Torrance City Council Meeting – August 11, 2026

This summary covers the August 11, 2026 Torrance City Council meeting. The council convened at 5:03 p.m. for closed session, reconvened in open session at 6:30 p.m., recessed to closed session again at 10:00 p.m., and reconvened at 11:43 p.m. before adjourning. The council approved routine consent items, appointed the 2026-2027 Torrance Youth Council, adopted an India Independence Day proclamation, denied a hillside garage exemption appeal without prejudice, and approved a new public mural at the DoubleTree by Hilton Torrance South Bay.

Closed Session

• The council recessed to closed session for items under agenda 13A (existing litigation), 13B (real property negotiations), and 13C (labor negotiations). No closed-session reportable action was announced in open session.

Community Matters

• 6A – Torrance Youth Council: The council unanimously appointed 18 students to serve as the 2026-2027 Torrance Youth Council, and the members were sworn in during the meeting.
• 6B – India Independence Day: The council adopted a proclamation declaring August 15, 2026 as India Independence Day in the City of Torrance.

Oral Communications #1

• Arthur Shopper opposed automated camera ticketing schemes, said the Traffic Commission had already voted one parking-enforcement proposal down, and asked the council to stop spending the commission's time on cameras. He also urged the council not to ban data centers, arguing regulation, especially in industrial areas, is appropriate.
• Charlie Salinas asked the city to address a large American flag over the old Torrance business district that he said has been in poor condition for months.
• Fred Nichols, a volunteer board member for Destination Art in Old Torrance and Disabled Veterans Charities, requested help publicizing the Veterans Creative Muster workshops, which are free and include lunch.
• Marguerite Petrano from District 5 said illegal fireworks from a nearby home have terrorized her neighborhood since 2021 and asked city staff and police to take stronger action.
• Elizabeth Spatz supported Petrano's fireworks complaint and also asked that the council chamber display screens use a larger font.
• An unidentified speaker questioned several city expenditures, including buying a line from Metro, an overnight parking proposal, trash-can tag mailings, trolley repairs, and the city's El Niño preparation, and criticized potholes.
• Lauren Cottner from District 3 described severe Sunday and Monday night on-street parking problems in her neighborhood and suggested lined parking spaces similar to Hermosa Beach.
• Barbara Ono thanked and praised Torrance senior services, saying an elder-care attorney had referred clients to move parents to Torrance because of those programs.
• A resident who grew up in an Indian American family thanked the council for the India Independence Day proclamation and for supporting the community.
• No remote callers spoke during Oral Communications #1.

Consent Calendar

• With 8H removed and 8J deferred, Councilmember Sheikh pulled 8E for separate discussion. The remaining consent items were approved unanimously.
• The approved consent calendar included: City Council minutes of June 23, 2026; authorization for the Torrance Youth Council workshop at THE ATTIC on August 17, 2026; a new Senior Management Associate job description; the Transit Department's annual claim to Metro for $7,779,832 in Transportation Development Act funds and $1,089,017 in State Transit Assistance funds for FY 2026-27; purchase orders for two Toro Groundsmaster mowers with a total not-to-exceed amount of $391,090.41 and one 2026 Ford F350 service truck with a total not-to-exceed amount of $85,767.89; Measure R/M funding agreement amendments extending various fund lapse dates to June 30, 2027; a five-year license agreement with Ambassador High School for the Dee Hardison Sport Center; and a Second Amendment to the tolling agreement for city-owned property at 24777 Crenshaw Boulevard.
• 8E – Torrance Community Transit Program: Councilmember Sheikh praised the senior transit program, noting roughly 3,500 active participants and fares of about $1, $3, or $5. The council unanimously approved the three-year contract with Administrative Services Cooperative, Inc., at $753,426.75 annually, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $2,260,280.85. The agenda header listed a slightly different total, $2,260,280.25.
• 8H and 8J: The city manager announced 8H was removed to a future meeting; the agenda itself marked 8H as 'Item number not used.' Item 8J, the Del Amo Fashion Center police substation lease, was deferred to the August 25, 2026 council meeting.

Public Hearing 9A – Minor Hillside Exemption Appeal

• The council heard the appeal of the Planning Commission's 7-0 denial of Minor Hillside Exemption MHE25-00051 for a proposed 694-square-foot attached garage at 439 Via Linda Vista, a single-family R-1 lot in the Hillside Overlay. City staff had administratively approved the exemption; neighbors appealed, the Planning Commission denied it on January 21, 2026 and adopted the denial on February 18, 2026, and the homeowners appealed on March 3, 2026.
• Staff recommended upholding the appeal and approving the garage, saying the garage would be about 10 feet 6 inches tall, below the 14-foot minor-exemption threshold, with a 20-foot front setback, 15-foot rear setback, and 5-foot-8-inch side setback. Applicant's attorney Christine Freeze argued the attached ADU was a separate ministerial application under state law and not part of the council's review.
• Community Development Director Michelle Ramirez confirmed that only combined garage-plus-ADU plans were submitted; staff had suggested separate garage-only plans but could not require them.
• Attorney Kendra Carney, representing neighbors, argued the project is one integrated two-story structure about 23.5 feet tall, and that Torrance Municipal Code Section 92.2.10 requires an attached ADU to count toward the height and number of stories of the structure. She argued the city could not call the building two stories for ADU purposes and one story for the hillside exemption, and asked the council to deny the appeal or continue the matter for a complete analysis.
• Several neighbors and residents spoke against the project, including Michael Waltfogel, Jennifer Adams, Sarah Waltfogel, and others. They said there were no complete standalone garage drawings, no clear story poles, and significant view, light, and privacy impacts. Some called the proposal a 'Trojan horse' and warned of a precedent that would allow property owners to bypass the Hillside Overlay.
• Councilmember Carzones recused because he served on the Planning Commission when it heard the item. Councilmember Lewis stated she was recusing because she had emailed a neighbor before the meeting saying she would uphold the Planning Commission's denial. The clerk's later vote announcement named Carzones and Lou as recused; the transcript is not fully clear about the final recusal list, and no minutes were available to reconcile it.
• The council closed the public hearing and, after discussion, voted to deny the appeal without prejudice. The denial upholds the Planning Commission's denial. Per the deputy city attorney, denial without prejudice allows the applicants to refile; if they submit a new project requiring a precise plan of development, it would go through the Planning Commission process.

Administrative Matter 10A – DoubleTree Hilton Mural

• The council adopted Resolution 2026-75, approving the Cultural Arts Commission's recommendation for a public art mural application by CTC Group at the DoubleTree by Hilton Torrance South Bay, 21333 Hawthorne Boulevard, and approved the indemnification agreement for the mural artwork.
• Community Services staff presented the mural, planned for the north exterior wall, with artist Robert Vargas in attendance. Public comment was supportive, including comments from Charlie Salinas, a local restaurant owner, and other residents.
• Councilmembers praised the project, the artist, the DoubleTree, and the Chargers partnership. The council approved both the resolution and the indemnification agreement.

Oral Communications #2 and Council Comments

• No members of the public spoke during Oral Communications #2.
• Councilmembers made announcements about the Torrance Transit game-day service to SoFi Stadium (round-trip fare $4, beginning August 20, with more than 15,000 riders last season), public input on hillside development standards, a request to study a possible data center ordinance, recruitment for three commission vacancies, the District 4 council seat application deadline of August 13 at 5 p.m., the 2026 Commercial Beautification Awards (nominations due August 31), and recent community events including National Night Out, Pakistani Independence Day celebrations, and Kashua sister-city exchange students.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the balance of the consent calendar, with 8E approved separately, 8H removed, and 8J deferred to August 25, 2026.
• Appointed and swore in the 2026-2027 Torrance Youth Council.
• Adopted the India Independence Day proclamation for August 15, 2026.
• Denied the 9A minor hillside exemption appeal without prejudice, upholding the Planning Commission's denial.
• Adopted Resolution 2026-75 and approved the mural indemnification agreement for the DoubleTree Hilton mural.
• Received council concurrence to explore a data center ordinance and to advertise and fill three commission vacancies.
• Adjourned to Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. for closed session.