INDEX
TORRANCE CITY COUNCIL-JULY 16, 2024
SUBJECT PAGE
OPENING CEREMONIES
1. Call to Order/Roll Call 1
2. Flag Salute/Invocation 1
3. Affidavit of Posting/Waive Further Reading 1
4. Withdrawn, Deferred or Supplemental Items 1
5. Council Committee Meetings and Announcements 2
6. COMMUNITY MATTERS
7. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 2
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
9. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
9A. Adopt RESOLUTION Related to National Opioid Litigation Settlement with Kroger Co. 2
98 . Discuss and Give Direction on City Council Compensation 3 9C . Approve Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Incentive Pilot Program 3-4
10. HEARINGS
11. AGENCY AGENDAS
12. SECOND READING ORDINANCES
13. COUNCIL ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 4
14 . CLOSED SESSION 1, 4
15. ADJOURNMENT 4
At 10:18 p.m., the City Council adjourned to Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. for closed session in the West Annex Commission Meeting Room. Tuesday, July 23, 2024, is a Council Dark Night.
Aleksander Alderete
Minutes Secretary
City Council
July 16, 2024
July 16, 2024
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
OF THE TORRANCE CITY COUNCIL
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Torrance City Council convened in a regular meeting on July 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m . in the Toyota Meeting Hall at 3330 Civic Center Dr.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Gerson, Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen
Absent: None.
Present: City Manager Chaparyan, City Attorney Sullivan, City Clerk Rebecca Poirier and other staff representatives Agenda item 14 was considered out of order at this time.
14. CLOSED SESSION
The City Council immediately recessed to closed session at 5:02 p.m. to confer with the City Manager and the City Attorney on agenda matters listed under 14A) Conference With Legal Counsel -Existing Litigation, 14B) Real Property -Conference With Real Property Negotiator, 14C) Conference With Labor Negotiator, 14D) Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release, and 14E) Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release -Litigation pursuant to California Government Code §54956.9(d)(1 ), California Government Code §54956.8, California Government Code §54957.6, and California Government Code §54957.
The City Council reconvened in public session at 6:36 p.m. No formal action was taken on any item considered in closed session.
2 . FLAG SALUTE/ INVOCATION
The flag salute was led by Councilmember Gerson .
The non-sectarian invocation was given by Councilmember Kaji.
3. REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA/ MOTION TO WAIVE
FURTHER READING
MOTION: Councilmember Mattucci moved that after the City Clerk has read aloud the number and title of any resolution or ordinance on the meeting agenda, the further reading thereof shall be waived, reserving and guaranteeing to each Councilmember the right to demand the reading of any such resolution or ordinance in regular order. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Kalani and passed by 7-0.
4. WITHDRAWN, DEFERRED OR SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS
Supplemental material was available for items 9A, 9B, 9C and Oral Communications .
Aleksander Alderete
Minutes Secretary 1
City Council
July 16, 2024
5. COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Lewis received concurrence to have staff bring an item for analyzing impact of using California vehicle code to enforce e-bike violations . She did not receive concurrence on staff bringing an item involving information about Torrance possibly joining the California Contract Cities Association.
Councilmember Kalani discussed the pickleball information in Torrance was available online.
Mayor Chen overviewed the Torrance Investment Advisory Committee meeting on July 24 and the misunderstanding about Article 15 was clarified by City Attorney Sullivan. 6 . COMMUNITY MATTERS -None Scheduled.
7 . ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Members of the public spoke.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR -None Scheduled.
9. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
9A. ADOPT RESOLUTION RELATED TO NATIONAL OPIOID LITIGATION SETTLEMENT WITH KROGER CO.
Recommendation of the City Attorney that City Council adopt a RESOLUTION approving participation in Nationwide Opioid Litigation Settlement with Kroger Co. and appointing the City Manager as the City's authorized representative and authorizing the City Manager to take all reasonable and necessary actions related to the settlement.
City Attorney Sullivan introduced the item to the City Council.
Members of the public spoke.
Councilmember Sheikh and City Attorney Sullivan discussed how much Torrance may be receiving in funds.
City Clerk Poirier read the number and title for Resolution No. 2024-52 A RESOLUTION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN NATIONWIDE OPIOID SETTLEMENT LITIGATION WITH KROGER CO.
AND APPOINTING THE CITY MANAGER AS THE CITY'S AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ALL REASONABLE AND NECESSARY ACTIONS.
MOTION: Councilmember Kalani moved to adopt Resolution No. 2024-52.
Councilmember Lewis seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 7-0.
Aleksander Alderete
Minutes Secretary 2
City Council
July 16, 2024
9B. DISCUSS AND GIVE DIRECTION ON CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION Recommendation of the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney that City Council discuss and give direction to staff on City Council compensation as a potential amendment to the City Charter.
City Attorney Sullivan introduced the item to the City Council.
Members of the public spoke .
Council member Lewis and City Clerk Poirier discussed the possible costs and issues with separating the issue from the rest of the measure.
Councilmember Mattucci reiterated that getting young, working-class people into the City Council would require a minimum wage given the work necessary.
Councilmember Kalani stated that it was too soon to do this, and that SST was a measure that signaled the city needs money so this would not be good for the city.
Councilmember Sheikh stressed changing and updating the charter was paramount. He added that SST was to keep services up and running.
Councilmember Kaji stated that updating to a minimum-wage would be appropriate. He noted that many in mid-careers could see a minimum wage to help with child and senior costs, and an increase in the number of qualified council members. He continued that the charter needed updating and he supported the charter amendment.
Councilmember Gerson stated that the desire to serve the community should be above a higher salary.
Mayor Chen stated that to have higher compensation should not mean that one is putting salary above a desire to serve the community.
In response to Councilmember Kalani, City Attorney Sullivan responded that it was not illegal for the City Council to be paid $100 per month.
MOTION: Councilmember Mattucci moved to approve the compensation in the item for ballot. Councilmember Kaji seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 5-2 with Councilmember Gerson and Councilmember Kalani voting no. 9C. APPROVE ENHANCED RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION INCENTIVE PILOT
PROGRAM
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council approve an enhanced recruitment and retention incentive pilot program in the amount of approximately $4,625,000 a year.
Assistant to the City Manager Jamie Le introduced the item to the City Council.
Members of the public spoke.
Aleksander Alderete
Minutes Secretary 3
City Council
July 16, 2024
Councilmember Sheikh stated that this was not additional budget funding for the Police.
Finance Director Sheila Poisson elaborated that this was to utilize the existing vacancy savings under the Police Department.
Councilmember Kaji supported using current funds that are held for vacancies and this would help to attract better and more officers.
MOTION: Councilmember Kalani moved to approve item 9C. Councilmember Lewis seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 7-0.
10. HEARINGS -None Scheduled .
11. AGENCY AGENDAS -None Scheduled .
12. SECOND READING ORDINANCES-None Scheduled.
13. CITY COUNCIL ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Members of the public spoke.
In Order, Councilmembers Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, Sheikh, Gerson, and Mayor Chen spoke.
14. CLOSED SESSION
Considered earlier, see page 1. The City Council returned to closed session at 7:58 p.m. to deliberate on matters listed earlier. The City Council returned from closed session at 10: 17 p.m.
No formal action was taken on any item considered in closed session.
15. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Councilmember Gerson moved to adjourn the City Council meeting at 10:18 p.m. to Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. for closed session in the West Annex Commission Meeting Room. Tuesday, July 23, 2024, is a Council Dark Night. Council member Kalani seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 6-1 with Councilmember Sheikh voting no.
Rebecca ai rier
City Clerk of the City of Torrance
Aleksander Alderete
Minutes Secretary
Approved on August 13 ,2024
4 City Council
July 16, 2024