Torrance City Council Meeting - January 14, 2025

The Torrance City Council met on January 14, 2025, beginning with a closed session at 5:00 PM, followed by the regular business session at 7:16 PM. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including personnel appeals, consent calendar items, administrative matters on beautification, the Irish Fair, utility box art, commission compensation, lighting policy, annexation of El Camino Village, underground utility districts, and legislative priorities. Key decisions included upholding a police officer's termination, approving the consent calendar (except item 8H, later approved), establishing guidelines for the Beautification Awards, authorizing a beer garden for the Irish Fair with a 50% in-kind cost offset up to $20,770, selecting artworks for six utility boxes, increasing commission compensation to $20 per meeting, adopting an external lighting policy, setting a public hearing for Underground Utility District No. 21, and approving delegation trips for legislative advocacy.

Consent Calendar

• Items 8A through 8O were approved by a single motion, except item 8H which was pulled by Councilmember Lewis. After discussion, item 8H (amendment to airport noise monitoring system contract) was also approved unanimously. The consent calendar included resolutions for employee working conditions (police trainees, fire recruits, part-time hourly, TRREO), Fire Station 4 renovation amendment, PARS retirement plan amendment, traffic striping project award, title changes, class specifications, JAG grant application, easement amendment, TASER units purchase, and youth baseball field lease agreements. All items passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carol Gillis (Torrance Rose Float Association) reported winning the Prentice Trophy and invited the public to a thank-you celebration on February 8, 2025.
• A speaker reminded about the design contest for the 2026 Rose Parade float, ending January 30, 2025.
• Invitation to the “Outside In” and “Burner” art exhibition opening at Torrance Art Museum on January 18, 2025.
• Gary Palmer requested that the noise monitoring system (8H) provide pilots with easy access to total noise levels for self-monitoring, beyond the three tests per month.
• Charlie Salinas urged the city to advocate for a sidewalk alongside the bike path at Torrance Beach, citing safety conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists.
• Andy Porcha criticized the Rose Float Association for celebrating despite the float breaking down, and opposed renaming the city to “Torrance Beach,” stating Torrance did not originally extend to the beach.
• On item 10I (Irish Fair), Andy Porcha spoke in favor of alcohol sales, joking about drunkenness generating business for police and lawyers. Charlie Salinas opposed a confined beer garden, arguing it would lead to binge drinking before roaming.
• On item 10C (utility box art), two speakers expressed support for the art program.
• On item 10D (commission compensation), a speaker questioned why commissioners receive W-2 forms rather than 1099s, and suggested the compensation should be increased.
• On item 10E (lighting policy), Andy Porcha expressed support.
• On item 10F (annexation), Andy Porcha questioned the financial benefit and warned against expanding the city given its recent low financial ranking.
• On item 10H (legislative platform), a speaker suggested including public observers on delegation trips for transparency.
• In Oral Communications #2, a speaker thanked the fire department, questioned the cost of the lighting policy (claimed it escalated from $12,000 to $100,000), and criticized the council for not heeding earlier warnings.

Discussion Items

9A & 13E – Closed Hearing: Appeal of Police Officer Termination

• The City Council conducted a closed hearing on the appeal of the Civil Service Commission's decision to terminate a police officer. The council voted 7-2 to uphold the termination. (Reported after closed session.)

8H – Third Amendment to Airport Noise Monitoring System

• Councilmember Lewis requested this item be pulled to discuss resident suggestions about noise data. Staff (Michelle Maris, Community Development Director) explained that the current system offers three noise tests per month to pilots, with follow-up from environmental quality officers. She indicated that providing raw data to pilots could be handled internally without an agenda item. The council approved 8H unanimously.

10A – Torrance Beautification Awards

• Staff presented guidelines for a new beautification awards program for residential properties, with nominations, judging by council district, and prizes (certificate, yard sign, $50 gift card). Councilmember Kalani requested adding commercial properties. The council unanimously approved the program with the addition of a commercial category.

10I – 2025 Irish Fair & Music Festival: Beer Garden and Fee Offsets

• Staff (Fran Fulton) updated that the event dates changed to June 14-15, 2025. The council was asked to decide whether alcohol sales should be confined to a designated beer garden or allowed throughout the fenced event area (with wristbands for over-21). Most council members supported allowing alcohol consumption throughout the event area (not a separate beer garden) with wristbands and state ABC compliance, limiting purchases to two drinks at a time. The city estimated $41,000 in costs and fees. After debate, the council voted unanimously to allow alcohol sales within the fenced perimeter with wristbands, and to provide an in-kind contribution not to exceed 50% of city costs (up to $20,770).

10C – Selection of Artworks for Utility Boxes

• The Cultural Arts Commission recommended 13 artworks for the first six utility boxes (one per council district). Council members each selected a preferred artwork for their district: Councilmember Gerson (page 20, Emily Koyoko Chen), Councilmember Kaji (page 17, “Untitled” by Arnell Now), Councilmember Kalani (page 11, Nelly Hanas), Councilmember Matucci (page 13, “Torrance Natives” by Vanessa Andrade), Councilmember Sheikh (page 24, “Point Vicente Lighthouse” by Holly Millstead), and Councilmember Lewis (page 94). The motion to approve the selections carried unanimously.

10D – Commission Compensation

• City Clerk Rebecca Playe presented research on commission compensation, noting that many cities vary and that commissioners currently receive $10 per meeting. Fifteen commissioners have waived their stipend. Councilmember Matucci initially moved to increase to $20 per meeting across all commissions. Councilmember Lewis suggested higher compensation for quasi-judicial commissions (planning, civil service, environmental). After discussion, the original motion for a flat $20 per meeting was voted on and passed 6-2 (Kaji and Sheikh dissenting). Staff was directed to bring back an ordinance amending the municipal code.

10E – External Lighting Policy for City Facilities

• Staff presented a draft policy allowing the city manager to illuminate city facilities with white lights and patriotic colors for holidays, with council retaining authority for other events, and mayor/pro tem authority for championship celebrations (72-hour response). Councilmember Lewis preferred that championship lighting be automatic without needing mayoral approval. The council adopted a motion to amend the policy to remove mayoral authority and simply “just do it” for championships. The motion carried unanimously.

10F – Annexation of El Camino Village

• Staff (Ian Daly) presented a detailed fiscal analysis of potentially annexing the 1.1-square-mile unincorporated area (8,300 residents, 1,761 parcels). One-time costs estimated at $27.2 million (new fire station, police substation, vehicles), with an ongoing operating deficit of $11.5 million. The analysis assumed 50% of property tax split. Council discussion was mixed: Some supported further study citing long-term growth potential (Kaji, Matucci, Lewis); others expressed concerns about costs, police/fire staffing, school district complications, and park conditions (Kalani, Gerson, Sheikh). Mayor Chen suggested forming an ad hoc committee for visioning. A motion to create an ad hoc committee (comprising council members) to continue the discussion passed unanimously. No final annexation decision was made.

10G – Underground Utility District No. 21

• Public Works staff recommended five candidate corridors for the next underground utility district, using $3.9 million in Rule 28 credits that must be allocated by June 1, 2025. The preferred option 1 (Madrona Avenue from Civic Center Drive to Torrance Boulevard) can be fully funded by the credits. Councilmember Sheikh recused himself due to proximity. The council voted to select Option 1 (Madrona Avenue) and set a public hearing for March 25, 2025. The motion carried with Sheikh recused.

10H – 2025 Legislative Platform and Priority Projects

• Staff presented the 2025 legislative platform, including seven priority projects: Civic Center Master Plan land acquisition, alternative fuel infrastructure, vehicle code amendment for parking enforcement, citizen broadband radio system (CBRS), police mobile data computers, rubberized playground surfaces ($14.6M gap), and artificial turf at Columbia Park. The council also accepted December 2024 committee meeting minutes and approved the 2025 delegation trips to Washington D.C. and Sacramento (estimated cost $20,000). The motion carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Police Officer Termination: Upheld Civil Service Commission decision by a 7-2 vote (closed session).
• Consent Calendar Approved: All items except 8H were approved; 8H was later approved separately. All votes unanimous.
• Beautification Awards Program: Approved with addition of commercial property nominations.
• Irish Fair Beer Garden and Fee Offset: Approved alcohol sales throughout the event (not confined beer garden) with wristbands; in-kind city services not to exceed 50% of costs (up to $20,770).
• Utility Box Artwork: Selected six specific artworks for the first six boxes, one per district. Unanimous.
• Commission Compensation: Increased from $10 to $20 per meeting for all commissions. Passed 6-2.
• External Lighting Policy: Adopted with amendment to allow automatic championship lighting without mayoral approval. Unanimous.
• El Camino Village Annexation: Council directed creation of an ad hoc committee (council members) to continue study. No final decision.
• Underground Utility District No. 21: Selected Madrona Avenue corridor; public hearing set for March 25, 2025. Unanimous (councilmember Sheikh recused).
• Legislative Platform and Delegation Trips: Approved 2025 platform, accepted committee minutes, and authorized delegation trips. Unanimous.
• Item 10B (Airport Ordinance Enforcement) Deferred to January 28, 2025.
• Council Concurrence: Granted to City Manager immediate authority to collaborate on wildfire relief efforts (7-0).