8A
Date: August 19, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
By: Robert Williams, Deputy City Clerk I | [email protected] Subject: SECOND AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 3953
RECOMMENDATION
Second and Final Reading of ORDINANCE NO. 3953 amending Sections 13.1.1(c), 13.2.1,
13.3.1, 13.4.1, 13.5.1, 13.9.1, 13.10.1, 13.11.1, 13.15.1, 13.16.1, 13.18.1, 13.20.010, and
13.21.020 all titled “Created, Composition, Compensation, and Qualifications” of the Torrance Municipal Code relating to Compensation of Commissioners and approval of the Ordinance Summary for publication. This item is for consideration of adoption of the ordinance only. The item was previously discussed, and action was taken at a prior council meeting.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
At the regular meeting of the City Council held on August 5, 2025, this Ordinance was discussed, introduced, and approved for its first reading by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS Gerson, Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen.
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS None.
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS None.
RECUSED: COUNCILMEMBERS None.
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS None.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance No. 3953
2. Ordinance Summary
1 1
ORDINANCE NO. 3953
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTIONS
13.1.1(c), 13.2. 1, 13.3. 1, 13.4. 1, 13.5. 1, 13.9. 1, 13.10. 1,
13.11.1, 13.15. 1, 13.16.1, 13.18. 1, 13.20.0 10, AND
13.21.020 ALL TITLED “CREATED, COMPOSITION,
COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS” OF THE
TORRANCE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO
COMPENSATION 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 17, 2024, the City Council directed the City Clerk to return with an ordinance amending the compensation for 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 th e 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 ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1
Chapter 3 of Article 1 of Division 1, Section 13.1.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.1.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Planning Commission for the City, consisting of seven members. b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenditures directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.1.7 at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended not to exceed four meetings per calendar month. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
2 ATTACHMENT 1
2 SECTION 2
Chapter 3 of Article 2 of Division 1, Section 13.2.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.2.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Parks and Recreation Commission for the City, consisting of temporarily of eleven members, due to the consolidation of the Community Services Commission with the Parks and Recreation Commission.
b) The expanded number of commissioners will gradually reduce over time as commissioners’ terms expire and those commissioners are not eligible for reappointment. c) The Parks and Recreation Commission shall return to its statutory seven members as commissioners leave due to attrition.
d) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. e) The members of the Commission shall be paid, in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenses directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.2.7, at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
SECTION 3
Chapter 3 of Article 3 of Division 1, Section 13.3.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.3.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Library Commission for the City, consisting of seven members. b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid, in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenses directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.3.7, at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed the sum of sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter
SECTION 4
Chapter 3 of Article 4 of Division 1, Section 13.4.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.4.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created an Airport Commission for the City, consisting of seven members. b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid, in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenses directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.4.7, at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed the sum of sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
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SECTION 5
Chapter 3 of Article 5 of Division 1, Section 13.5.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.5.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Water Commission for the City, consisting of seven members. b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid, in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenses directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.5.7, at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed the sum of sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
SECTION 6
Chapter 3 of Article 9 of Division 1, Section 13.9.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.9.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Traffic Commission of the City, consisting of seven members. b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid, in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenses directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.9.7, at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed the sum of sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
SECTION 7
Chapter 3 of Article 10 of Division 1, Section 13.10.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.10.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Civil Service Commission for the City, consisting of seven members.
b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenditures at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended not to exceed four meetings per calendar month. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
SECTION 8
Chapter 3 of Article 11 of Division 1, Section 13.11.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.11.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Commission of the City, consisting of three members, to be known as the Parking Place Commission.
b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid their ordinary and necessary expenses.
The members shall be paid at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed the sum of sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
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SECTION 9
Chapter 3 of Article 15 of Division 1, Section 13.15.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.15.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Cultural Arts Commission for the City, consisting of seven members.
b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid, in lieu of the ordinary and necessary expenses directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.15.7, at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
SECTION 10
Chapter 3 of Article 16 of Division 1, Section 13.16.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.16.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created an Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commission for the City, consisting of seven members.
b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid, in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenses directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.16.7 at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed the sum of sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
SECTION 11
Chapter 3 of Article 18 of Division 1, Section 13.18.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.18.1 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Commission on Aging for the City, consisting of seven members. b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) In lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenses directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.18.7 the Commission members shall be paid twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
SECTION 12
Chapter 3 of Article 20 of Division 1, Section 13.20.0 10 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.20.010 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) There is hereby created a Social Services Commission for the City, consisting of seven members.
b) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. c) The members of the Commission shall be paid, in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenses directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.20/070 at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended, but not to exceed sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
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SECTION 13
Chapter 3 of Article 21 of Division 1, Section 13.21.0 20 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“13.21.020 CREATED, COMPOSITION, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. a) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City. b) All members shall have prior demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the City’s historical, architectural and cultural heritage. Members shall be chosen from among:
1) Professionals in the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, historic preservation, planning, archaeology, materials conservation, landscape architecture, urban design, engineering, land economics, real estate, construction, building t rade, or a related discipline such as anthropology, American studies, American civilization, cultural geography, or others, to the extent such professionals are available in the community;
2) Persons with demonstrated special interest, experience or knowledge of the history, architecture, or cultural heritage of the City as will provide for an adequate and qualified Commission;
3) At a minimum, there shall be:
A) One member with a professional background in design or construction, with at least two years of experience with historic preservation, and B) One member who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for History or Architectural History, or with a demonstrated background or experience in researching, writing, teaching, or interpreting history or historic materials;
4) If possible, the Commission composition shall meet the qualifications and guidelines recommended for the certified local government program as administered in California.
c) The members of the Commission shall be paid in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenditures directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section
13.21.080 at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended not to exceed sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.”
SECTION 14
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 r emaining 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 15
Any inconsistent provisions of the Torrance Municipal Code, or any other inconsistent ordinances of the City, are repealed, to the extent of the inconsistencies.
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SECTION 16
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 t here is no possibility that the Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 17
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 5th day of August 2025.
ADOPTED and PASSED this 19th day of August 2025.
Mayor George K. Chen
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN, City Attorney
by:
Tatia Y. Strader, Assistant City Attorney
ATTEST:
Rebecca Poirier, MMC, City Clerk
7 ORDINANCE NO. 3953 SUMMARY
On August 18, 2025, the City Council of the City of Torrance adopted Ordinance No. 3953 entitled “An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Torrance, California, Amending Sections
13.1.1(C), 13.2.1, 13.3.1, 13.4.1, 13.5.1, 13.9.1, 13.10.1, 13.11.1, 13.15.1, 13.16.1, 13.18.1,
13.20.010, And 13.21.020 All Titled “Created, Composition, Compensation, And Qualifications” Of The Torrance Municipal Code Relating To Compensation Of Commissioners.” Ordinance No. 3953 will take effect 30 days after the adoption date of August 18, 2025 . The following is a summary of Ordinance No. 3953.
The ordinance amends multiple sections of the Torrance Municipal Code to increase the compensation for commissioners serving on various city commissions, doubling the per-meeting stipend from $10 to $20 and raising the maximum quarterly payment from $30 to $6 0 (or, for certain commissions, up to four meetings per month at the new rate), with payments continuing to be made at the end of each calendar quarter; it also repeals any inconsistent provisions, affirms the ordinance’s exemption from environmental re view under CEQA, and sets the effective date as 30 days after adoption, with required public notice to follow. 8 ATTACHMENT 2