TORRANCE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
FEBRUARY 27, 2024
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
5:00 P.M. - CLOSED SESSION
6:30 P.M. - REGULAR BUSINESS BEGINS
IN COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 3031 TORRANCE BL.
CITY COUNCIL MAY TAKE ACTION ON ANY ITEM LISTED ON THE AGENDA
City Council Agenda 02-27-24
OPENING CEREMONIES
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
ROLL CALL : Councilmembers Griffiths, Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen
14. CLOSED SESSION
14A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (California Government Code §54956.9(d)(1)):
1) Deborah Walls v. City of Torrance, et al. LASC Case No. 24TRCV00286 2) Sling Flying Club, LLC, DBA Sling Pilot Academy v. City of Torrance, et al. LASC Case No. 23STCP04538
3) Eric Hickman v. City of Torrance LASC Case No. 19STCV37386 14A - STAFF REPORT
14B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (California Government Code §54957.6): Agency Negotiator: Aram Chaparyan Employee
Organization/Association:
1. Certain Full-Time Salaried and Hourly Employees
2. Certain Part-Time Hourly Employees
3. Crossing Guards
4. Elected Officials
5. Engineers and Torrance Fiscal Employees Association
6. Executive & Management Employees
7. Police & Fire Trainees
8. Safety Management Employees
9. Torrance City Employees Association
10. Fire Safety Management
11. Torrance Fire Fighters Association
12. Torrance Library Employees Association
13. Torrance Municipal Employees/AFSCME Local 1117 AFL-CIO
14. Torrance Police Commanders Association (TPCA)
15. Torrance Police Officers Association
16. Torrance Professional Parks & Recreation Employees Organization
17. Torrance Professional & Supervisory Association
18. Torrance Recurrent Recreational Employees Organization
19. City Treasurer
20. City Clerk
21. City Attorney
22. City Manager
14C. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE (California Government Code §54957)
14D. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (California Government Code §54957(b)(1)): Title: City Attorney
14E. REAL PROPERTY – CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR (California Government Code §54956.8):
1) Property: 20500 Madrona Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503 Agency Negotiator: Aram Chaparyan Negotiating Parties: City of Torrance and California Water Service Company Under Negotiation: Terms and conditions of easement
2) Property: 20500 Madrona Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503 Agency Negotiator: Aram Chaparyan Negotiating Parties: City of Torrance and Water Replenishment District Under Negotiation: Price and terms and conditions of lease 3) Property: 25225 Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90505 Agency Negotiator: Aram Chaparyan Negotiating Parties: City of Torrance and Armstrong Garden Centers, Inc.
Under Negotiation: Price and terms and conditions of lease
RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION - Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1)
10. HEARINGS
10A. City Manager – Conduct Closed Hearing on the Appeal of the Civil Service Commission Decision Sustaining the Termination of a Police Services Officer.
Consideration of Public Employee Discipline Will Be Conducted in Closed Session Per California Government Code Section 54957(B)(1), Unless the Employee Requests to Have the Appeal Conducted in Public Session. The Deliberation of this Matter by the City Council Will Occur in Closed Session.
Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council conduct a closed hearing to consider an appeal of the Civil Service Commission’s decision sustaining the termination of a Police Services Officer, unless the employee requests to have the hearing in public session and that the City Council’s deliberation of this matter shall occur in closed session. 10A - STAFF REPORT
RECONVENED IN PUBLIC SESSION
2. FLAG SALUTE: Councilmember Griffiths
NON SECTARIAN INVOCATION: Councilmember Kalani
3. REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK ON THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA The agenda was posted on the Public Notice Board at 3031 Torrance Bl. and on the City’s Website on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 /s/ Rebecca Poirier.
3 - AFFIDAVIT
MOTION TO WAIVE FURTHER READING OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES AFTER NUMBER & TITLE – See Council Rules of Order Section 2.11 (Resolution 2006-65)
4. ANNOUNCEMENT OF WITHDRAWN, DEFERRED, AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS
5. COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
6. COMMUNITY MATTERS
6A. City Manager – Appoint Torrance Representative to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board.
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council appoint Kimberley Miller to serve on the South Bay Workforce Investment Board.
6A - STAFF REPORT
6B. PROCLAMATION declaring March 7 - 14, 2024 as California Arbor Week in the City of Torrance.
6B - STAFF REPORT
6C. PROCLAMATION declaring March 2024 as American Red Cross Month in the City of Torrance.
6C - STAFF REPORT
7. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS #1 (Limited up to a 15 minute period) This portion of the meeting is reserved for comment on items under the Consent Calendar or items that are not on the agenda. Under the Ralph M. Brown Act, City Council cannot act on items raised during public comment, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed; request clarification; or refer the item to staff. Speakers under Orals are limited to either Oral Communications #1 or Oral Communications #2 and no longer than 1 minute per speaker. Time starts when you step up to the microphone. If presenting handout material to Council, please provide 11 copies to the City Clerk before speaking.
PUBLIC COMMENT
PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED AFTER 5:30 P.M. ON 02/26/24 AND BEFORE 10:58 P.M.ON 02/27/24
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion and one vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed by a Councilmember from the Consent Calendar and considered separately..
8A. City Clerk – Approve City Council Minutes. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Clerk that City Council approve the City Council minutes of February 6, 2024.
8B. Community Services – Consider and Approve Little Free Library Book-Sharing Pilot Program at Various City Parks and Authorize In-Kind Services. Expenditure:
$1,730 (General Fund).
Recommendation of the Community Services Director that City Council:
1) Consider and approve a little free library book-sharing pilot program at various City parks; and
2) Authorize in-kind services in the amount of $1,730 to install posts for eight (8) little library boxes.
8B - STAFF REPORT
8C. City Treasurer – Accept and File Investment Report for the Month of November 2023. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Treasurer that City Council accept and file the Investment Report for the month of November 2023.
8C - STAFF REPORT
8D. City Treasurer – Accept and File Investment Report for the Month of December 2023. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Treasurer that City Council accept and file the Investment Report for the month of December 2023.
8D - STAFF REPORT
9. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
9A. Public Works – Adopt Categorical Exemption Under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15301(c) – Existing Facilities (Class 1), Approve Plans and Specifications, Appropriate Funds, and Award Public Works Agreement for the Residential and Arterial Pavement Improvement Program, I- 159/I-139. Expenditure: $21,252,480 (General Fund and Non-General Funds).
Recommendation of the Public Works Director that City Council:
1) Adopt a categorical exemption, pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the guidelines implementing CEQA for the Residential and Arterial Pavement Improvement Program, I-159/I-139 (B2023-42); and
2) Approve the plans and specifications for the Residential and Arterial Pavement Improvement Program, I-159/I-139 (B2023-42); and
3) Appropriate $46,000 from the Airport Fund’s fund balance to the Arterial Pavement Improvement Program, I-139; and
4) Award a public works agreement to All American Asphalt of Corona, CA (B2023-42) in the amount of $18,480,420 and authorize a 15% contingency in the amount of $2,772,060 for construction of the Residential and Arterial Pavement Improvement Program, I-159/I-139 for a two-year period beginning February 27, 2024, and ending February 26, 2026.
9A - STAFF REPORT
9B. Public Works – Approve First Amendment to Public Works Agreement for Van Ness Water Wells Transmission Main, I-145. Expenditure: $1,000,000 (Non- General Fund).
Recommendation of the Public Works Director that City Council approve a first amendment to the public works agreement with Vido Artukovich & Son, Inc. / Vidmar, Inc., a California joint venture of South El Monte, CA (C2022-054) in the amount of $1,000,000, for a new not-to-exceed amount of $15,832,149.85, to provide construction services for the Van Ness Water Wells Transmission Main, I-145 and to extend the term for an additional one-year period beginning April 12, 2024 and ending April 11, 2025. 9B - STAFF REPORT
9C. City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney – Consider and Give Direction on Potential City Charter Amendments. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney that City Council:
1) Direct staff on public hearing dates for potential City Charter amendments; and 2) Direct staff on potential amendments to the City Charter. 9C - STAFF REPORT PART 1
9C - STAFF REPORT PART 2
9C - STAFF REPORT PART 3
9C - STAFF REPORT PART 4
9C - STAFF REPORT PART 5
9C - SUPPLEMENTAL
9D. Finance - Discuss and Provide Direction Regarding Forensic Review of Financial Processes. Expenditure: None.
In response to an oral request by Councilmember Jon Kaji with City Council concurrence, it is the recommendation of the Finance Director that City Council provide direction regarding a forensic review of financial processes.
9D - STAFF REPORT
9E. City Manager – Adopt RESOLUTION Pursuant to Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Setting Forth Hours, Wages, and Working Conditions for Torrance Police Officers Association (TPOA). Expenditure: $5,769,258 (General Fund:
Approximately $3,061,239 Annually).
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council adopt a RESOLUTION pursuant to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) setting forth the hours, wages, and working conditions for employees represented by the Torrance Police Officers Association (TPOA) for the period beginning January 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2025. 9E - STAFF REPORT
9F. City Manager – Adopt RESOLUTION Setting Forth Changes to Hours, Wages, and Working Conditions for Police Trainee. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council adopt a RESOLUTION amending Resolution No. 2023-06 setting forth changes to the hours, wages, and working conditions for Police Trainee regarding pay ranges and health insurance contributions. 9F - STAFF REPORT
9G. City Manager - Consider and Approve Reinstatement of Membership with League of California Cities. Expenditure: $35,522.75 (General Fund).
In response to an oral request by Mayor George Chen with City Council concurrence, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that City Council:
1) Consider and approve reinstatement of membership with the League of California Cities; and
2) Appropriate $35,522.75 from the General Fund’s fund balance to the City Council’s fiscal year 2023-24 operating budget.
9G - STAFF REPORT
9G - SUPPLEMENTAL
9H. City Manager and Community Services – Provide Direction on Los Angeles Dodgers Game Date, Approve Purchase of 1,000 Tickets, Provide Direction on Add-On Options, and Authorize Resale of Tickets to Torrance Community Members. Expenditure: Not-to-Exceed $31,710 (General Fund).
Recommendation of the City Manager and Community Services Director that City Council:
1) Provide direction on selecting one of three Los Angeles Dodgers game date options and approve the purchase of 1,000 tickets for an amount not-to-exceed $31,010; and 2) Provide direction on the purchase of an on-field photo opportunity for up to 30 people for an amount not-to-exceed $200; and
3) Provide direction on the purchase of a visiting team batting practice experience for up to 30 people for an amount not-to-exceed $500; and
4) Authorize the resale of 1,000 Los Angeles Dodgers game tickets to Torrance community members at $15.00 per ticket.
9H - STAFF REPORT
9H - SUPPLEMENTAL
9I. Community Services – Discuss and Provide Direction Regarding 2024 City- Sponsored 4th of July Fireworks Show. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the Community Services Director that City Council discuss and provide direction regarding a City-sponsored 4th of July fireworks show at the Torrance Civic Center on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
9I - STAFF REPORT
11. AGENCY AGENDAS – None Scheduled.
12. 2ND READING ORDINANCES – None Scheduled.
13. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS #2 (Limited up to a 15 minute period) Council Order – Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, Griffiths, Mayor Chen This portion of the meeting is reserved for comment on items not on the agenda. Under the Ralph M. Brown Act, City Council cannot act on items raised during public comment, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed; request clarification; or refer the item to staff.
Speakers under Orals are limited to either Oral Communications #1 or Oral Communications #2 and no longer than 1 minute per speaker. Time starts when you step up to the microphone. If presenting handout material to Council, please provide 11 copies to the City Clerk before speaking.
RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION - Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1)
RECONVENED IN PUBLIC SESSION
15. ADJOURNMENT
15A. Adjournment of City Council meeting to Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. for closed session, with regular business commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber. Tuesday, March 5, 2024, is a Council Dark Night. 15A - STAFF REPORT