OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Torrance, California/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Torrance City Council Regular Meeting – August 5, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, August 5, 2025
BodyTorrance, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 5, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Original source
Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

4:26

Good evening.

Unassigned speaker

4:27

I

Speaker 1

4:28

will call the city council meeting to order.

4:29

It's five or four PM.

4:32

May I have a vote call, please.

Unassigned speaker

4:35

Yes,

Speaker 2

4:35

Your Honor.

4:36

Council Member Gerson.

4:37

Present.

4:37

Council Member Kaji.

Speaker 1

4:38

Present.

Speaker 2

4:39

Council Member Kalani.

4:40

Present.

4:41

Council Member Lewis.

4:42

Council Member Matucci.

4:44

Council Member Shake.

Speaker 1

4:45

Present.

Speaker 2

4:46

Mayor Chen.

Speaker 1

4:47

And I too am present.

4:48

I'd like to welcome everyone joining us in the council chambers along with everyone watching remotely.

Unassigned speaker

4:55

For those of you who are wondering why we dress up the way we are, we have the national night out tonight.

Speaker 1

5:01

And this will make us transition to going out to various parts of the city immediately after this council meeting.

5:09

National night out starts at 6 p.m.

5:11

So for those who are watching remotely or in here,

Unassigned speaker

5:14

uh

Speaker 1

5:14

please join us at the six locations of National Night

Unassigned speaker

5:19

Out.

Speaker 1

5:22

Moving on to uh item two, flag salute and invocation.

5:26

We honor those who make it possible for us to be here today.

5:30

If there is anyone here in the audience who is on active duty or a military veteran, will you please stand or raise your hand so that we may recognize

Unassigned speaker

5:39

you?

Speaker 1

5:49

Please remain standing.

5:50

Let's all rise.

5:52

And Councilman Gerson will lead us in the flag salute and councilman Kaji in the invocation.

Unassigned speaker

5:59

And

Speaker 3

5:59

over your heart, ready to begin.

6:01

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for

Unassigned speaker

6:14

all.

Speaker 4

6:16

Thank you.

6:16

Please remain standing.

6:18

Dear Lord, as we come together again as a city council, um, we're called upon to make decisions that will affect our residents and our businesses.

6:27

Please continue to guide us, uh, overcome our differences.

6:31

Let us be able to debate freely and openly because you know that each of us have the best interests of our city at heart.

6:40

So thank you for guiding us, and we ask your blessings on this time.

6:43

In your name, amen.

Speaker 1

6:52

Thank you both.

6:55

Moving on to item three, announcements of withdrawn, deferred and/or supplemental items.

Unassigned speaker

7:01

Thank

Speaker 5

7:01

you, Honor.

7:07

Which is the youth council and assistance and oversight committee creation.

7:11

This is the ordinance has been revised to add historic preservation to section 13.21.20.

7:17

And the order summary was revised to remove the scrimmage error.

7:20

We also have the supplemental material for AJ, City Manager to approve assignment assumption of Gown Lease and Groundlease Estable.

7:27

Certificates of City Owned Property Locate 3455, 3511 and 3525 Pacific Coast Highway.

7:34

Thank you, Honor.

Speaker 1

7:36

Thank you.

7:37

Moving on to item four.

Unassigned speaker

7:42

Just

Speaker 1

7:43

want to make sure I got this right.

7:44

I'll take a motion to waive further reading of resolutions and ordinances after number and title.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Community Engagement████████████████████20%
Veterans Affairs██████████████████18%
Arts And Culture█████████████13%
Affordable Housing████████████12%
Transportation Safety████4%
Public Engagement███3%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Torrance City Council Regular Meeting – August 5, 2025

The Torrance City Council held a regular meeting on August 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. The meeting covered community recognitions, including the introduction of student exchange participants from Kashiwa, Japan, the launch of the City Academy of the Arts, the 2025 summer musical "Something Rotten!", and a proclamation declaring August 7, 2025, as Purple Heart Day. The Council unanimously approved the consent calendar, which included several routine items and ordinances, and conducted a public hearing on amendments to the Torrance Municipal Code regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs, adopting the ordinance unanimously after hearing public comment.

Consent Calendar

  • 8A: Approved City Council minutes from June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24, and July 8, 2025.
  • 8B: Accepted and filed the Investment Report for May 2025.
  • 8C: Adopted Ordinance No. 3951 (second and final reading) amending municipal code sections related to districts and adding a religious and higher education institution housing overlay zone.
  • 8D: Adopted Ordinance No. 3953 amending compensation for commissioners, with a General Fund expenditure of $16,650.
  • 8E: Approved revised class specifications for Fire Prevention Manager/Fire Marshal, Fire Prevention Specialist, Fire Prevention Supervisor, and Senior Fire Prevention Specialist.
  • 8F: Approved revised class specification for Lead Maintenance Worker.
  • 8G: Awarded a public works agreement to Gentry General Engineering, Inc. for the Cabrillo Urban Forestry Project ($1,442,035.60); approved plans and specifications; adopted CEQA categorical exemption.
  • 8H: Approved Transit Department’s submittal of annual claims for Transportation Development Act ($7,267,655) and State Transit Assistance funds ($1,819,692) for FY 2025-26.
  • 8I: Adopted a resolution establishing a Mills Act application process and review procedure; determined CEQA exemption.
  • 8J: Approved assignment and assumption of ground lease (from JAS Madison I, LLC to KLM Madison, LLC) and Ground Lessor Estoppel Certificate for city-owned property at 3455, 3511, and 3525 Pacific Coast Highway.
  • 8K: Approved a fifth amendment to a fee agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore for legal services ($7,327.27, new not-to-exceed $362,327.27).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Oral Communications #1: Several residents spoke. One resident thanked the city for roadwork on Anza Avenue and referenced an item on commissioner compensation (8D). A speaker shared a personal reflection on Purple Heart recipients and military sacrifices. A representative of Vietnam Bear in America Chapter 53 thanked the council for the Purple Heart proclamation. Another speaker, Andy Porchop, expressed appreciation for U.S. military but criticized allowing non-citizens (exchange students) to approach the podium while citizens had to stand.
  • Public Hearing on ADU Ordinance (Item 9A):
    • Joe Buck (41-year hillside resident) argued the Planning Commission had not provided sufficient analysis and recommended the council consider height limitations on ADUs as allowed under state law.
    • Charles Michelle Damer criticized state mandates on ADUs, suggesting that ADUs built without parking should prohibit tenants from owning motorized vehicles, and that the homeowner should be required to live on the property for fixed leases of at least six months.
    • Andy Porchop deferred to “Michelle Ramirez” (likely referring to a city staff member) and commented on state overreach.

Discussion Items

  • 9A – ADU and Junior ADU Ordinance Amendments: Staff presented a summary of proposed amendments to consolidate and update ADU/JADU regulations, including removal of covenant language, height revisions, removal of a zonal map, addition of objective design standards, and alignment with new state law. The council opened the public hearing, heard testimony, and closed the hearing. No council questions were raised. Council member Ransom moved to adopt the ordinance, including CEQA exemption, the ordinance itself, and the ordinance summary for publication. The motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: All items (8A–8K) approved, including ordinances and resolution, by unanimous vote.
  • ADU Ordinance (Item 9A): Ordinance No. 3954 adopted unanimously, amending Torrance Municipal Code Sections 92.2.10 and deleting Section 92.2.11 regarding junior ADUs.
  • Council Announcements:
    • Councilmember Sheikh sought concurrence to bring back a prior item on cottage food ordinance and holiday lights display; concurrence was not granted (no third vote). He also received concurrence to bring back commission appointments for three vacancies.
    • Councilmember Matucci announced the return of Torrance Transit game-day service to SoFi Stadium for 2025 NFL season (three preseason, 16 regular season games); round-trip fare $4; free parking at Mary K. Giordano Regional Transit Center.
  • Councilmember Kaji and others wished everyone a happy National Night Out.
  • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:01 p.m. to Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. for closed session.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I will call the city council meeting to order. It's five or four PM. May I have a vote call, please. Yes, Your Honor. Council Member Gerson. Present. Council Member Kaji. Present. Council Member Kalani. Present. Council Member Lewis. Council Member Matucci. Council Member Shake. Present. Mayor Chen. And I too am present. I'd like to welcome everyone joining us in the council chambers along with everyone watching remotely. For those of you who are wondering why we dress up the way we are, we have the national night out tonight. And this will make us transition to going out to various parts of the city immediately after this council meeting. National night out starts at 6 p.m. So for those who are watching remotely or in here, uh please join us at the six locations of National Night Out. Moving on to uh item two, flag salute and invocation. We honor those who make it possible for us to be here today. If there is anyone here in the audience who is on active duty or a military veteran, will you please stand or raise your hand so that we may recognize you? Please remain standing. Let's all rise. And Councilman Gerson will lead us in the flag salute and councilman Kaji in the invocation. And over your heart, ready to begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please remain standing. Dear Lord, as we come together again as a city council, um, we're called upon to make decisions that will affect our residents and our businesses. Please continue to guide us, uh, overcome our differences. Let us be able to debate freely and openly because you know that each of us have the best interests of our city at heart. So thank you for guiding us, and we ask your blessings on this time. In your name, amen. Thank you both. Moving on to item three, announcements of withdrawn, deferred and/or supplemental items. Thank you, Honor. Which is the youth council and assistance and oversight committee creation.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com