Dec 1, 2026.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
21
Total speaking time
3:57:23
Avg per meeting
11:18
Segments
2587

Want every word Byers has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Byers said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

high↑Nov 2026[30]

domestic partnership policy

Taxpayers could face modest administrative costs as the city updates forms and policies, but no price tag has been announced.

high↑Aug 2026[30]

Decibel standards in the noise ordinance

high↑Nov 2026[30]

domestic partnership ordinance

Expect some city staff time and paperwork costs to run the registry, plus possible legal defense costs if the ordinance is challenged.

high↓Aug 2026[28]

Fountain Avenue Bike Lane Project

The approved project holds a grant of up to roughly $4.6 million that a modified design could have jeopardized.

high↑Jul 2026[27]

Rent Stabilization Ordinance & Regulations Update

Unknown until ordinance amendments return; enforcement staffing already bolstered by a new staff attorney hired in June.

medium↑Jul 2026[26]

Cannabis Business Tax Rebate Extension

Deferring the rebate saves the City money in the short term until a decision is made on the 1% or 2% rate.

high↑Oct 2026[25]

Multi-Partner Domestic Relationship Registry (Ordinance 26-13)

The city will notice a public hearing on a fee for the registration process.

high↓Feb 2026[24]

No public benefit from Sunset billboard expansion

Billboard revenue could fund substantial affordable housing — one operator says it already delivers over $5 million a year to the city — but no minimum affordable housing threshold was set in the draft.

high↓Jan 2026[24]

Flock automated license plate reader concerns

The city has already invested in 39 plate-reader cameras and growing live camera installs; keeping the contract preserves that investment while staff work on amendments.

high↑Apr 2026[19]

Business Support & Retention Measures

$1.55 million from unallocated General Fund reserves.

medium↑May 2026[16]

Open Space Element update

Future budgets must fund the 27 implementation steps for the plan to be realized.

medium↓Aug 2026[15]

Santa Monica Boulevard traffic signal optimization

No cost assigned yet; any synchronization would go into a future fiscal-year work plan.

medium↑Oct 2026[13]

Rainbow District Sidewalk Vending Pilot Program

Implementation costs and possible fee waivers will be developed by staff and returned to the council.

critical↓Jan 2026[13]

SB 79 applies to West Hollywood as of July 1

A TODAP would take significant staff resources to prepare, and SB 79 exposure ties directly to whether the K-Line extension stops are counted.

medium↑Oct 2026[13]

Ordinance Limiting Unauthorized Law Enforcement Use of City Property

medium↑Jun 2026[12]

User Fees for City Services, FY 2026-27

Updated service fees take effect for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

medium↑Jun 2026[12]

FY 2026-27 assessment districts and street work

About $135,000 for the contract and management services.

high↓Sep 2026[10]

Billboard Policy on Santa Monica Boulevard

medium↑Nov 2026[10]

Appeal of 8760 Shoreham Drive Apartment Project

high↑Nov 2026[10]

Affordable Housing Accessibility — Redundant Elevators

Adds construction costs to future city-funded affordable projects; no immediate city expenditure.

Decisions during term (387)

Recorded while Byers was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approved7-0Nov 5, 2026

Approval of the Agenda (November 5, 2026)

approved7-0Nov 5, 2026

Approval of Minutes — September 17, 2026

approved7-0Nov 5, 2026

Approval of Minutes — October 1, 2026

approved7-0Nov 5, 2026

9201 Sunset Boulevard — Live music lounge with full alcohol (CUP)

approved7-0Nov 5, 2026

8720 Melrose Avenue — RH Estates showroom/restaurant with rear setback variance

approved7-0Nov 5, 2026

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

approved7-0Nov 5, 2026

September 17, 2026

approved7-0Nov 5, 2026

October 1, 2026

approved5-0Nov 2, 2026

Consent Calendar (Items B.1–B.18, plus F.1 and F.2 moved to consent)

approved3-1-1Nov 2, 2026

Ordinances No. 26-14 and 26-15 — Tall Wall signs at 8401 Sunset Boulevard

tabledNov 2, 2026

Appeal of 8760 Shoreham Drive apartment project (C.1) — continued

tabledNov 2, 2026

Zoning and Subdivision Code Cleanup Amendments, ZTA 26-0002 (C.3) — continued

approved5-0Nov 2, 2026

POSTING OF AGENDA:

approved5-0Nov 2, 2026

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

approved5-0Nov 2, 2026

APPROVAL OF DEMAND REGISTER NO. 1001 [W. KAHOLOKULA, K. BARENG, S. STEPHENS]:

approved5-0Nov 2, 2026

ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 26-12 (2ND READING)

approved5-0Nov 2, 2026

COMMISSION AND ADVISORY BOARD MEETING SYNOPSES [M. CROWDER, L. MORALES]:

approved5-0Nov 2, 2026

SEMI-ANNUAL MANDATORY SEISMIC RETROFIT PROGRAM UPDATE [N. MARICICH, J. ALKIRE, B. GALAN, C. ZABALA]:

approved5-0Nov 2, 2026

NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR CIP 2601, LA BREA AVENUE PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT PROJECT [H. COLLINS, J. GILMOUR, R. GARLAND]:

approved5-0Nov 2, 2026

ACCEPT AN EASEMENT AND RIGHT OF WAY FOR PUBLIC STREET AND SIDEWALK PURPOSES ALONG THE GENESEE AVENUE AND HAMPTON AVENUE FRONTAGES OF THE ZAVERI GROSVENOR & CONDE LLC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT 7740 HAMPTON AVENUE [H. COLLINS, J. GILMOUR]:

Voting record (31)

14 yes16 no1 abstained

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 19, 2026

Approval of Agenda as Amended

Voted yesOct 19, 2026

Consent Calendar (Items B.1–B.13)

Voted yesOct 19, 2026

C.1 — Andaz Hotel Tall Wall Sign Modifications, 8401 Sunset Boulevard

Voted yesOct 19, 2026

C.2 — General Plan Amendment: Open Space Element Update

Voted yesOct 19, 2026

C.3 — User Fee Study and Fee Resolution FY 2026-27

Voted yesOct 19, 2026

F.4 — Rainbow District Sidewalk Vending Pilot Program

Voted noOct 19, 2026

F.5 — Fountain Avenue Streetscape Modification Motion

Opposed to any project that eliminates the protected bike lane; called the item an 11th-hour attempt to go backwards on an approved plan.

AbstainedSep 22, 2026

Approved the Consent Calendar, as amended, B.1.,2.,3.,4.,5.,6.,7.,8.,9.,10.,11.,12.,13.,14.,15.,16.,17., and 18.

Voted noSep 22, 2026

1) Adopted Resolution No. 26-063: “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCILOF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD TO INITIATE LOCAL CULTURAL RESOURCE DESIGNATION PROCEEDINGS FOR “THE WERLE BUILDING,” LOCATED AT 626 N.

Voted noSep 22, 2026

Werle Building Cultural Resource Designation (F.5)

Concerned that designation permanently restricts future expansion and drives up costs for a city-owned building.

Voted noJul 20, 2026

1) Approved the proposed negotiated amendments to the Professional Services Agreement with Flock Safety regarding the purchase of subscriptions for ALPR cameras and authorize the City Manager or desig

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

E.3. La Cienega Boulevard Bus/Bike Lanes

Voted noJul 20, 2026

E.4. Flock Safety ALPR Agreement Amendments and ALPR Camera Policy

Concerns that surveillance technology was implemented faster than the policies safeguarding it have been vetted.

Voted noJun 29, 2026

Agenda Item C.4. was continued to a future City Council meeting, with the date to be determined.

Voted yesJun 29, 2026

Approval of agenda as amended

Voted yesJun 29, 2026

C.4. Housing development permit streamlining ZTA/SPA

She was prepared to read a statement addressing the conflict allegations and believed the FPPC claims were factually inaccurate.

Voted yesJun 29, 2026

E.4. Emerald Village cannabis marketing agreement

Voted yesMay 4, 2026

WeHo Loves Locals gift card program update (E.4.)

Voted noApr 6, 2026

Directed Staff to return with an item for discussion on the impacts of SB 79 as it relates to the City’s Zoning Improvement Program.

Voted noApr 6, 2026

1) Receive a proposal from JJ-LA related to the reconceptualization and restoration of a music event on the Sunset Strip and provide staff with direction regarding the proposal; 2) Approve an Event Pr

Voted noApr 6, 2026

1) Receive a proposal from JJ-LA related to the reconceptualization and restoration of a music event on the Sunset Strip and provide staff with direction regarding the proposal; 2) Approve an Event Pr

Voted noApr 6, 2026

1) Received a proposal from JJ-LA related to the reconceptualization and restoration of a music event on the Sunset Strip and provide staff with direction regarding the proposal; 2) Approved an Event

Voted noApr 6, 2026

Denial of appeal — Bond Hotel and Residences, 7811 Santa Monica Blvd

Found the project qualifies under state density bonus pathways.

Voted noApr 6, 2026

Sunset Strip music event agreement with JJ-LA (E.2)

Opposed the motion as adopted.

Voted noMar 16, 2026

Directed Staff to negotiate and amend the Agreement for Services with Flock Safety

Voted noMar 16, 2026

Directed staff to return to the City Council within 90 days with proposed policy options to strengthen the Agreement with the Flock Group including the implementation of additional transparency and ov

Voted noMar 16, 2026

Flock Safety contract — direction to negotiate and amend agreement (E.1)

Could not support an ongoing relationship with Flock given documented abuses and broken public trust.

Voted noMar 16, 2026

Flock Safety — 90-day return with policy options (E.1)

Voted yesJan 20, 2026

Legacy Loop Billboard — 9200 Sunset Boulevard (Ordinances 26-02, 26-03; Resolution 26-005)

Voted yesJan 12, 2026

Approval of Agenda

Voted yesJan 12, 2026

Consent Calendar (B.1., B.2., B.3.)

In the news (1)