Torrance City Council Regular Meeting – August 20, 2024

The Torrance City Council held its regular meeting on August 20, 2024, starting with a closed session at 5:00 PM and reconvening publicly at 6:30 PM. The council addressed a wide range of items including transit fleet modernization, a microtransit pilot project, deed restrictions for Torrance Park, COVID-19 impacts on long-term care facilities, and proposed amendments to digital billboard regulations. A notable public hearing on electronic/digital billboards was continued for further clarity after a motion to adopt failed. Councilmember Mattucci was absent for the entire meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Item 8A: Approved the proposed job description for Capital Projects Construction Superintendent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Janet Payne (Item 7): Thanked the council for honoring her late husband, Charles E. Payne, and described a memorial space flight that launched his cremated remains into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on August 16, 2024.
• Andy Porchop (multiple items): Expressed skepticism about the need for new trolleys and microtransit, criticized police presence at beaches, and questioned the city's spending on transit while lacking bus drivers. He supported the digital billboard proposal, stating advertising brings revenue.
• Joe Bach (Item 7): Urged the council to prevent misapplication of the hillside zoning ordinance and to refer the matter to the Planning Commission.
• Erico (Item 7): Announced an International Overdose Awareness Day event on August 31, 2024, including distribution of 100 naloxone kits at Fox Drugs of Torrance.
• Public on Item 9A (Torrance Park Deed Restriction): Andy Porchop questioned why a deed restriction was needed and expressed distrust in the city's handling of funds.
• Public on Item 9B (FEMA Authorization): Andy Porchop criticized emergency response times, citing a water main break on Vista Montana that took three hours to shut off.
• Public on Item 9C (Long-Term Care Facilities): Andy Porchop shared personal negative experiences with nursing homes and advised the public to avoid them if possible.
• Public on Item 9D (Transportation Committee Minutes): Andy Porchop called the Mary K. Giordano Transit Center a waste of taxpayer money and questioned trolley plans.
• Public on Item 9E (Trolley Purchase): Andy Porchop criticized the $3 million cost for trolleys, questioned routes, and said the transit center sees few users.
• Public on Item 9F (FTA Grant): Andy Porchop noted the discrepancy between "expenditure: none" and $4 million request and suggested a free bus service and a route to Torrance Beach.
• Public on Item 9G (State Transit Funds): Andy Porchop complained about lack of bus drivers and high fares, and requested a bus stop nearer to his home.
• Public on Item 9H (Bus Purchase): Andy Porchop questioned the need for electric and hydrogen bus experiments when CNG is cheaper, and noted low ridership.
• Public on Item 9L (Microtransit Pilot): Andy Porchop mocked the project name and questioned competing with Uber/Lyft.
• Public on Item 9I (Police Side Letter): Andy Porchop described seeing three police cruisers at the beach, calling it "community engagement."
• Public on Item 9J (Capital Projects Superintendent): Andy Porchop objected to adding a $499,000 position when the city claims no money.
• Public on Item 10A (Digital Billboards): One speaker supported the proposal for revenue; another speaker opposed due to brightness and distraction, urging strict luminance limits.
• Public on Item 12A (Anti-Camping Ordinance): One speaker supported the ordinance to force homeless individuals to seek help; another speaker opposed, saying it does not address where people will go and criticized a $25 billion spending on homelessness.
• Public on Item 12B (Gable House Development): Andy Porchop requested electric vehicle charging stations be included.
• Oral Communications #2: A resident criticized a previous speaker for using profanity and objected to the council hearing public comment before discussing an item.

Discussion Items

• Item 6A – Resolution Honoring Luz Fierro: Adopted resolution No. 2024-59 recognizing Luz Fierro for 21 years of service.
• Item 6B – Centenarian Proclamation: Presented a proclamation to Joseph H. Gerson, 100, a World War II veteran and Brown University alumnus. His family spoke about his service.
• Item 9A – Torrance Park Deed Restriction: Approved resolution No. 2024-60 for a deed restriction to the California Natural Resources Agency for a 2018 Parks Bond Act grant. The restriction ensures the park remains public until June 30, 2048. The project originally included a parking lot but the city obtained permission to remove it; grant amount unchanged at $268,440.
• Item 9B – FEMA/Cal OES Authorization: Adopted resolution No. 2024-61 appointing the City Manager, Finance Director, and Deputy Finance Director as authorized agents for three years. The city has received over $24 million in reimbursements from Cal OES/FEMA in the past three years.
• Item 9C – COVID-19 Impact on Long-Term Care Facilities: Accepted and filed a staff update with CMS five-star ratings for 12 skilled nursing facilities in Torrance. Ratings ranged from one star (Driftwood Healthcare) to five stars (Providence Little Company of Mary, Torrance Memorial Care Center). Bay Crest Care Center had a warning for potential abuse issues. Council members expressed shock and discussed next steps, including posting information on city social media and contacting county/state regulators.
• Item 9D – Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes: Accepted and filed the August 6, 2024 minutes. Staff previewed upcoming projects including the Connect Torrance microtransit pilot, fleet modernization, red car trolley return, and a new bus shelter/advertisement agreement.
• Item 9E – Rubber Wheel Trolley Purchase: Approved a contract with Hometown Manufacturing, Inc. for ten gasoline-powered rubber wheel trolleys at a total not-to-exceed $3,061,083.26 (grant-funded, no general fund). The vehicles are designed to mimic Pacific Electric Red Cars and will be used for urban circulator routes (east-west and downtown circulation).
• Item 9F – FTA Grant Application: Authorized submission of a Fiscal Year 2023-24 Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 grant application for $4,078,040, with appropriation to a new grant project for replacement buses.
• Item 9G – TDA/STA Funds Claim: Approved submission of annual claim to LA Metro for $8,742,281 in Transportation Development Act funds and $1,747,993 in State Transit Assistance funds for FY 2024-25.
• Item 9H – CNG and Zero Emission Bus Purchase: Approved two contract service agreements with New Flyer of America:
  1. Four zero-emission buses (two battery electric, two hydrogen fuel cell) for $6,042,080.92 (including 5% contingency). These will be tested head-to-head over at least one year.
  2. Twenty compressed natural gas buses for $17,866,841.83 (including 5% contingency). Total not-to-exceed $23,908,922.75. The purchases are part of a five-phase fleet modernization to meet the state mandate for zero-emission fleet by 2040.
• Item 9L – Connect Torrance MicroTransit Pilot Project: Approved the measure, including:
  • Acceptance of a $1,000,000 Measure M Visionary Project Seed Funding grant.
  • Implementation of a one-year on-demand microtransit pilot covering a 9.2-square-mile zone (43% of the city).
  • Contract with Nomad Transit, LLC for turnkey operation (not-to-exceed $1,884,990).
  • Contract with CALSTART, Inc. for data analysis (not-to-exceed $120,400).
  • Appropriation of $765,390 from Transit Enterprise Fund. The service will operate with eight vehicles (four wheelchair-accessible), Monday–Friday 7 AM–7 PM, weekends 9 AM–5 PM, with extended hours for special events. Seniors and disabled residents in the existing Torrance Community Transit Program can travel citywide; other residents can use the zone for a $5 flat fare.
• Item 9I – Police Officers Association Side Letter: Approved a side letter agreement implementing the Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Incentive Pilot Program previously authorized on July 16, 2024.
• Item 9J – Add Capital Projects Construction Superintendent: Adopted Resolution No. 2024-62 adding the position to the certain full-time salaried/hourly employees classification. The position was included in the FY 2023-24 mid-year budget adjustments.
• Item 9K – Recycled Water Agreement Amendment: Approved a second amendment to the tri-party agreement with Torrance Refining Company and West Basin Municipal Water District, adding $12,000,000 (new not-to-exceed $40,000,000) and extending the term by one year to August 31, 2025. The city is also evaluating a potential markup on recycled water rates through a consultant.
• Item 10A – Digital Billboards (Public Hearing): Staff presented proposed amendments to allow electronic/digital billboards along the I-405 freeway (up to three due to 1-mile separation) and electronic message center signs citywide for on-site advertising. Key standards: 200-foot setback from residential (increased from 100), max height 80 feet, max display 1,000 sq. ft., development agreement required with potential community messaging and revenue sharing. Staff estimated annual revenue per sign at $100,000–$200,000. After extensive discussion about content control and concerns over aesthetics, a motion to adopt the ordinance failed (3-3, with Councilmembers Kalani, Lewis, and Sheikh voting no; Mattucci absent). Subsequently, the council voted 5-1 (Kalani opposed) to refer the item back to staff for clearer differentiation between digital billboards and electronic message center signs, and to provide an example development agreement.
• Item 12A – Second Reading of Ordinance No. 3933 (Anti-Camping): Adopted the ordinance prohibiting camping in public places, regulating shelters, and prohibiting loitering at bus stops. Councilmember Lewis raised the need for regional facilities to address mental health and substance abuse issues.
• Item 12B – Second Reading of Ordinance No. 3934 (Gable House Development Agreement): Adopted the ordinance approving a development agreement for a project at 22501 Hawthorne Boulevard.
• Item 15 – Adjournment: The meeting adjourned in memory of Charles E. Payne, with next meeting scheduled for September 10, 2024. Council dark nights: August 27 and September 3, 2024.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Consent Calendar, Resolutions 2024-59, 2024-60, 2024-61, 2024-62; contract for 10 trolleys, FTA grant application, TDA/STA claims, bus purchases (CNG and zero-emission), Connect Torrance microtransit pilot, police side letter, recycled water amendment, and second-reading ordinances 3933 and 3934.
• Deferred: Item 10A on digital billboards was sent back to staff for further clarification on sign types and regulatory control, with a motion to reconsider passed 5-1.
• Noted: Staff to post skilled nursing facility ratings on city social media and explore regional solutions for homeless services.