10D
Date: February 10, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Aram Chaparyan, City Manager
By: Samantha Maldonado, Management Assistant | [email protected] Subject: City Manager – Discuss and Provide Direction on the City’s Memorial Rental Subsidy Policy for Usage of Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
In response to an oral request by Councilmember Bridgett Lewis with City Council concurrence, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that City Council discuss and provide direction on the City’s Memorial Rental Policy for usage of Torrance Cultural Arts Center.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
At the request of Councilmember Bridgett Lewis, with Council concurrence, staff was requested to develop a Memorial Rental Subsidy Policy to establish uniform eligibility criteria, approval authority, and fee waiver parameters for memorial services held at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. The purpose of the policy is to ensure consistent, transparent, and equitable administration of rental subsidies for memorials honoring individuals who have served the City of Torrance.
For purposes of this policy, the Torrance Cultural Arts Center is defined to include the Ken Miller Recreation Center, Torino Festival Plaza, Toyota Meeting Hall, Armstrong Theatre, George Nakano Theatre, Pine Wind Japanese Garden, and the Garden Rooms.
Under the proposed policy, memorial rental subsidies would apply to memorial services honoring current or former Elected Officials, City Commissioners, and Department Heads. Approval authority for eligible requests would be delegated to the City Manager. Requests involving individuals not expressly identified in the policy may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to City Council approval through Council concurrence.
The policy authorizes the waiver of up to the first six (6) hours of facility rental time, including the security deposit, set-up charges, and event manager costs. Any rental time, staffing, or labor costs exceeding six (6) hours would be charged to the requesting party at the applicable rate approved in the Master Fee Schedule, unless additional subsidy is approved by the City Council through Council concurrence.
1 City Council
February 10, 2026
The proposed Memorial Rental Subsidy Policy provides a standardized administrative framework for the use of City facilities for memorial purposes, clarifies approval authority, and defines the extent of permissible fee waivers. City Council direction is requested to discuss and provided direction on the aforementioned policy.
ATTACHMENT
1. City Memorial Rental Subsidy Policy for Cultural Arts Center 2 Memorial Rental Policy for Cultural Arts Center
Revision: 1
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Contents
Purpose…………………………………………………………….……………..………
Definitions
City Council…………………………………………………………………………...
Elected Officials………………………………………………………………………
Commissioner………………………………………………………………………..
Department Head……………………………………………………………………
Torrance Cultural Arts Center………………………………………………………
Procedure ………………………………………………………………………………..
Historical Record ……………………………………………………………………..…
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2 PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines to provide uniform and consistent procedures on the rental of City-owned facilities for active and previous Elected Officials, City Commissioners and Department Heads.
Definitions
City Council
The governing body of the City of Torrance.
Elected Officials
Individuals currently or previously holding a publicly elected position within the City of Torrance, regional, state, or federal office.
Commissioners
Individuals currently or previously holding an appointed position to serve in a Commission for the City of Torrance
Department Head
Individuals serving or who have served as the head of a City department for the City of Torrance.
Torrance Cultural Arts Center
For purposes of this policy, the Torrance Cultural Arts Center is comprised of the Ken Miller Recreation Center, Torino Festival Plaza, Toyota Meeting Hall, Armstrong Theater, George Nakano Theatre, Pine Wind Japanese Garden and the Garden Rooms
ATTACHMENT 1
3 Memorial Rental Policy for Cultural Arts Center
Revision: 2
PROCEDURE
The City Manager or designee may offer and/or approve request for the use of a Torrance Cultural Arts Center facility for the purpose of hosting memorials for active and previous Elected Officials, City Commissioners and Department Heads.
This policy may also be extended to individuals not previously named subject to the approval of the City Council on a case-by-case basis.
The first six (6) hours of rental time, security deposit, set-up charges and event manager costs may be waived.
All rental and labor charges in excess of 6 hours will be charged to the requesting party based on the Master Fee Schedule or request City Council approval.
Historical Record
Original Publication
02/5/2026
Revisions
4