Torrance City Council Regular Meeting – May 7, 2024

The Torrance City Council met on May 7, 2024, beginning in closed session at 5:37 p.m. (agenda advertised 5:30 p.m.), reconvening publicly for regular business, and adjourning at about 2:19 a.m. on May 8, 2024. After closed session, the city manager reported no reportable actions. The meeting included proclamations and awards, approval of a $5.5 million state grant, a $10.65 million police camera contract, direction on an Airport Commission Brown Act violation, and the first public hearing on the FY 2024-25 budget. A large portion of the evening was devoted to public testimony on a Pride Month resolution, which was adopted 4-3.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the April 9, 2024 City Council minutes (item 8A) by unanimous consent. No items were pulled.

Community Matters & Proclamations

• Recognized May 7, 2024 as National Teacher Day and May 5-11, 2024 as Public Service Recognition Week, presented by Student Government Day participants.
• Adopted the Fire Service Day proclamation for May 11, 2024; Torrance Fire Prevention Specialist Daniel Singleton accepted.
• Presented a proclamation declaring May 2024 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, accepted by former Assemblyman George Nakano.
• Presented a proclamation declaring May 2024 as National Preservation Month, accepted by Historic Preservation Commissioner Adam Schwartz.
• Presented a proclamation declaring May 2024 as Older Americans Month and recognized 2024 Older Americans Award recipients Carolyn Pohlner, Celina Henderson, Dan Delfoss, Laurie Love, and Pamela Popovich.
• Recognized the Bishop Montgomery High School girls basketball team for winning the CIF Division I state championship (52-40 over Bishop O'Dowd on March 8, 2024).
• Adopted resolutions 2024-20, 2024-21, and 2024-22 declaring May 17-19, 2024 as the 62nd Armed Forces Day Parade observance and honoring Colonel Michael S. Hopkins and Lieutenant General Philip A. Garrant. Police Lieutenant Chad Farley noted two F-35 fighter jets from Luke Air Force Base would participate.
• Administrative announcements included the National Association of Letter Carriers food drive, CalFresh Awareness Month, litter prevention, National Tennis Month, and a May 9 deadline for commission applications.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During Oral Communications #1, speakers raised various non-agenda topics. One urged termination of the city's coyote trapping contract, alleging wildlife law violations and no reduction despite about $80,000 per year in spending. Another demanded restoration of the previous three-minute public comment limit. One speaker called for independent civilian police oversight, while another thanked the Police Department. Speakers also requested formal recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, and Juneteenth; one criticized the absence of a Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation.
• On the Pride Month resolution, a long line of speakers addressed the council. Supporters said the resolution would show LGBTQIA+ residents and youth that Torrance is inclusive and safe, and several cited suicide risk among LGBTQ youth. Opponents called it divisive special treatment, said it promotes a political or religiously objectionable agenda, and argued it should not be an official city recognition. One opponent asserted the "plus" in LGBTQIA+ includes pedophiles. Some comments were interrupted by audience outbursts, and the mayor repeatedly asked for respectful conduct.
• During the budget hearing, James Henry asked where city treasurer revenues were shown and what had been accomplished with downtown Torrance revitalization funds. Staff responded that the treasurer is not a revenue-generating department and described downtown projects, including planters, signage, an LED upgrade, and a parking structure allocation. Another speaker criticized the budget hearing starting after midnight, and the council agreed to schedule the second hearing earlier.

Discussion Items

9A – Community Resource and Response Center Rehabilitation Grant

• Staff reported that the city received a $5.5 million state grant from the 2022-23 California budget for rehabilitation of the county-owned former public health building at 2300 Carson Street, vacant since operations ceased in the late 1990s/early 2000s. The funding must be appropriated by June 30, 2024. Possible future uses include county public health services, the city's public housing agency, and the homeless outreach team. The council unanimously accepted and appropriated the grant.

9B – Fire Department Reaccreditation and Reports

• The council received the announcement that the Torrance Fire Department was reaccredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International on February 27, 2024, and accepted the 2023 Community Risk Assessment/Standards of Cover, Annual Quality Improvement Update, SB 1205 Compliance Report, and March 7, 2024 committee minutes. Fire Chief David Dumas also announced a renewed ISO Class 1 rating, the 29th consecutive year.

9C – Pride Month Resolution

• The council considered Resolution 2024-23, approving and formally recognizing June as Pride Month. Councilmember Kalani, who requested the item, said it was a recognition of diversity, not a proclamation, flag, banner, parade, or school district matter. Councilmember Sheikh moved to instead place the question on the ballot; the motion lacked a second, and staff estimated a ballot measure could cost $200,000-$300,000.
• After extensive public comment, the resolution passed 4-3, with Councilmembers Gerson, Kaji, Kalani, and Lewis in favor and Councilmembers Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen opposed. Mayor Chen said he would not sign the resolution; the city attorney advised the adoption is effective regardless of signature.

9D – Axon Body-Worn and In-Car Camera Contract

• The council unanimously approved a second amendment to the Axon Enterprise agreement (C2022-184) for $10,649,140.21 over 10 years (May 7, 2024 through May 6, 2034). Police staff said the expanded package consolidates legacy systems into a cloud-based records/evidence platform, adds interview-room recording, Axon Air drone integration, VR training including POST-certified scenarios, and FUSIS real-time external video ingestion. Funding strategy includes police salary savings initially, with grant applications to federal representatives to offset general fund costs; decommissioning legacy storage such as Veil Web is expected to save about $40,000 annually.

9E – Airport Commission Brown Act Violation

• The council discussed an April 11, 2024 Airport Commission action empowering its chair to meet with the mayor, city manager, and a member of the public about the taxiway lighting project. The city attorney stated the action was not on the agenda, violated the Brown Act, and exceeded the commission's powers. Public speakers included Airport Commission members who said they were trying to get answers about a delayed airfield lighting contract, and a KOTAR representative who supported the commission's work and disputed a supplemental document.
• Councilmember Mattucci's motion directed sending a cure-and-correct letter requiring the commission to reverse the action within 30 days, suspended Airport Commission meetings for 120 days, referred airport items to the Transportation Committee during that period, and required commissioners to retake training including a Brown Act refresher. The motion carried 5-2, with Councilmembers Sheikh and Gerson voting no.

10A – First Public Hearing on FY 2024-25 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan

• Finance Director Sheila Poisson presented a balanced proposed budget that maintains the 20% reserve ratio and includes a 10-year forecast. The general fund operating budget increases by about 5.5% on both revenue and expenditure sides, with a proposed $5 million Measure SST transfer to offset public safety contracts. Citywide, Measure SST receipts are projected at $25 million, and $7.8 million in Measure SST capital investments are proposed. The capital plan totals $66.8 million, using a new location-based structure and including a 10% contingency. A 2024 Kitchell study identified about $205 million in building needs; staff allocated $10.6 million in the upcoming year, while an estimated $20 million per year would be needed over ten years.
• The proposal adds a net one full-time-equivalent position at a net cost of $64,510. As of March 2024, citywide vacancies were about 220, down from 293 a year earlier; the police department accounted for 77 vacancies, including about 31 sworn officer vacancies.
• Councilmembers discussed recession risk, pension and self-insurance liabilities, vacancy management, and economic development. City Manager Aram Chaparyan said high turnover is the new normal and that attrition rather than layoffs would cushion a downturn. No changes were made to the proposal at this first hearing.

Key Outcomes

• No reportable actions from closed session.
• Consent calendar approved unanimously.
• All proclamations and resolutions under community matters were adopted or presented; the three Armed Forces Day resolutions passed unanimously.
• 9A, 9B, and 9D were approved unanimously.
• 9C Resolution 2024-23 was adopted 4-3; Mayor Chen said he would not sign it.
• 9E Airport Commission direction passed 5-2; staff to send a cure-and-correct letter and suspend the commission for 120 days.
• The FY 2024-25 budget public hearing was closed; the second public hearing and proposed adoption are scheduled for June 4, 2024, and staff will publicize the budget and schedule the item earlier in the agenda.