Torrance City Council Regular Meeting - July 2, 2024

The Torrance City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at the Toyota Meeting Hall, 3330 Civic Center Drive. Closed session began at 5:00 p.m. and the open session began at 6:30 p.m. Councilmember Kaji was absent; Mayor Chen presided. The council filled commission vacancies, approved a proposed city charter amendment for the November 5, 2024 special election, awarded transit contracts and grants, and held public hearings on HUD funding and delinquent utility assessments.

Community Matters and Announcements

• The City Clerk announced that printed agenda materials would now be limited to master binders, with electronic copies available at TorranceCA.gov.
• The Social Services Commission school supply drive is underway through July 25, 2024, to benefit Torrance Unified School District students experiencing homelessness or in foster care.
• Student ambassadors in the Torrance-Kashiwa Sister City cultural exchange program were introduced before their summer trip to Japan.
• Councilmember Sheikh received council concurrence to direct staff to explore options to increase City commissioner compensation.
• Councilmember Mattucci received council concurrence to direct the City Attorney to review the municipal code for amendments needed after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the City of Grants Pass case, noting it related to the homeless plan.
• The Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee met on June 24, 2024, for an after-action review of the 62nd annual parade and celebration.
• Fire Chief DeMay reminded the community that Torrance Refining Company will conduct a monthly siren test on July 3, 2024, at 11:30 a.m.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent calendar except items 8C and 8F, which were pulled for discussion. This action included approval of City Council minutes from June 4, 11, and 18, 2024; the Cravens Avenue parking license agreement with Gaburi Chicken USA; the 2023-2024 Torrance Rose Float Association annual report; authorization for the Parks and Recreation Commission to meet on July 10, 2024 at Charles H. Wilson Park; projected capital improvement procurements; and a $100,000 increase to the animal care and control services agreement, bringing the new not-to-exceed amount to $785,000.
• Item 8C: Torrance Rose Float Association chair Bev Finley explained that the association selected a new float builder, AES, after its prior builder was no longer available. The Tournament of Roses had guaranteed the same price for the upcoming parade, but costs were expected to rise by at least $100,000 in the future, and a new float entering the parade today would cost a minimum of $350,000. The council accepted and filed the report.
• Item 8F: Staff stated that the third amendment to the South End Racquet and Health Club lease establishes a new fair market rent of about $44,000 per month with annual CPI adjustments and a future valuation in 2034. The council approved the third amendment.

Commission Appointments (Item 6A)

• City Clerk Rebecca Poirier reviewed the process, noting all applicants were verified registered voters who completed required training.
• Planning Commission: Megan Turner and Mario Obejas were appointed to terms ending June 30, 2028; Dominic Borgiali won a tie-breaker and was appointed to the term ending June 30, 2025.
• Civil Service Commission: Cinda Herring and Laura Lohnis were appointed to terms ending June 30, 2028.
• Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commission: Fong Zhang was appointed to a term ending June 30, 2028, and Nita Ahmed to a term ending June 30, 2027.
• Historic Preservation Commission: Mary Francis Travelli was appointed unanimously to a term ending June 30, 2028; one vacancy remained.
• Commission on Aging: Carolyn Snyder was appointed unanimously to a term ending June 30, 2028; one vacancy remained.
• Cultural Arts Commission: Andres Cabrera and Sasha O'Hara were appointed to terms ending June 30, 2028.
• Library Commission: Indrani Chatterjee was appointed unanimously to a term ending June 30, 2028; one vacancy remained.
• Social Services Commission: Deborah Bickford and Melissa Wright were appointed to terms ending June 30, 2028; Karen Pryor to a term ending June 30, 2027; and Teresa Fury won a tie-breaker for a term ending June 30, 2025.
• Traffic Commission: Isabel Schwartz and William Nichols were appointed to terms ending June 30, 2028.
• Water Commission: Isan Mazanani and Dr. John Stecker were appointed unanimously to terms ending June 30, 2028.
• Airport Commission: Donald Hammond was appointed unanimously to a term ending June 30, 2028; one vacancy remained.
• Measure SST Citizens Oversight Committee: Shamindra Mambahal was appointed to a term ending June 30, 2028, and Cindy Scotto won a tie-breaker for a term ending June 30, 2025.
• The council then approved all appointments, and the City Clerk administered the oath of office to the newly appointed commissioners.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During commission appointments, Andy Porchop opposed Teresa Fury's appointment, alleging she had cursed at him and gestured at him during past public meetings.
• During Oral Communications #1, Joseph Buck said the city's development department and City Clerk's office appeared unprepared for California Public Records Act obligations regarding building permits and urged the council to address the risk. Carol Gillis thanked the city for the summer concert series but described the two restrooms as filthy and asked for cleaning or portable toilets. Bev Finley promoted upcoming Rose Float Association fundraisers. A resident described an unsuccessful attempt to rescue a kitten on the 405 freeway, saying Torrance Animal Control went to voicemail and California Highway Patrol lacked rescue equipment; she urged better animal control availability. Another speaker argued for an independent civilian oversight commission for the Torrance Police Department and referenced justice for Christopher DeAndre Mitchell. Ron Riggs, chair of the Measure SST Oversight Committee, reported on a budget review and announced the committee's July 10, 2024 meeting. One speaker complained about poor landscaping on a utility property on Cravens Avenue.
• On item 9D, a public speaker said he had postponed taking the bus to downtown Los Angeles because of safety concerns.
• On item 10A, public commenter Andy Porchop said affordable housing was lacking in Torrance and questioned how the funds would help; he also joked about sidewalk repairs.
• On item 10B, a property owner said placing tenants' delinquent utility bills on the owner's property tax assessment was unfair and set a bad precedent. Andy Porchop said the collection method was useful but recommended a longer grace period before assessment.
• During Oral Communications #2, a resident thanked the city for the upcoming fireworks event and asked for increased patrols around parks because of illegal fireworks.

City Charter Amendment and November 5, 2024 Special Election (Item 9E)

• The council took this item out of order. City Attorney Patrick Sullivan presented the proposed charter amendment, which included gender-neutral language, consolidated and renumbered articles, updated election and vacancy procedures, public participation language, lobbyist registration, revolving-door restrictions, restrictions on negotiating future employment, at-will status options for the City Manager and City Attorney, and revisions to the City Clerk's powers and duties.
• The proposal would have changed council compensation from $100 per month to a state minimum wage calculation of $16 per hour, equal to $2,773.28 per month. Councilmember Kalani said she did not support the compensation increase, and Councilmember Mattucci said the full council should decide the issue.
• The council voted to approve the draft charter amendment and supplemental good-government provisions, including Sections 907, 908, 909, and the revised Section 407, while setting aside the council compensation section and a new PAC campaign contribution disclosure requirement.
• A separate vote on the council compensation section failed 3-3, with Councilmembers Gerson, Kalani, and Lewis voting no and Councilmembers Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen voting yes.
• The council then approved the separate PAC campaign contribution disclosure requirement.
• After the compensation vote failed, the council voted to reconsider Section 604 on July 16, 2024, so Councilmember Kaji could participate in the discussion; Councilmember Sheikh voted no.
• The council adopted Resolution 2024-47 calling a special municipal election for November 5, 2024, and Resolution 2024-48 requesting Los Angeles County to consolidate that election with the statewide general election ballot.
• The council directed the City Clerk to request ballot letters C, TC, and CC, in that order of preference, for the charter measure.

Transit, Legal Services, and Grants (Items 9A-9D)

• Item 9A: The council approved a three-year contract with Nationwide Guard Services, Inc. for unarmed security services for a not-to-exceed amount of $1,708,640.85. Transit staff reported 18 vendors responded to the RFP; the previous contract was about $530,000 per year and the new one is just under $570,000 per year, partly due to the Los Angeles County minimum wage increase.
• Item 9B: The council approved a second amendment to the fee agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, adding $216,000 for a new not-to-exceed amount of $466,000, for legal services in the matter of Blake Williams v. City of Torrance.
• Item 9C: The council approved a Metro ExpressLanes Net Toll Reinvestment Grant agreement for Line 4X totaling $3,220,000, or $805,000 per year for fiscal years 2022-23 through 2024-25, to continue and enhance I-110 incremental transit service, including a possible pilot service to Dodger Stadium.
• Item 9D: The council approved two LACMTA grant agreements, $3,066,435 for Line 1 and $3,693,874 for Line 6. Line 1 frequency would increase from 60 minutes to 20 minutes, while Line 6 would run all day on weekdays and weekends at up to 30-minute frequency and provide a direct one-seat bus ride to Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, including for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Public Hearing: HUD Consolidated Plan Substantial Amendment (Item 10A)

• Community Development staff reported that HUD notified Torrance of FY 2024-25 CDBG and HOME funding allocations. Of the CDBG funds, 20%, or $200,462, would be used for administrative expenses, with the remaining $801,851 allocated to eligible activities. Of the HOME funds, 15%, or $66,003, must go to a community housing development organization, 10%, or $44,001, may be used for administration, and the remaining 75%, or $330,001, must be used for affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households.
• Staff recommended using $801,851 in CDBG funds for the public works sidewalk repair project in the neighborhood bounded by Anza Avenue, Lamina Boulevard, Hawthorne Boulevard, and Pacific Coast Highway. The HOME funds would be reserved for a future affordable housing project, but no project has yet been identified.
• The draft plans were published for public review and comment for 30 days, and no comments were received.
• The council closed the public hearing, approved the substantial amendment and action plan for submission to HUD, and authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.

Public Hearing: Delinquent Utility Fee Special Assessments (Item 10B)

• Finance staff reported that since fiscal year 2020, the city has recovered approximately $524,649, or 95%, of overdue solid waste, sewer discharge, and water usage balances by placing them on the county tax roll as special assessments. Roughly 1,100 of 29,500 accounts were the subject of this year's delinquency process.
• Property owners had been notified by letter, public notice was published in the Daily Breeze on June 22, 2024, and residents had until September 4, 2024, to pay outstanding balances. Staff reported that after notifications went out, the outstanding balance had dropped from about $195,000 to about $109,000.
• In council discussion, Councilmember Mattucci expressed concern that landlords could be held responsible for tenants' unpaid utility bills and asked staff to explore earlier notification to property owners. Councilmember Kalani asked about payment options, and Councilmember Sheikh asked about late fees and credit reporting. Councilwoman Lewis supported the existing process, saying responsibility for unpaid tenant bills is ultimately between landlord and tenant. Staff said options, including earlier property-owner notification and cost recovery through late fees, would be studied as part of the upcoming water rate case.
• The council closed the public hearing and adopted Resolution 2024-49 for delinquent solid waste collection fees, Resolution 2024-50 for delinquent sewer discharge fees, and Resolution 2024-51 for delinquent water usage fees, authorizing the Los Angeles County Assessor to place those fees on county tax rolls.

Key Outcomes

• The council filled 23 commission and committee seats, with several appointments decided by tie-breakers, and administered oaths to those appointed.
• The council approved the city charter amendment package for the November 5, 2024 ballot, including good-government measures, but the council compensation increase failed on a 3-3 tie and was set for reconsideration on July 16, 2024.
• The council approved transit security, legal services, and Metro ExpressLanes grant agreements for Lines 4X, 1, and 6.
• The council approved the HUD consolidated plan amendment and the delinquent utility fee resolutions.
• At the closing report, the council disclosed that in closed session it voted 6-0 to uphold the termination of a police officer.
• The meeting adjourned to Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. for closed session and 6:30 p.m. for open session in the West Annex Commission Meeting Room; July 9, 2024, is a Council dark night.