Torrance City Council Regular Meeting - January 23, 2024

The Torrance City Council met in closed session at 5:00 p.m. and convened the regular open meeting at 6:30 p.m. on January 23, 2024, in the Council Chamber at 3031 Torrance Blvd. The agenda had been posted Jan. 17. After a final closed-session recess, the council reconvened publicly at about 1:56 a.m. on Jan. 24 and adjourned to Feb. 6, 2024; no reportable closed-session actions were announced. Roll call showed Councilmembers Griffiths, Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen present. The meeting included a centenarian proclamation, a Planning Commission appointment, two property/land-use studies, airport stormwater and sidewalk projects, a WWII memorial grant, a community facilities district, an airport operations ordinance, and a public health department research update.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously: City Council minutes from Dec. 12, 18, 19, 2023 and Jan. 9, 2024 (the source material did not include a separate minutes document).
• Approved unanimously: Change Order No. 1 to Purchase Order #2023-00000388 for nine 2024 Ford F-150 trucks, adding $56,620.77 for a new not-to-exceed amount of $378,005.31, with fund appropriations from sewer, sanitation, water, and fleet vehicle replacement funds.
• Approved unanimously: Employee Referral Program changes totaling approximately $66,400 through Jan. 31, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Several Oral Communications #1 speakers, including family members and community advocates, called for an independent civilian oversight commission for the Torrance Police Department, citing the killing of Christopher DeAndre Mitchell and alleged police misconduct and racist communications. They argued the commission would cost nothing and increase transparency and accountability.
• A North Torrance Little League representative supported Councilmember Kaji's proposed Japanese friendship cities and offered youth baseball exchange support; another speaker asked about a malfunctioning traffic signal at 182nd and Crenshaw.
• Alvin Takamori said a cell-tower application analysis for 2124 Redondo Beach Blvd. omitted an existing tower less than half a mile away, calling it a serious oversight or deliberate deception.
• During Oral Communications #2, speakers commented on city infrastructure, thanked police for their response to a mall incident, and asked about Applebee's and Dodger ticket pricing; a City Manager's Office representative said Applebee's would be welcome to locate in Torrance.

Discussion Items

9A - Land Use Study for 13 City-Owned Properties

Staff reviewed 13 city-owned parcels, noting the city owns about 230 parcels totaling approximately 1,030 acres and has 61 active ground leases/licenses. Market analysis used an average recent sale price of about $100 per square foot and an average asking price of $125 per square foot. The consultant's cumulative asset value estimate for the 13 sites was $18-19 million, with potential new annual ground-lease revenue above $1 million. Recommended strategies included cell-tower co-locations, sales to adjacent owners for small/landlocked strips, ground leases for multifamily or commercial/transit-oriented uses, holding some sites, and a fee-simple residential sale for the Rolling Hills Road/La Conchas parcel. Staff noted any disposal would require surplus land declaration and likely Surplus Land Act exemptions for these sites. Council discussion referenced the city's roughly $600 million CalPERS liability and state housing mandate of about 5,000 units. Public comment included skepticism about revenue forecasts, questions about Metro-fund restrictions and cell-tower design controls, and a suggestion to consider veterans housing. The council unanimously approved Option 2: proceed with the consultant's recommended property disposition strategy.

9B - Potential Airport Land Use Study

At the start of the item, Councilmember Griffiths moved to continue the matter until a future council concurrence; that motion failed, with Councilmembers Kaji, Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen voting no. Staff then proposed a $60,000 consultant fee plus $40,000 contingency for a separate Torrance Municipal Airport/Zamperini Field land-use study, with completion in four to five months. Councilmember Kaji said the study was not a plan to close the airport or build housing; he wanted to consider the city's most valuable asset. Public testimony was heavily opposed to spending on the study and to any suggestion of closing the airport, with speakers including Sling Pilot Academy students/instructors, Robinson Helicopter Company President Kurt Robinson (who said the company is committed to a lease through 2053), and a KOTAR representative who said KOTAR does not advocate closure but wants action on noise and safety issues. Councilmember Griffiths moved to accept and file; the motion carried, with Councilmember Kaji dissenting. The council then gave concurrence, reported as 6 in favor and 1 abstention, to direct staff to return options for an airport vision-planning process using existing commissions, community stakeholders, and possibly an outside facilitator.

9C/9D - Torrance Airport Storm Water Basin Project

• Council adopted Resolution 2024-03 authorizing execution of cooperative implementation agreement #D43CIATOA0001 with Caltrans and accepting/appropriating a $2,000,000 settlement contribution to the I-174 project. The funds came from a Caltrans settlement with the Natural Resources Defense Council; Torrance was not a party. Approved unanimously.
• Council approved a first amendment to Tetra Tech, Inc.'s consulting agreement, adding $46,430 for a new not-to-exceed amount of $832,352 and extending the term to Jan. 24, 2026. Staff said construction was not expected before summer 2026. Approved unanimously.

9E - Sidewalk Repair for Disabled Accessibility

Council approved specifications, appropriated $106,598 in TDA Article 3 funds, awarded the public works agreement to Kalban, Inc. for $1,018,950 with a $152,842.50 contingency, and adopted a CEQA Class 1 categorical exemption. The project covers about 18,000 square feet of sidewalk and 38 ramps; 58 trees will be removed and 80 replanted. Approved unanimously.

9F - WWII Camp Wall Monument at Columbia Park

Council approved grant agreement #GF2126-0 with the California Natural Resources Agency and accepted/appropriated the $5,000,000 state grant for the World War II Camp Wall Monument. The project must be completed by Feb. 1, 2026. Public speakers, including Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi's district director, urged approval; Nancy Hayata and Kanji Sahara described the monument as the first to list all Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII. Council approved the grant and appropriation unanimously and deferred the three advisory committee appointments for 30 days; staff will create an interest form and return with a list.

9G - Revenue Enhancements and Community Facilities District

The Finance and Governmental Operations Committee, which met Jan. 9, recommended keeping all existing taxes unchanged and creating a Community Facilities District (CFD) to pay for new municipal services required by new development. Placing a ballot measure would cost about $471,000; the DTA fiscal analysis used a net fiscal approach. A CFD special tax would apply to new multifamily development of five or more units, not existing residents; funds must go to new services and be reported annually. Council approved both committee recommendations unanimously after discussion about the roughly $310-per-unit annual net deficit and the likelihood that tenants ultimately pay some costs.

9H - Airport Touch-and-Go Ordinance

Councilmember Kalani recused herself. Ordinance 3930 would prohibit touch-and-go landings entirely and restrict full stop-taxi back and low approaches to 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and city holidays. Enforcement would be through the Airport Noise Administrative Hearing Board; three violations in three years would trigger a three-year denial of landing/takeoff rights except in emergencies. Residents and KOTAR strongly urged approval; pilots and flight-training representatives asked the council to defer and instead pursue voluntary dialogue. Mayor Chen said he believed touch-and-go practice is needed for safe flying and opposed an outright ban. The ordinance was adopted; Councilmember Kalani recused and Mayor Chen voted no.

9I - Ad Hoc Facility Naming Committee

Council approved formation of the committee, with Councilmember Mattucci as chair and Councilmembers Sheikh and Kaji as members, to review naming applications and policy questions. Approved unanimously.

9J - Public Health Department Research

Staff presented research on whether Torrance should form its own public health department. Highlights: Long Beach's adopted 2024 budget showed a $17 million negative fund impact; Pasadena's FY2024 budget was $23.8 million; West Covina is pursuing a new department with $500,000 from ARPA funds; Santa Ana decided against a $580,000 health-strategist proposal. Torrance's health indicators were generally favorable. Council approved Option 1: wait one year after West Covina establishes its department, while staff also contacts Torrance Memorial and Providence Little Company of Mary and explores South Bay COG collaboration and public-private partnership possibilities. Carried, with Councilmember Griffiths voting no.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar and most routine resolutions were approved unanimously.
• Planning Commission vacancy: Megan Turner appointed and sworn in.
• 9A: City Council approved Option 2 land-use/disposition strategy for 13 parcels, unanimously.
• 9B: Airport land-use study accepted and filed, with Kaji dissenting; staff directed to bring back airport vision-planning options, with one abstention reported.
• 9C/9D/9E/9F/9G/9I: Approved unanimously as described.
• 9H: Ordinance 3930 adopted, with Councilmember Kalani recused and Mayor Chen dissenting.
• 9J: Option 1 approved, with Councilmember Griffiths dissenting.
• Adjourned to Feb. 6, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. closed session and 6:30 p.m. regular business; Jan. 30 was a dark night.