July 1, 2025
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL ARMED FORCES DAY SPECIAL STANDING COMMITTEE
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee Meeting convened in a regular meeting on July 1, 2025 at 9:00 am in the LeRoy J. Jackson Council Chamber.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Mattucci, Committee Member Kalani, Committee Member Kaji
Absent: NONE
Present: Management Associate Carlos Huizar, Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The pledge of allegiance was led by Committee Member Kalani.
3. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Chair Mattucci welcomed those in attendance and requested that committee members introduce themselves to the public.
Staff presenting:
LT. Charles Fisher.
4. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
4A. City Manager and Police – Accept and File After Action Updates from 2025 Armed Forces Day and Parade Celebration and Provide Direction on 2026 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration Planning. Expenditure: None.
Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun introduced this item to the Committee, and turned the presentation over to Lt. Fisher using slides • The 2025 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration was an overall success with over 7,600 spectators.
• The average spectators stayed at an average of 92 minutes and most spectators were families and Torrance Residents.
• Main challenges of the 2025 Armed Forces Day Parade was the lack of military presence and participation despite confirmed RSVPs and lack of venue options for 2026.
• Additionally, due to limited participation, funds were spent on dinners and accommodation that were not utilized.
• Safety was excellent in 2025 with improved barriers and extra security detail.
• Staff are concerned and seeking directions on the following items:
July 1, 2025
o Consideration #1: 1-Day Event
▪ Consider streamlining the 3-Day Armed Forces Day
event to a 1-Day Event
▪ More opportunity to reduce staffing and logistical costs. o Consideration #2: Engaging with Military Dignitaries Prior to 2026
▪ Although a success, many RSVPs were no shows,
including the Honored Color Guard.
▪ As an effort to create contact and confirm participation ▪ Possibly an incentivized attendance
o Consideration #3: Evaluate Celebration Alternatives in Lieu of a Parade
▪ Expenses for 2025 estimated total marginal cost at
$498,433
▪ 25% decrease in donations and sponsorships.
▪ Staff recommend a centralized community event at
Wilson Park featuring: The Hero’s Games as an
athletic competition, Live Music/Concert, Veteran’s
Tribute Ceremonies, Fireworks/Drone Show, Honor
Wall, Spirit/Beer Walk, Food Trucks, etc.
• Staff intend to address critical planning considerations early to build on prior successes
Chair Mattucci opened the floor for Public Comment.
No members wished to speak at this time.
Chair Mattucci commends the Torrance Police Department and all City Staff for their hard work on the 2025 Armed Forces Day event. He expressed concern for the lack of participation from the Military.
Committee Member Kalani thanks Lt. Fisher and expressed that the 2025 Armed Forces Day Event was a success. She expressed interest in combining the event to 1-Day event with a Dinner at night, or dinner the night before the event. She suggested a marching band competition implemented into the parade to encourage more participation amongst families. Committee Member Kalani also expressed a desire to continue the use of coins like in the 2025 Event. She also suggested utilizing Honda as a potential site for the 2026 Armed Forces Day event. Additionally, Committee Member Kalani suggested utilizing the Grandstand Seating as an incentive for Military Dignitaries to participate.
Committee Member Kaji thanks Lt. Fisher for the presentation. He expressed concern about the cost incurred of the event. Committee Member Kaji also expressed support to streamline the 3-Day event to a 1-Day event. Committee Member Kaji expressed support for the consideration of alternative venues, including the Honda location.
July 1, 2025
Chairman Mattucci expressed concern that Torrance residents may have lost interest in the Armed Forces Day Parade. He suggested that promotion and marketing for the event should be extended to a 50-mile radius. Chairman Mattucci suggested including a monster truck and/or a Veteran Motorcross as an element of the Armed Forces Day Event to increase participation. He also suggested conducting the Armed Forces Day Event prior to or after fleet week as to not compete with the largeness of that event.
Committee Member Kaji expresses the importance of including ROTC groups in future Armed Forces Day Events.
Chairman Mattucci asked if the Armed Forces Day Committee can get sponsorships from local companies. Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun detailed that historically groups have deterred from sponsoring Armed Forces Day, however the Chamber of Commerce has been responsible for reaching out for donations. She also clarifies that the Committee did invite several ROTC groups for the 2025 Armed Forces Day Event but suggested to reach out more groups.
Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun asks for clarification regarding the direction that the Armed Forces Dat Event Planning team should go in 2026.
Chairman Mattucci clarified that they are requesting for the events planning team present different options of a downsized the event, that will still include the presence of a parade.
Public Manager Jin Chun provides considerations for the committee in terms of safety. Such as condensing it to 1-day event and space constraints.
Chairman Mattucci expresses disinterest in removing the parade from the Armed Forces Day Celebrations. Committee Member Kalani suggested keeping the parade and moving all the following festivities on Civic Center grounds.
Committee Member Kalani also suggested removing the luncheon and consolidating it to a VIP area near the Grandstands.
Committee Member Kaji re-expressed interest for consolidating the 3-Day event to a 1-Day event. Additionally, he expressed interest in changing elements of the events and removing some that are no longer holding traction.
MOTION: Committee Member Kalani moved to concur with staff’s recommendation with the following additional recommendations from the committee: Bring back recommendations for a band competition element, possibly downsizing to a 1-day event, explore the feasibility of selling tickets, increase marketing for the event, explore a new location; such as Honda location, look into the feasibility of a monster truck/motorcross element, and extend invitations to several ROTC groups. The motion also included forwarding July 1, 2025
these recommendations to the City Council. Committee Member Kaji seconded.
The motion carried by a vote of 3-0.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chair Mattucci asked if there were any members of the public that wished to speak under the Public Comment section. No members of the public wished to speak at this time.
6. CLOSING REMARKS
Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun thanked the Committee and LT. Fisher for his comprehensive overview of the 2025 Armed Forces Day Event. Additionally, she thanked members of the Torrance Police Department Traffic Division for all their efforts at the event. She noted that the events planning team will bring back all recommendations to the City Council.
7. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:13 am, Committee Member Kaji moved to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Kalani second. The motion was carried by a vote of 3-0.