TORRANCE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
APRIL 23, 2024
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
Revised City Council 04-23-2024
*Denotes the item was modified after posting of the agenda.
OPENING CEREMONIES
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
: Councilmembers Gerson, Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen
14. CLOSED SESSION
*The following item was modified on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
14A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to California Government Code § 54956.9(d)(2)):
Two cases.
14A - REVISED 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. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (California Government Code §54956.9(d)(1)):
1) Eric Hickman v. City of Torrance LASC Case No. 19STCV37386 2) Torrance Airport Association Chapter of California Pilots Association v. City of Torrance LASC 24STCP00729 and USDC 2:24-cv-02692-JFW-MRW
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: 23701 Ocean Avenue, Torrance, CA 90505 Agency Negotiator: Aram Chaparyan Negotiating Parties: City of Torrance and Riviera Little League Under Negotiation: Terms and conditions of lease
2) Property: 5550 Towers Street, Torrance, CA 90503 Agency Negotiator: Aram Chaparyan Negotiating Parties: City of Torrance and West Torrance Little League Under Negotiation: Terms and conditions of lease
3) Property: 23009 Doris Way, Torrance, CA 90505 Agency Negotiator: Aram Chaparyan Negotiating Parties: City of Torrance and Torrance American Boys Baseball Under Negotiation: Terms and conditions of lease
4) Property: 1740 Plaza Del Amo, Torrance, CA 90501 Agency Negotiator: Aram Chaparyan Negotiating Parties: City of Torrance and Torrance Little League Under Negotiation: Terms and conditions of lease
RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION - Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1)
RECONVENED IN PUBLIC SESSION
2. FLAG SALUTE: Councilmember Sheikh
NON-SECTARIAN INVOCATION: Councilmember Gerson
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, April 17, 2024 /s/ Rebecca Poirier.
3 - REVISED 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. RESOLUTION NO. 2024-16 honoring Councilmember Mike Griffiths for his many years of dedicated service to the Community. (For Adoption Only) 6A - STAFF REPORT
6B. PROCLAMATION declaring the month of April as DMV/Donate Life Month in the City of Torrance.
6B - STAFF REPORT
6C. PROCLAMATION declaring April 21-27, 2024 as National Volunteer Week in the City of Torrance.
6C - STAFF REPORT
6D. Recognition of 2024 Hometown Heroes Banner Recipients. 6D - STAFF PRESENTATION
7. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS #1 (Limited up to a 15-minute period) This portion of the meeting is reserved for comments 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. Handouts will be distributed while you speak.
PUBLIC COMMENT
PUBLIC COMMENT received after 5:30 p.m. on 4/22/2024 and before 2:01 a.m. on 4/24/24
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 March 12, 2024 and March 26, 2024.
8B. Finance and Transit – Approve Annual Membership Renewal with California Transit Indemnity Pool (CalTIP) for Program Year 2024-25. Expenditure: Not-to- Exceed $543,193 (Non-General Fund).
Recommendation of the Finance Director and Transit Director that City Council approve the annual membership renewal with California Transit Indemnity Pool (CalTIP) for an amount not-to-exceed $543,193 for a one-year period beginning May 1, 2024, and ending May 1, 2025.
8B - STAFF REPORT
8C. City Treasurer – Accept and File Investment Report for the Month of February 2024. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Treasurer that City Council accept and file the Investment Report for the month of February 2024.
8C - STAFF REPORT
8D. City Manager – Approve Request for Subsidy of Rental Fees for Use of Toyota Meeting Hall by California State Legislature on Behalf of Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi. Expenditure: $680 (General Fund).
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council approve a request for subsidy of rental fees in the amount of $680 for use of the Toyota Meeting Hall by the California State Legislature on behalf of Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi for a Homeless Townhall to be held on May 11, 2024.
8D - STAFF REPORT
8E. City Manager – Approve Request to Set Closed Hearing Date to Consider Employee Suspension Appeal. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council approve request to set a date of Tuesday, May 21, 2024 to conduct a closed hearing to consider an appeal of the Civil Service Commission’s decision sustaining the suspension of a Police Officer (10). 8E - STAFF REPORT
8F. Transit – Approve Torrance Transit Fiscal Year 2023-25 Short Range Transit Plan and Authorize Submission to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority.
Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the Transit Director that City Council:
1) Approve the Torrance Transit Fiscal Year 2023-25 Short Range Transit Plan; and 2) Authorize submission of the Torrance Transit Fiscal Year 2023-25 Short Range Transit Plan to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 8F- STAFF REPORT
9. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
9A. Finance – Discuss and Provide Direction on Proceeding with Forensic Review of Financial Processes. General Fund Expenditure: $68,090 (Pending City Council Approval).
Recommendation of the Finance Director that City Council discuss and provide direction on proceeding with a forensic review of the City’s financial processes from fiscal year 2014-15 through fiscal year 2022-23 in the amount of $68,090, pending City Council approval. 9A - STAFF REPORT
9B. City Manager – Adopt RESOLUTION Approving and Establishing Citywide Governance by District Elected Policy. Expenditure: None. In response to an oral request by Mayor George K. Chen with City Council concurrence, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that City Council adopt a RESOLUTION approving and establishing Citywide Governance by District Elected Policy. 9B - STAFF REPORT
9C. City Manager – Discuss and Provide Direction on Declaring City Council Dark Nights. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council discuss and provide direction on declaring City Council Dark Nights for July to December 2024. 9C - STAFF REPORT
9C - SUPPLEMENTAL
9E. Community Services – Review Applications and Appoint Members to Advisory Committee for World War II Camp Wall Monument Project at Columbia Park.
Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the Community Services Director that City Council review applications and appoint three (3) members to fill the five-member advisory committee for the World War II Camp Wall Monument Project at Columbia Park.
9E - STAFF REPORT
9E - SUPPLEMENTAL #1
9E - SUPPLEMENTAL #2
9F. Community Services – Discuss and Provide Direction on Establishing Off-Leash Dog Park at Columbia Park. General Fund Expenditure: Approximately $88,829 (Pending City Council Approval).
Recommendation of the Community Services Director that City Council discuss and provide direction on establishing an off-leash dog park at Columbia Park in the amount of approximately $88,829, pending City Council approval.
9F - STAFF REPORT
9G. City Manager – Adopt RESOLUTION Setting Forth Hours, Wages, and Working Conditions for Executive and Management Employees. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council:
1) Adopt a RESOLUTION setting forth the hours, wages, and working conditions for Executive and Management employees; and
2) Repeal Resolution No. 2023-12 in its entirety.
9G - STAFF REPORT
9H. Finance – Approve City Clerk’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 Operating Budget Program Modification. Expenditure: $122,794 Annually (General Fund).
Recommendation of the Finance Director that City Council approve the program modification in the City Clerk’s fiscal year 2023-24 General Fund operating budget in the amount of $122,794 per year.
9H - STAFF REPORT
9I. General Services – Receive Update on City Hall Exterior Lighting Project and Provide Direction on Installing Permanent Multi-Color Lighting System at City Hall. General Fund Expenditure: $21,414 (Pending City Council Approval).
Recommendation of the General Services Director that City Council receive an update on the City Hall exterior lighting project and provide direction on installing a permanent, multi- color lighting system at City Hall to allow the City to celebrate various holidays and acknowledgements throughout the year in the amount of $21,414, pending City Council approval.
9I - STAFF REPORT
9J. City Manager and Community Services – Provide Direction Regarding Purchase of Additional Tickets for Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Game and Authorize Resale of Tickets to Torrance Community Members. General Fund Expenditure:
Not-to-Exceed $18,000 (Pending City Council Approval).
Recommendation of the City Manager and Community Services Director that City Council:
1) Provide direction regarding the purchase of up to 500 additional tickets for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game on July 21, 2024 for an amount not-to exceed $18,000, pending City Council approval; and
2) Authorize the resale of 500 Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game tickets to Torrance community members at $15.00 per ticket.
9J - STAFF REPORT
9K. Community Development – Discuss and Consider Proposed Amendments to Downtown Torrance Signage Standards, Adopt RESOLUTION Amending Downtown Torrance Signage Standards, and Determine that the Project is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(3) and 15061(b)(3). Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the Community Development Director that City Council:
1) Discuss and consider the proposed amendments to the Downtown Torrance Signage Standards; and
2) Adopt a RESOLUTION amending the Downtown Torrance Signage Standards; and 3) Determine that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(3) and 15061(b)(3). 9K - STAFF REPORT
9K - STAFF PRESENTATION
9L. City Manager and Human Resources – Accept and File City of Torrance 2023 Year in Review – Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council accept and file the City of Torrance 2023 Year in Review annual report.
9L - STAFF REPORT
9L - STAFF PRESENTATION
9M. Mayor – Appoint Members to Outside Regional Boards and Agencies.
Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the Mayor that City Council:
1) Concur with the appointments as voting delegate and/or member and alternate to National League of Cities; League of California Cities; the Sanitation Districts of LA County; the Southern California Association of Governments; South Bay Cities Council of Governments; Independent Cities Association; US Conference of Mayors, West Vector Control District of LA County and Torrance Sister City Association; and 2) Direct the City Clerk to update and post Form 806 on the City website. 9M - STAFF REPORT
9M - SUPPLEMENTAL
9D. City Manager – Select and Appoint Chairs and Members to City Council Committees. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council select and appoint chairs and members to City Council standing and special standing committees in accordance with the City Council Rules of Order.
9D - STAFF REPORT
RECESS
RECONVENE
RECESS
RECONVENE
10. HEARINGS
10A-
1. Special Counsel - Conduct Second Hearing on Proposed Amendments to City Charter Concerning City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and City Treasurer Positions. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the Special Counsel that City Council:
1) Conduct the second Public Hearing on potential amendments to the City Charter regarding the positions of City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Treasurer; and
2) Direct the Special Counsel to draft City Charter amendment language that modernizes the City Manager and City Attorney Charter language to (1) comply with the law; (2) use gender-neutral language; and (3) eliminate any unnecessary terms; and 3) Determine what voting requirements, if any, should be included in the City Charter for the termination of the City Manager and City Attorney and direct the Special counsel to draft language to effectuate this determination; and
4) Determine what termination procedure, if any, should be included in the City Charter for the City Manager and City Attorney positions and direct the Special Counsel to draft language to effectuate this determination; and
5) Set the date of the third Public Hearing.
10A-1 STAFF REPORT
10A-
2. City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney - Conduct Second Public Hearing on Potential City Charter Amendments. Expenditure: None.
Recommendation of the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney that City Council:
1) Conduct the second Public Hearing on potential amendments to the City Charter; and 2) Discuss and determine action on potential amendments to the City Charter; and 3) Set the date of the third Public Hearing.
10A2 - STAFF REPORT
11. AGENCY AGENDAS – None Scheduled.
12. 2ND READING ORDINANCES – None Scheduled.
RECESS
RECONVENE
13. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS #2 (Limited up to a 15-minute period) Council Order – Gerson, Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen. This portion of the meeting is reserved for comments 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. Handouts will be distributed while you speak.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
15. ADJOURNMENT
15A. Adjournment of City Council meeting to Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. for closed session, with regular business commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Leroy J.
Jackson Council Chamber. Tuesday, April 30, 2024, is a Council Dark Night. 15A - STAFF REPORT