10A
Date: November 4, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Michelle Ramirez, Community Development Director
Subject: Community Development – Discuss and Consider Amendment to the Torrance Municipal Airport Ordinance, Determine California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Exemption, and Adopt an ORDINANCE Amending the Torrance Municipal Code as Related to Enforcement of the Airport Ordinance. Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Development Director that City Council:
1. Discuss and consider amending the Torrance Municipal Airport Ordinance as related to enforcement of the Airport Ordinance; and
2. Determine the project is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15378 and 15061(b)(3) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; and
3. Adopt an ORDINANCE amending Torrance Municipal Code Article 7 “Enforcement” of Chapter 1, Division 5; and
4. Approve an Ordinance Summary for publication.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
A Noise Abatement Program was established at the Torrance Municipal Airport - Zamperini Field (Torrance Airport) in late 1977 to address the noise generated by aircraft operations. Noise violations are detected by a series of seven noise monitors strategically placed around the airport. On December 14, 2021, the City Council awarded a Consulting Services Agreement for a new Airport Noise Monitoring System to Casper Airport Solutions. The new Airport Noise Monitoring System went live in July 2022, with all seven-noise monitors collecting data, the noise and radar correlating flights, and the flights being identified by tail numbers. The initial goal of the Noise Abatement program is to obtain voluntary compliance through the issuance of notices of violation, as well as through noise tests conducted by the pilots and City staff. If voluntary compliance cannot be achieved, the City will move to enforce its noise abatement rules and regulations, which may involve hearings and ultimately the possibility of a pilot and/or aircraft being denied airport usage as a result.
Additionally, on February 6, 2024, the City Council amended the regulations relating to touch (and stop) and go, full stop-taxi back, and low approaches by adopting Ordinance No. 1 City Council
November 4, 2025
3930. Specifically, the ordinance eliminated touch (and stop) and go landings and restricted taxi backs and low approaches to 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Monday – Friday. Taxi backs and low approaches are also prohibited on City observed holidays and all other hours, unless in the event of an emergency or directed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). Any violation of Ordinance No. 3930 results in the issuance of a Notice to Appear before the City’s Administrative Hearing Board (Hearing Board).
In July 2024, the City’s Hearing Board was reactivated to deal with violators of the Noise Abatement Program. Per Article 2 “Administrative Hearing Board” of Chapter 2, Division 1 of the Torrance Municipal Code (TMC), the Hearing Board was created to hold hearings on and decide those matters for which an administrative hearing procedure is established by the TMC, such as enforcement of the Airport Code. The Hearing Board consist of seven City employees who are appointed by the City Manager. However, only three city employees are needed to constitute a quorum of the Hearing Board. Additionally, it should be noted that the current Airport Code (specifically Section 51.7.9 “Administrative Hearing Board”) also states that the Hearing Board will be comprised of three members appointed by the City Manager. All decisions of the Hearing Board may be appealed to the City Council, as provided in TMC 11.5.1 “Filing of Notice of Appeal”.
Prior to putting enforcement on hold while the subject ordinance was being drafted, a total of six transient pilots have received a Notice to Appear before the Hearing Board for violating the City’s Noise Abatement Program. All six pilots were found in violation of Ordinance No. 3930 by staff.
There were no violations related to exceeding noise limits or violations by a Torrance-based tenant. While none of the six pilots showed up to their scheduled hearing, all were found guilty of violating the TMC by the Hearing Board. All but one pilot has been found guilty of two separate violations. Per TMC Section 51.7.2 “Denial of Use of Airport”, any person that has been convicted of three (3) or more cumulative violations of the code, as related to the Torrance Airport, within a three (3) year period, then for a period of three (3) years thereafter, such person shall be denied the right to land or takeoff from the Airport, except in bona fide emergencies for the preservation of life or property as reasonably determined by the Airport Manager and shall be denied the right to lease, rent or use space for aircraft (including tie-down) at the Airport insofar as the City has the right to deny such use of said Airport.
Regarding noticing of pilots to appear before the Hearing Board, per TMC
51.7.4(b) “Enforcement”, any notices of violations must be made by citation in the same manner as provided for misdemeanor citations by Section 836.5 of the State Penal Code or by a complaint served in the same manner as civil cases in the Superior Court, which means "personal service" through a a process server, sheriff, or even the plaintiff themselves. Unfortunately, this may prove to be difficult at times, as the pilots of the planes are not always local or even within California, which has already been the case with several of the six pilots recently requested to appear before the Hearing Board. Additionally, as there is a hearing process established by the City, it would not be the intention of staff to issue a misdemeanor citation for the party to appear directly within the Superior Court.
As a result, staff is requesting amendments to TMC Section 51.7 to clarify the process of serving violation notices as well as to the hearing process. The proposed amendments would allow the Notice to Appear letter to be delivered by first class mail at least 25 calendar days before the scheduled hearing date. In addition to the Notice to Appear being served by first class mail, the City may also deliver it through physical delivery, delivery by overnight carrier service, or delivery by digital mail. Additionally, to avoid the confusion of the Hearing Board makeup (seven 2 City Council
November 4, 2025
City employees versus three City employees) as well as any potential conflict, it is being proposed to have a neutral third-party Hearing Officer selected by the City Manager. A neutral third-party Hearing Officer would provide an unbiased perspective by listening to each side as they present their case along with relevant evidence before a decision is made. Furthermore, the amendment outlines the Hearing procedures and Hearing Officer’s decision, which could be appealed to the City Council. Lastly, the amendment provides clarity on applicable TMC Sections and the parties it could affect (i.e., operator, owner, or pilot of aircraft).
At this time, staff recommends that City Council discuss and consider the attached ordinance, determine the project is exempt from CEQA, and approve an Ordinance Summary for publication, if the attached ordinance is approved.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
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. The ordinance consists only of bolstering public nuisance regulations. Adoption of this ordinance will not have the effect of deleting or substantially changing any regulatory standards or required findings.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance
2. Ordinance – Redline Version
3. Ordinance Summary
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ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ARTICLE 7 “ENFORCEMENT” OF CHAPTER 1, DIVISION 5 OF THE TORRANCE MUNICIPAL CODE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1
That Article 7 “Enforcement” of Chapter 1, Division 5 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“ARTICLE 7 - ENFORCEMENT
51.7.1 DESIGNATED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
a) The City Manager or his designee(s) acting under the direction and control of the City Manager shall have the duty and authority to enforce the provisions of this Division 5 and all other laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the use of the Airport pursuant to the provisions of Section 836.5 of the State Penal Code.
b) Acting under the direction and control of the City Manager, airport security officers who are peace officers shall also have the duty and authority to enforce the provisions of this Division 5 and all other laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the use of the Airport.
51.7.2 DENIAL OF USE OF AIRPORT
a) In the event that any person has been found to be in violation of 3 or more cumulative violations of the provisions of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code or of any other laws, rules or regulations of the City, State or the United States of America pertaining to the use of the Airport (including forfeiture of bail after being arrested or charged by citation or complaint with any such violation) within a three (3) year period, then for a period of three (3) years thereafter, such person shall be denied the right to land or takeoff from the Airport, except in bona fide emergencies for the preservation of life or property as reasonably determined by the Airport Manager and shall be denied the right to lease, rent or use space for aircraft (including tie-down) at the Airport insofar as the City has the right to deny such use of said Airport.
b) For the purposes of this Section, a determination of guilt by the Hearing Officer in accordance with the provisions of Section 51.7.4. shall have the same effect as a conviction by a court.
51.7.3 EXCLUSION OF VIOLATION-PRONE AIRCRAFT
In the event that any aircraft has been found to be the cause of three (3) or more violations of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code within a three (3) year period, regardless whether the operator, owner or pilot of said aircraft have been convicted of any criminal act or have been found to be in violation of said sections by the Hearing Officer, or City Council upon appeal, as provided for in Section 51.7.4, then it shall be presumed that operation of such aircraft will result in continued violation of the provisions of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code , and for a period of 3 years thereafter such aircraft will not be permitted to tie down or be based at Torrance Airport; nor shall such aircraft be permitted ATTACHMENT 1
4 2
to land at or take off from the Airport except in emergencies for the preservation of life or property or as directed by the Torrance Air Traffic Control Tower or the Federal Aviation Administration.
51.7.4 ENFORCEMENT.
a) Any person charged with piloting or operating or otherwise causing an aircraft to violate Division 5 or exceed the single event noise exposure levels (SENEL) or maximum sound exposure levels set forth in Section 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code, a Hearing Officer shall determine whether or not there was a violation, after a hearing thereon. b) The charge may be made by the issuance of a Notice to Appear to the pilot (also known as “Person accused”) of said aircraft, if known. It is the responsibility of the operator, owner, or lessee of said aircraft to provide the pilot information to the City. If the pilot of said aircraft is not known, and the operator, owner, or lessee of said aircraft is not cooperative in providing the pilot information, then the Notice to Appear will be issued to the operator, owner, or lessee of said aircraft who will be held liable for the pilot’s violation(s) (also known as “Person accused”). The Notice to Appear shall be served by first class mail at least 25 calendar days before the scheduled hearing date before the Hearing Officer. In addition to the Notice to Appear being served by first class mail, the City may also deliver through physical delivery, delivery by overnight carrier service, or delivery by digital mail.
51.7.5 HEARING PROCEDURE.
a) A hearing before the Hearing Officer shall be set for a date that is not less than 25 calendar days and not more than 90 calendar days from the mailing date listed on the Notice to Appear. b) The hearing shall be conducted by a Hearing Officer on the date, time and place specified in the Notice to Appear.
c) The hearing shall be open to the public. If all or part of the hearing is conducted by telephone, television, or other electronic means, the Hearing Officer shall conduct the hearing from a location where members of the public may be physically present. Hearings will not be recorded.
d) The Hearing Officer shall only consider evidence that is relevant to whether the violation(s) occurred and whether the Person accused has caused or maintained the violation(s). Formal rules of evidence shall not apply. Relevant hearsay evidence and written reports may be admitted whether or not the speaker or author is present to testify, if the Hearing Officer determines that the evidence is reliable. Admission of evidence and the conduct of the hearing shall be controlled by the Hearing Officer in accordance with the fundamentals of due process. The Hearing Officer may limit the total length of the hearing to one hour. e) At the hearing, the Person accused shall be given the opportunity to present, either themselves or through a representative, evidence and testimony concerning the violation(s). The City’s case shall be presented by any authorized agent of the City. f) The failure of the Person accused to appear at the hearing, either personally or through counsel, shall be deemed an admission that the violation(s) in question was appropriately and validly issued against the Person accused and the aircraft. g) The Hearing Officer may consolidate into 1 hearing all outstanding violations relating to the same Person accused.
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h) The Hearing Officer may continue the hearing and request additional information from the City or the Person accused prior to issuing a written decision.
51.7.6 HEARING OFFICER’S DECISION.
a) After considering all of the testimony and evidence submitted at the hearing, the Hearing Officer may announce a decision orally, but in any event, shall prepare a written decision. The decision shall be provided to all parties within thirty calendar days of the hearing and shall either affirm or dismiss the violation(s). The serving of the written decision shall be by any means deemed adequate to the City, which includes but is not limited to physical delivery, delivery by first class mail, delivery by overnight carrier service, or delivery by digital mail. b) All decisions of a Hearing Officer shall become final unless appealed to the City Council pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 of Chapter 1, Division 1 of the Code.
51.7.7 UNLAWFUL TO USE AIRPORT AFTER USE DENIED.
Except as provided otherwise in Sections 51.7.2 and 51.7.3:
a) It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to land an aircraft on or take off an aircraft from the Airport after he or she has been denied the use of the Airport in accordance with the provisions of Section 51.7.2.; or
b) It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to land an aircraft on or take off any aircraft from the Airport after such aircraft has been excluded from the Airport pursuant to the provisions of Section 51.7.3.
51.7.8 CULPABILITY OF INSTRUCTOR PILOTS
In the case of any training flight in which both an instructor pilot and a student pilot are in the aircraft which is flown in violation of any of the provisions of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or
46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code, the instructor pilot (also known as “operator”) shall be presumed to have caused such violation.
51.7.9 CULPABILITY OF AIRCRAFT OWNER OR LESSEE
For purposes of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code, if the pilot of an aircraft cannot be otherwise identified, the beneficial owner of an aircraft shall be presumed to be the pilot of the aircraft with authority to control the aircraft’s operation, except that where the aircraft is leased, the lessee shall be presumed to be the pilot. Such presumption may be rebutted only if the owner or lessee identifies the person who in fact was the pilot at the time of the asserted violation.
51.7.10 REGISTRATION OF AIRCRAFT
a) The Airport Manager shall keep a register of aircraft based at the Airport. The names, addresses and other reasonable identification, as determined by the Airport Manager, of the legal and beneficial owners, the lessee (if any), the operators and the authorized pilots of each such aircraft shall be entered into the register.
b) For the purposes of this Section, an aircraft which remains at the Airport for a period longer than twenty-four (24) consecutive hours or for a cumulative time of more than seventy-two (72) hours in any thirty (30) day period shall be deemed to be based at the Airport. 6 4
c) It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee, operator or pilot of any aircraft based at the Airport to fail to register such aircraft with the Airport Manager.
51.7.11 HEARING OFFICER
The City Manager, or his or her designee, shall select a fair and impartial Hearing Officer to preside over hearings for violation(s) of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code. The Hearing Officer shall not be a current Torrance City employee.
SECTION 2
Any provisions of the Municipal Code or its appendices, or any other ordinances of the City of Torrance inconsistent with this ordinance to the extent of the inconsistencies and no further, are repealed.
SECTION 3
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 4
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 from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, because the activity undertaken involves general text amendments to the Torrance Municipal Code that would not cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, as such, the Ordinance does not meet the definition of a "Project" under CEQA. The Ordinance is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 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. The Ordinance would make pre-existing public nuisance regulations more robust and protective of neighboring communities.
SECTION 5
This ordinance will take effect thirty days after the date of its adoption. Within fifteen 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 _______ day _______ 2025.
ADOPTED and PASSED this _________ day of _______ 2025. ______________________________
Mayor George Chen
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN, City Attorney
By:________________________________
Tatia Y. Strader, Assistant City Attorney
ATTEST:
______________________________
Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
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ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ARTICLE 7 “ENFORCEMENT” OF CHAPTER 1, DIVISION 5 OF THE TORRANCE MUNICIPAL CODE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1
That Article 7 “Enforcement” of Chapter 1, Division 5 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“ARTICLE 7 - ENFORCEMENT
51.7.1 DESIGNATED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
a) The City Manager or his designee(s) acting under the direction and control of the City Manager shall have the duty and authority to enforce the provisions of this Division 5 and all other laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the use of the Airport pursuant to the provisions of Section 836.5 of the State Penal Code.
b) Acting under the direction and control of the City Manager, airport security officers who are peace officers shall also have the duty and authority to enforce the provisions of this Division 5 and all other laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the use of the Airport.
51.7.2 DENIAL OF USE OF AIRPORT
a) In the event that any person has been convicted found to be in violation of three ( 3 ) or more cumulative violations of the provisions of this Chapter 1Division 5 , or of Sections 46.8.8 or
46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code or of any other laws, rules or regulations of the City, State or the United States of America pertaining to the use of the Airport (including forfeiture of bail after being arrested or charged by citation or complaint with any such violation) within a three (3) year period, then for a period of three (3) years thereafter, such person shall be denied the right to land or takeoff from the Airport, except in bona fide emergencies for the preservation of life or property as reasonably determined by the Airport Manager and shall be denied the right to lease, rent or use space for aircraft (including tie-down) at the Airport insofar as the City has the right to deny such use of said Airport. b) For the purposes of this Section, a determination of guiltyguilt by the Administrative Hearing BoardHearing Officer in accordance with the provisions of Section 51.7.4. shall have the same effect as a conviction by a court.
51.7.3 EXCLUSION OF VIOLATION-PRONE AIRCRAFT
In the event that any aircraft has been found to be the cause of three (3) or more violations of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code within a three (3) year period, regardless whether the operator, owner or pilot of said aircraft operator or operators of said aircraft have been convicted of any criminal act or have been found to be in violation of said sections by the Administrative Hearing BoardHearing Officer, or City Council upon appeal, as provided for in Section 51.7.4, then it shall be presumed that operation of such aircraft will result in continued violation of the provisions of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code , and for a period of 3 years thereafter such aircraft will not be permitted to tie ATTACHMENT 2
9 2
down or be based at Torrance Airport; nor shall such aircraft be permitted to land at or take off from the Airport except in emergencies for the preservation of life or property or as directed by the Torrance Air Traffic Control Tower or the Federal Aviation Administration.as reasonably determined by the Airport Manager; provided, however, that the owner or operator of such aircraft shall be entitled to rebut such presumption to the reasonable satisfaction of the Airport Manager by furnishing evidence to the contrary, including but not limited to, changes in operating personnel, retrofitting measures, changes in engine or maintenance.
A decision of the Airport Manager which sustains the presumption is a decision that may be appealed to the City Council pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 of Chapter 1, Division 1 of the code.
51.7.4 ENFORCEMENT.
a) In the event that Aa ny person is charged with piloting or operating or otherwise causing an aircraft to violate Division 5 or exceed the single event noise exposure levels (SENEL) or maximum sound exposure levels set forth in Section 46.8.8 . or 46.8.9 . of the Torrance Municipal Code , the guilt or innocence of such person shall be determined by a Hearing Officer shall determine whether or not there was a violation, the Administrative Hearing Board after a hearing thereon.
b) The charge may be made by the issuance of a Notice to Appear to the pilot (also known as “Person accused”) of said aircraft, if known. It is the responsibility of the operator, owner, or lessee of said aircraft to provide the pilot information to the City. If the pilot of said aircraft is not known, and the operator, owner, or lessee of said aircraft is not cooperative in providing the pilot information, then the Notice to Appear will be issued to the operator, owner, or lessee of said aircraft who will be held liable for the pilot’s violation(s) (also known as “Person accused”). The Notice to Appear shall be served by first class mail at least 25 calendar days before the scheduled hearing date before the Hearing Officer. In addition to the Notice to Appear being served by first class mail, the City may also deliver through physical delivery, delivery by overnight carrier service, or delivery by digital mail. citation in the same manner as provided for misdemeanor citations by Section 836.5 of the State Penal Code. Otherwise, it shall be made by complaint served on the defendant in the manner of complaints in civil cases in the Superior Court.
c) The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of due process of law.
Persons accused shall have the right to be represented by counsel, to be apprised of the nature of the charges, to offer evidence and to examine witnesses. The Administrative Hearing Board shall adopt rules of procedure for such purpose.
d) The decision of the Administrative Hearing Board may be appealed to the City Council pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 of Chapter 1, Division 1 of the Code.
51.7.5 HEARING PROCEDURE.
a) A hearing before the Hearing Officer shall be set for a date that is not less than 25 calendar days and not more than 90 calendar days from the mailing date listed on the Notice to Appear. b) The hearing shall be conducted by a Hearing Officer on the date, time and place specified in the Notice to Appear.
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c) The hearing shall be open to the public. If all or part of the hearing is conducted by telephone, television, or other electronic means, the Hearing Officer shall conduct the hearing from a location where members of the public may be physically present. Hearings will not be recorded.
d) The Hearing Officer shall only consider evidence that is relevant to whether the violation(s) occurred and whether the Person accused has caused or maintained the violation(s). Formal rules of evidence shall not apply. Relevant hearsay evidence and written reports may be admitted whether or not the speaker or author is present to testify, if the Hearing Officer determines that the evidence is reliable. Admission of evidence and the conduct of the hearing shall be controlled by the Hearing Officer in accordance with the fundamentals of due process. The Hearing Officer may limit the total length of the hearing to one hour. e) At the hearing, the Person accused shall be given the opportunity to present, either themselves or through a representative, evidence and testimony concerning the violation(s). The City’s case shall be presented by any authorized agent of the City. f) The failure of the Person accused to appear at the hearing, either personally or through counsel, shall be deemed an admission that the violation(s) in question was appropriately and validly issued against the Person accused and the aircraft. g) The Hearing Officer may consolidate into 1 hearing all outstanding violations relating to the same Person accused.
h) The Hearing Officer may continue the hearing and request additional information from the City or the Person accused prior to issuing a written decision.
51.7.6 HEARING OFFICER’S DECISION.
a) After considering all of the testimony and evidence submitted at the hearing, the Hearing Officer may announce a decision orally, but in any event, shall prepare a written decision. The decision shall be provided to all parties within thirty calendar days of the hearing and shall either affirm or dismiss the violation(s). The serving of the written decision shall be by any means deemed adequate to the City, which includes but is not limited to physical delivery, delivery by first class mail, delivery by overnight carrier service, or delivery by digital mail. b) All decisions of a Hearing Officer shall become final unless appealed to the City Council pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 of Chapter 1, Division 1 of the Code.
51.7. 75 UNLAWFUL TO USE AIRPORT AFTER USE DENIED.
Except as provided otherwise in Sections 51.7.2 and 51.7.3:
a) It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to land an aircraft on or takeofftake off an aircraft from the Airport after he or she has been denied the use of the Airport in accordance with the provisions of Section 51.7.2.; or
b) It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to land an aircraft on or takeofftake off any aircraft from the Airport after such aircraft has been excluded from the Airport pursuant to the provisions of Section 51.7.3 .
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51.7. 86 CULPABILITY OF INSTRUCTOR PILOTS
In the case of any training flight in which both an instructor pilot and a student pilot are in the aircraft which is flown in violation of any of the provisions of this ChapterDivision 5, or of Sections
46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code , the instructor pilot (also known as “operator”) shall be presumed to have caused such violation.
51.7. 97 CULPABILITY OF AIRCRAFT OWNER OR LESSEE
For purposes of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Codethis Chapter , if the pilot of an aircraft cannot be otherwise identified, the beneficial owner of an aircraft shall be presumed to be the pilot of the aircraft with authority to control the aircraft’s operation, except that where the aircraft is leased, the lessee shall be presumed to be the pilot. Such presumption may be rebutted only if the owner or lessee identifies the person who in fact was the pilot at the time of the asserted violation.
51.7. 108 REGISTRATION OF AIRCRAFT
a) The Airport Manager shall keep a register of aircraft based at the Airport. The names, addresses and other reasonable identification, as determined by the Airport Manager, of the legal and beneficial owners, the lessee (if any), the operators and the authorized pilots of each such aircraft shall be entered ininto the register.
b) For the purposes of this Section, an aircraft which remains at the Airport for a period longer than twenty-four (24) consecutive hours or for a cumulative time of more than seventy-two (72) hours in any thirty (30) day period shall be deemed to be based at the Airport. c) It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee, operator or pilot of any aircraft based at the Airport to fail to register such aircraft with the Airport Manager.
51.7. 119 ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING BOARDHEARING OFFICER
The City Manager, or his or her designee, shall select a fair and impartial Hearing Officer to preside over hearings for violation(s) of Division 5, or of Sections 46.8.8 or 46.8.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code. The Hearing Officer shall not be a current Torrance City employee.The Administrative Hearing Board, which shall hear aircraft related matters including alleged violations of Sections 46.8.8 and 46.8.9, shall be comprised of three (3) members. The members of the Board shall be appointed by the City Manager as specified in Section 12.2.1 of the Municipal Code.”
SECTION 2
Any provisions of the Municipal Code or its appendices, or any other ordinances of the City of Torrance inconsistent with this ordinance to the extent of the inconsistencies and no further, are repealed.
SECTION 3
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.
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SECTION 4
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 from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, because the activity undertaken involves general text amendments to the Torrance Municipal Code that would not cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, as such, the Ordinance does not meet the definition of a "Project" under CEQA. The Ordinance is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 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. The Ordinance would make pre-existing public nuisance regulations more robust and protective of neighboring communities.
SECTION 5
This ordinance will take effect thirty days after the date of its adoption. Within fifteen 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 _______ day _______ 2025.
ADOPTED and PASSED this _________ day of _______ 2025.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
Mayor George Chen
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN, City Attorney
By:________________________________
Tatia Y. Strader, Assistant City Attorney
ATTEST:
______________________________
Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
13 ORDINANCE SUMMARY
On November 4, 2025, the City Council of the City of Torrance introduced by title only, at first reading, Ordinance No. _______ “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Torrance, California, Amending Article 7 “Enforcement” of Chapter 1, Division 5 of the Torrance Municipal Code.” On November 18, 2025, the City Council of the City of Torrance adopted Ordinance No. _______. Ordinance No. ______ will take effect 30 days after the adoption date of November 18, 2025. The following is a summary of Ordinance No. _______.
Amendment to the Torrance Municipal Code:
Ordinance No. ______ would amend Article 7 to Chapter 1 of Division 5 entitled “Enforcement”.
In summary, the ordinance would clarify the process of serving violation notices to the operator, owner or pilot of any aircraft found in violation of the City’s Airport Ordinance as well as to the hearing process for receiving such violation. The proposed amendments would allow the Notice to Appear letter to be delivered by first class mail at least 25 calendar days before the scheduled hearing date. In addition to the Notice to Appear being served by first-class mail, the City could also deliver it through physical delivery, delivery by overnight carrier service, or delivery by digital mail. Additionally, Ordinance No. ______ would establish a neutral third party as the Hearing Officer and outlines the Hearing procedures and Hearing Officer’s decision. Furthermore, Ordinance No. ______ provides clarity on applicable Torrance Municipal Code Sections and the parties it could affect (i.e., operator, owner, or pilot of aircraft).
Passed, Approved, and Adopted the 18th day of November 2025, by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
The full text of Ordinance No. ______ is available for inspection during regular business hours at the City Clerk’s Office (3031 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, California 90503) Monday through Friday with alternating closed Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or at https://www.torranceca.gov/government/city-clerk .
DATED THIS ____ DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025
Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
City of Torrance
3031 Torrance Boulevard
Torrance, California 90503
ATTACHMENT 3
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