Torrance City Council Regular Meeting – February 6, 2024

The Torrance City Council met on February 6, 2024, beginning with a 5:03 p.m. closed session and reconvening for regular business. Councilmember Sheikh was absent; his excused absence for this meeting and two future meetings was approved later in the agenda. The council approved routine consent items, adopted land-use and personnel resolutions, discussed airport noise monitoring, authorized police fleet leasing and fuel purchases, approved downtown gateway signage and Armed Forces Day plans, and adopted an airport operations ordinance after a failed first vote and a successful reconsideration.

Closed Session

• The council recessed to closed session at approximately 5:03 p.m. for labor negotiations, public employee discipline/performance evaluations, real property lease negotiations, and existing litigation.
• Upon reconvening, the City Attorney reported that items 10A (Police Services Officer termination appeal) and 14B (public employee discipline/dismissal/release) were continued to February 27, 2024. The City Manager reported no other closed-session action.

Community Matters, Proclamations, and Announcements

• Mayor Chen proclaimed February 2024 as Black History Month and presented the proclamation to Dr. Mia McNulty, president of the NAACP Torrance Carson branch.
• City officials announced the Civic Center Master Plan survey deadline of February 29, 2024; vote center locations for the March 5, 2024 election; Older Americans Award nominations due March 21, 2024; and the Torrance Refining Company community alert siren test on February 7, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.
• Mayor Chen asked for and received council concurrence, reported as a 5-1 vote, to bring back an agenda item on rejoining Cal Cities (formerly the League of California Cities). City Manager Aram Chaparyan noted the city had remained engaged as a non-member but was excluded from some committees.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent calendar in one motion, including the January 23, 2024 city council minutes, the change of Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commission meetings from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the State Legislative Advocacy Committee minutes and State Delegation Trip recommendation. No items were pulled.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Oral communications included Tom Newman thanking the city for restoring a drinking fountain; Ayush Kumar asking about coyote management; Lisa Chen inviting the council to a Chinese New Year event; Sarah B. criticizing the city for not holding police accountable and calling for an independent civilian oversight committee; Erica Winston of Behavioral Health Services Inc. promoting a men's mental health resource fair with fentanyl and naloxone education; and Andy Porchop commenting on storm damage and criticizing the late meeting start.
• Andy Porchop also spoke during items 9C, 9D, 9E, 9G, and 9J, questioning pay levels, transit center spending, fuel use, and the $500 Armed Forces Day item. During item 9H, he opposed leasing police vehicles, saying buying was cheaper; another speaker supported the lease program.
• During item 9B, Chuck Costello and Richard Root of the Coalition for Torrance Airport Reform (COTAR) said aircraft noise remains serious and argued monitoring should target actual annoyance and violation locations; Tom Newman urged plugging gaps near the airport; Peter Brown of the Torrance Airport Association opposed spending roughly $205,000 on additional sensors; and Matrick Natsky of Sling Pilot Academy said the issue is annoyance rather than ordinance violations.
• During item 12A, Bill Timchick of the TAA noise abatement committee and another speaker opposed the ordinance, arguing go-arounds and missed approaches are safety procedures and that voluntary measures have worked. City staff stated emergency and FAA-directed maneuvers are exempt and verified through tower recordings.
• During oral communications #2, Bill Timchick requested reimbursement or waiver of the $81 landing fee for his vintage aircraft participation in STEM Day; Mayor Chen and councilmembers expressed interest in exploring a council subsidy for the event.

Administrative and Discussion Items

• 9A – 1724 Arlington Avenue: The council adopted Resolution No. 2024-04, approving an appeal and Planning Commission Review for a new two-unit residential development with demolition of a contributing structure in the R-2 Torrance Tract Overlay, and Resolution No. 2024-05, denying without prejudice a Conditional Use Permit for floor area ratio exceeding 0.65. After an initial vote did not carry, the council reconsidered and adopted the resolutions 4-2, with Councilmembers Griffiths and Kalani voting no and Councilmember Sheikh absent.
• 9B – Airport noise monitoring system: Staff and Casper Airport Solutions presented a noise study directed by the council on July 25, 2023, and recommended five additional monitors. Staff corrected the one-time cost from $408,000 to $204,000, with a $12,500 annual cost. Councilmember Griffiths asked about the study cost, and staff said the final cost was $12,500. Councilmembers questioned whether new monitors would capture enforceable violations; Councilmember Griffiths favored monitors in gaps between existing monitors and at Alta Loma Park. Councilmember Mattucci suggested waiting about six months, and Councilmember Kalani suggested possibly referring further study to the Airport Commission. Mayor Chen noted what he called a willingness from Sling and COTAR to work together. The council adopted option three (status quo/no changes) on a motion by Councilmember Lewis, with Councilmember Griffiths voting no and Councilmember Sheikh absent.
• 9C – Fire Recruit resolution: The council adopted Resolution No. 2024-06 amending pay ranges and health insurance contributions for Fire Recruit, effective February 11, 2024.
• 9D – Part-time hourly employees: The council adopted Resolution No. 2024-07 to comply with state minimum wage laws at an annual cost of $7,908.
• 9E – Measure M trail funding: The council approved Measure M Multi-Year Subregional Funding Agreement No. 9200000000M460107 with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and accepted/appropriated a $650,000 grant for the Transportation Open Space Corridor Multi-Use Trails Project.
• 9F – Councilmember Sheikh excused absences: The council granted excused absences for February 6, February 27, and March 12, 2024, under City Charter Section 601. Councilmember Mattucci asked whether medical excusals could be made automatic through a future charter amendment; the City Attorney said that would require a charter change.
• 9G – Fuel purchase orders: The council authorized purchase orders with Pinnacle Petroleum, Inc. for unleaded gasoline and renewable diesel, not to exceed $5,300,000 over three years from March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2027.
• 9H – Unmarked police vehicle leases: The council approved a master equity lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc. for 54 unmarked police vehicles as a Sourcewell cooperative purchase, appropriated $1,100,000 from the Fleet Vehicle Replacement Fund, and authorized the City Manager to execute and administer the agreement. Assistant Chief Dunn said 44% of the unmarked fleet was over 10 years old and 96% over five years old. Finance Director Sheila Passan said the fleet replacement fund was fully funded and recommended a one-dollar lease to avoid interest costs.
• 9I – Downtown gateway signage: The council directed staff to proceed with the three recommended gateway entry sign designs for Downtown Torrance, including the arch sign and Carson monument sign concepts. Staff confirmed fire and public works height clearance; Councilmember Kalani reported positive community feedback.
• 9J – Armed Forces Day Parade: The council accepted/filed the February 1, 2024 committee minutes, approved eliminating the Friday afternoon military band concert due to attendance at about half capacity, designated the 2024 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration (May 17-19, 2024) as a special exhibit under Section 46.8.10, and approved a $500 subsidy for flyover landing fees.
• 12A – Ordinance No. 3929: The council took up the second reading of Ordinance No. 3929 regulating touch-and-go, full stop-taxi back, and low approaches at Torrance Municipal Airport. Councilmember Kalani recused herself. The first vote failed to reach the required four votes, with Councilmembers Lewis and Mattucci voting no. After discussion, the council reconsidered, and the ordinance passed 4-1 on the second vote, with Councilmember Lewis voting no. The ordinance takes effect 30 days after adoption.

Key Outcomes

• Closed session items 10A and 14B continued to February 27, 2024.
• Consent calendar approved.
• Resolutions 2024-04 and 2024-05 adopted on the 1724 Arlington Avenue project (4-2).
• Airport noise monitoring expansion not approved; the council chose status quo (option three).
• Fire Recruit and part-time hourly employee resolutions adopted.
• Measure M grant agreement and $650,000 appropriation approved.
• Excused absences for Councilmember Sheikh approved.
• Fuel purchase orders up to $5.3 million approved.
• Police vehicle lease program approved.
• Downtown gateway sign designs approved.
• Armed Forces Day recommendations approved, including eliminating the matinee band concert and the $500 flyover landing fee subsidy.
• Ordinance No. 3929 adopted on reconsideration (4-1), effective 30 days later.
• The meeting adjourned to February 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. for closed session, with regular business at 6:30 p.m.