ORDINANCE NO. 3932
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTIONS 13.1.2,
13.2.2, 13.3.2, 13.4.2, 13.5.2, 13.9.2, 13.10.2, 13.11.2(A),
13.15.2, 13.16.2, 13.18.2, 13.20.020, AND 13.21.030 ALL TITLED "APPOINTMENT AND TERMS OF MEMBERS" AND
SECTIONS 13.1.3, 13.2.3, 13.3.3, 13.5.3, 13.9.3, 13.15.3,
13.16.3, 13.18.3, 13.20.030, and 13.21.040 ALL TITLED
"FILLING OF VACANCIES OF THE TORRANCE MUNICIPAL
CODE RELATING TO APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the City of Torrance is a charter city under California law with a recognized mandate to preserve, protect, and enhance the general health and welfare of its residents; and WHEREAS, on December 19, 2023, the City Council directed the City Clerk to return with an ordinance amending the appointment process of the City's Commissions; and WHEREAS, the adoption of the Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378, because the activity undertaken involves general text amendments that would not cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and does not meet the definition of a "Project" under CEQA. The proposed Ordinance is also exempt from CEQA Guidelines under Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.1.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.1.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy. No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." 1 SECTION 2
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.2.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.2.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy . No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." SECTION 3
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.3 .2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.3.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy. No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." SECTION 4
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.4.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.4.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy . No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." 2 SECTION 5
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.5.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.5.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy. No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." SECTION 6
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.9.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.9.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy. No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." SECTION 7
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.10.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.10.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy. No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." 3 SECTION 8
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.11.2(a) of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.11.2(a) Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy . No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." SECTION 9
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.15.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.15.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy. No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." SECTION 10
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.16.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.16.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy . No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." 4 SECTION 11
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.18.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.18.2 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy . No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." SECTION 12
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.20.020 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.20.020 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy. No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." SECTION 13
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.21 .030 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.21.030 Appointments and Term of Members.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy. No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name." 5 SECTION 14
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.1 .3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.1.3 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
SECTION 15
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.2.3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.2.3 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
SECTION 16
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.3 .3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.3.3 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
SECTION 17
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13 .5.3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.5.3 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
SECTION 18
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.9.3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.9.3 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
6 SECTION 19
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.15.3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.15.3 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
SECTION 20
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.16.3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.16.3 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
SECTION 21
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.18.3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.18.3 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
SECTION 22
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.20.030 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.20.030 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
SECTION 23
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.1.3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.20.030 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
7 SECTION 24
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.21.040 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"13.20.040 Filling of Vacancies.
If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office."
SECTION 25
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason deemed or held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
The City Council of the City of Torrance hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause phrase or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or other portions might subsequently be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 26
Any inconsistent provisions of the Torrance Municipal Code, or any other inconsistent ordinances of the City, are repealed, to the extent of the inconsistencies.
SECTION 27
This ordinance was reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code§§ 21000, et seq., "CEQA") and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal.
Code of Regulations §§15000, et seq., the "CEQA Guidelines"). This ordinance is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15378, because the activity undertaken involves general text amendments that would not cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and does not meet the definition of a "Project" under CEQA. The proposed Ordinance is also exempt from CEQA Guidelines under Section 15061 (b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. 8 SECTION 28
This ordinance shall take effect 30 days after the date of its adoption. Within 15 days following adoption, this ordinance or a summary of this ordinance if authorized by the City Council, will be published at least once in the Daily Breeze, a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City of Torrance.
INTRODUCED and APPROVED this 26th day of March, 2024.
ADOPTED and PASSED this 9th day of April, 2024 .
y George K. Chen
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN, City Attorney
By· td,l1~/Gi_ {L-p_ J '
' -atia Y. Strader, Assistant City Attorney
TORRANCE CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO. 3932
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF TORRANCE
ss
I, Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk of the City of Torrance, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was duly introduced and approved by the City Council of the City of Torrance at a regular meeting held on the 26th day of March 2024 and adopted and passed by said Council at a regular meeting held on the 9th day of April 2024 by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
COUNCILMEMBERS
COUNCILMEMBERS
ABSTAIN : COUNCILMEMBERS
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS
Date : __ l,j l111:_,bn_
Gerson, Kaji, Kalani, Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen .
None.
None.
Lewis .
Rebecca Poirier, MMC
City Clerk of the City of Torrance
9