10B
Date: January 27, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee
Aram Chaparyan, City Manager
Robert Dunn, Chief of Police
By: Jin Chun, Public Engagement Manager | [email protected] Subject: Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee, City Manager and Police – Approve Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee’s Recommendation to Move Forward with Planning Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration, Provide Direction on Proposed Planning Updates for the 2026 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration, and Accept and File Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee Meeting Minutes. Expenditure: None .
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee, City Manager and Chief of Police that City Council:
1. Approve the Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee’s recommendation to move forward with planning the 2026 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration; and
2. Provide direction on whether to pursue a noise abatement exemption to accommodate the flyover component of the Armed Forces Day Parade; and
3. Provide direction on whether to pursue a landing fee waiver from the City Council for aircraft participating in the Armed Forces Day Parade; and
4. Accept and file the January 12, 2026 Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee meeting minutes.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
City staff has developed a preliminary planning framework for the 2026 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration, establishing the overall schedule, key event components, and potential enhancements. The proposed event dates and activities are as follows:
Event Date: Friday, May 15, 2026 – Sunday, May 17, 2026 Friday, May 15, 2026:
• Military Exhibit at the City Yard – Day 1
• Military Welcome Reception – Western Museum of Flight 1 City Council
January 27, 2026
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1 Saturday, May 16, 2026:
• 5K For Freedom – New Start & Finish location pending final approval • Parade – Military, civic, and parade participants will report to Civic Center Plaza to be shuttled to the designated staging area.
• Military Exhibit at City Yard (post parade) – Day 2
• Evening Dignitary Reception – Torrance Marriott
Sunday, May 17, 2026:
• Military Exhibit at City Yard – Day 3
Staff is exploring several enhancements to elevate the overall event experience and improve attendance including a band competition, monster truck addition to the parade entry and exhibit, park and ride option from Regional Transit Center, expanded sponsorship opportunities, extended advertisement and marketing of the event, and identifying opportunities to create efficiencies in areas that historically experience low attendance.
The Committee recommended creating a digital outreach campaign to gather feedback from the community on desired programming and improvements for future Armed Forces Day celebrations.
In response, staff will develop an online community poll, collect feedback through social media and online platforms and monitor and analyze community sentiment using tools such as Zen City.
The results of which will be presented to the Committee’s first meeting following the event for incorporation into future celebrations.
In addition to the listed events, a highlight of the celebration is the inclusion of military aircraft flyovers during the parade along the designated route. The noise generated by these flyovers exceeds the limits established in the Torrance Municipal Code. While military aircraft are exempt from the noise ordinance, the incorporation of non-active-duty military aircraft in past celebrations have required a City Council approved exemption to allow for ceremonial flyers.
The City of Torrance also implemented a landing fee program at Torrance Municipal Airport - Zamperini Field effective February 1, 2024, with billing and payments administer by Vector Airport Systems. Under the ordinance, a landing fee is assessed for all aircraft landings, with limited exemptions for military, public safety, and medical operations. As part of the Armed Forces Day event, participating aircraft will land at Torrance Municipal Airport in support of the celebration and associated flyover activities. While military aircraft may be exempt, certain participating aircraft may not qualify for an automatic exemption under the ordinance.
It is the recommendation of the Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee, City Manager and Chief of Police that City Council:
1. Approve the Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee’s recommendation to move forward with planning the 2026 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration; and
2. Provide direction on whether to pursue a noise abatement exemption to accommodate flyover component of the Armed Forces Day Parade; and
3. Provide direction on whether to pursue a landing fee waiver from the City Council for aircraft participating in the Armed Forces Day Parade; and
4. Accept and file the January 12, 2026 Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee meeting minutes.
ATTACHMENT
1. January 12, 2026 Armed Forces Day Special Standing Committee Meeting Minutes 2 January 12, 2026
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 January 12 at 1:01 pm in the LeRoy J. Jackson Council Chamber.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Mattucci, Committee Member Kalani, Committee Member Kaji
Absent: NONE
Present: Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun, Management Assistant Samantha Maldonado, Management Aide Breanna Hart
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:
Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun; Lt. Charles Fisher.
4. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
4A. City Manager and Police - Discuss and Provide Direction on Proposed Planning Updates for the 2026 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration.
Expenditure: None
Public Engagement Manager, Jin Chun introduced the item for the Committee’s full consideration. The item included a suggested framework regarding the 2026 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration. Considerations for the three-day event would include a military exhibit, military welcome reception, 5K for Freedom run, 64th Annual Armed Forces Day Parade, and a post-parade dignitary reception. New elements to be considered were a parade band competition, and the inclusion of a Monster Truck feature.
Staff were seeking committee direction and approval of the proposed 2026 Armed Forces Day Parade event format, schedule adjustments, and additional features presented.
Committee Member Kalani asks for suggestions on how staff can ensure RSVPs will attend the events and suggests that possibly purchasing an opportunity to attend may ensure attendance.
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January 12, 2026
Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun clarifies that the reception will be scaled down by 15-20% from 220 to 180. She also clarifies that purchasing seats has never been the standard for this event.
Committee Member Kaji asks how staff can generate more interest in the event from community members and attract new visitors.
Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun suggests collaborating with Discover Torrance and the City of Torrance Communications team to increase marketing of the event through social media platforms.
Chair Mattucci expresses concern with the low participation of Military Personnel and Community Members and suggests that incorporating new ideas such as a monster truck aspect may generate new interest and building upon a park and ride feature that encourages outside communities to also participate.
Committee Member Kaji suggests that the addition of food truck vendors near the event will also generate new participation and adds a new element to the event.
Committee Member Kalani suggests holding a roundtable meeting inviting members of the community to share their thoughts and ideas regarding the Armed Forces Day Event and Celebration for 2026 and all Armed Forces Day Events moving forward.
Assistant City Manager Danny Santana expresses that due to time constraints, this type of meeting may not be able to be applied to the 2026 event but can be included in events moving forward. He suggests that the committee reconvenes following the 2026 Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration and compile all feedback and include community involvement for 2027 event planning.
MOTION: Committee Member Kalani moved to concur with staff’s recommendation, along with the following additional suggestions from the committee: accept and file the January 12th Armed Forces Day Committee Meeting minutes and considerations and present them to a future City Council meeting for full council consideration. Additionally, increase the visibility of the Armed Forces Day event through social media and other outreach tools; reduce the reception footprint; and incorporate new elements such as food trucks, a monster truck display, park-and-ride options, and a band competition. Committee Member Kaji seconded. The motion carried by a vote of 3-0.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
A community member expressed appreciation for the committee’s efforts regarding the Armed Forces Day Parade and other festivities. They also noted that while additional members of the public may offer suggestions for improvement, these suggestions do not always result in increased participation.
6. CLOSING REMARKS
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Public Engagement Manager Jin Chun provided a recap of the committee’s requests and bring recommendations back to the full City Council for consideration.
7. ADJOURNMENT
At 1:43 pm, Committee Member Kaji moved to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Kalani second. The motion was carried by a vote of 3-0.
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