Torrance City Council Meeting - October 22, 2024

The Torrance City Council met on October 22, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. for a closed session and reconvened for regular business at 6:30 p.m. The meeting covered consent items, a public hearing (deferred), administrative matters including the Inglewood Transit Connector proposal, budget modifications, military equipment policy renewal, and positions on November 2024 ballot measures.

Consent Calendar

• Item 8A: Approved City Council minutes from September 17 and September 24, 2024.
• Item 8B: Accepted and filed the Investment Report for August 2024.
• Item 8C: Approved reclassification of 1.0 FTE Administrative Assistant to Senior Administrative Assistant ($14,600/year). Councilmember Sheikh noted the position is eliminated, not newly created, resulting in no net General Fund increase. Approved unanimously after being pulled from consent.
• Remaining consent items approved unanimously with 8C removed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Oral Communications #1:
  • Charlie Salinas spoke about mental health resources.
  • Dick Emmaya thanked Public Works for reopening a lane in North Florence after a contractor delay.
  • Mary Ann protested police brutality and called for civilian oversight.
  • Sebastian Bogner (Behavioral Health Services) announced a medication take-back event on October 26 at Sam's Club (10 a.m.–2 p.m.).
  • Andy Porchop commented on various topics.
  • A speaker opposed Charter Amendment Measure TC, arguing it reduces accountability for airport fund transfers.
• Item 10D Public Comment:
  • Representative from Inglewood thanked the city and estimated 326,000 South Bay residents would be served by the Inglewood Transit Connector (ITC).
  • Andy Porchop opposed, citing empty transit centers and cost.
• Item 10A Public Comment: Andy Porchop supported the budget modifications.
• Item 10B Public Comment: Andy Porchop sarcastically supported military equipment expansion.
• Item 10C Public Comment: Andy Porchop criticized the council's position-setting as “brainwashing.”

Discussion Items

• Item 9A – Variance Denial Hearing (417 Via Anita): Deferred to a future date per staff request; no discussion.
• Item 10D – City of Inglewood Transit Connector Proposal:
  • Staff presented: ITC is a 1.6-mile people mover (estimated $2.2 billion), connecting Metro K Line to downtown Inglewood and the entertainment district. Inglewood has secured ~$1.8 billion, needs an additional $493 million backstop, requesting early access to Measure M decennial funds via South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG). Torrance is a voting member. Potential impacts to Torrance projects (PCH/Crenshaw ~$40-50M, fiber network ~$20-30M) are indeterminate.
  • Council asked about timeline, financial risk, and commitments from Inglewood. Mayor Butts of Inglewood and consultant Letha Tripoletti answered questions, offering future support for Torrance projects.
  • Councilmember Kaji suggested Torrance be more ambitious with its Regional Transportation Center.
  • Motion to direct COG representative to support with assurances failed for lack of a second. Substitute motion to oppose (no support) passed 4-1 (Councilmember Lewis voting no).
• Item 10A – Fiscal Year 2024-25 Program Modifications:
  • Approved restructuring of Community Development (split building division, conversions saving $13,712/year) and adding an IT Manager for Police ($203,409/year from Measure SST Fund). Unanimous.
• Item 10B – Military Equipment Use Policy Renewal:
  • Staff reported no complaints or deficiencies; community engagement meeting held Oct 15, 2024. Council affirmed compliance and renewed Ordinance 3902. Unanimous.
• Item 10C – November 5, 2024 General Election Ballot Measures:
  • Staff presented positions from the State Legislative Advocacy Committee: Support Prop 4 (climate bond), Neutral on Prop 5 (bond threshold) and Prop 32 (minimum wage), Oppose Prop 33 (rent control) and Measure A (homeless services tax), Support Prop 36 (felony thresholds), Neutral on Measure G (LA County charter amendment).
  • Councilmember Gerson proposed supporting Measure G; council voted to adopt committee recommendations as presented. Motion carried 5-2 (Gerson and Sheikh voting no).

Key Outcomes

• Item 10D: Council voted 4-1 to oppose supporting the Inglewood Transit Connector funding request (i.e., direct COG representative to vote “no”).
• Item 10A: Approved budget modifications for Community Development and Police departments.
• Item 10B: Renewed Ordinance 3902 for military equipment use policy.
• Item 10C: Adopted ballot measure positions as recommended by the State Legislative Advocacy Committee.
• Consent Calendar: Approved with item 8C separately considered.
• Meeting adjourned to October 29, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. for closed session, 6:30 p.m. for regular business.