10D
Date: February 24, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Aram Chaparyan, City Manager
By: Jin Chun, Public Engagement Manager | [email protected] Subject: City Manager – Discuss and Provide Direction on Proposed Formulation of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese National Taipei Olympic Committee to Rent City Facilities in Preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council discuss and provide direction on whether to develop and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding presented by the Chinese Taipei National Olympic Committee and the City of Torrance to allow the use of identified City facilities at the Interdepartmental/Non-Profit rental rate for the duration of approximately July 3, 2028 - July 31, 2028 for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
In November 2025, the City of Torrance hosted a delegation from the Chinese Taipei National Olympic Committee for a site visit and facility review. The delegation evaluated several City- owned venues and determined that Torrance’s facilities fully met their operational and training needs. Following additional coordination and virtual meeting held on January 21, 2026, the Chinese National Taipei Olympic Committee formally expressed its intent to establish an Olympic Delegation Supporting Operation Center in Torrance during the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Chinese National Taipei Olympic Committee submitted a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) proposal to secure facility availability and confirm rental terms from approximately July 3, 2028 - July 31, 2028.
Under the proposed MOU, the Chinese National Taipei Olympic Committee intends to utilize the following City facilities:
• Torrance Cultural Arts Center - Dance Studios 1–4
• Ken Miller Recreation Center - Kitchen and Hall (Auditorium / Assembly Room) • Dee Hardison Sports Center - Entire basketball court and Judo studio 1 City Council
February 24, 2026
The facilities would be used for training, operational coordination, and athletic support functions during the rental period.
As the rental rates for Fiscal Year 2028-29 are not yet known, the following is a breakdown of current (Fiscal year 2025-26) rental rates showing both Interdepartmental and Commercial rate fees.
Torrance Cultural Arts Center – Dance Studios 1–4
Proposed Use: July 3–31, 2028 | 9:00 AM–9:00 PM (12 hours/day) x 29 days • Interdepartmental Rate: $28,190
• Commercial Rate: $83,870
• Additional Staffing Cost: $14,964
o Based on 29 days at 12 hours per day, including daily event management support Ken Miller Recreation Center – Auditorium & Kitchen
Proposed Use: July 3–31, 2028 | 9:00 AM–9:00 PM (12 hours/day) x 29 days • Interdepartmental Rate: $37,681
• Commercial Rate: $94,753
• Additional Staffing Cost: $14,964
o Based on 29 days at 12 hours per day, including daily event management support
Dee Hardison Sports Center – Hourly Rate Scenarios
(Final cost dependent on confirmed daily hours and exclusivity level) Hourly Rates (Facility Only): July 3–31, 2028 | 9:00 AM–9:00 PM (12 hours/day) x 29 days • Non-Profit: $150/hour
o Estimated: $52,200
• Private: $225/hour
o Estimated: $78,300
• Commercial: $360/hour
o Estimated: $125,280
• Staffing Cost: $6,264
o Based on 29 days at 12 hours per day, including daily event management support • Replacement Facility Rental for alternative City programming Facility o Estimated: $6,600
Based on current rental rates, the total for all three facilities at the Interdepartmental/Non-Profit rate is estimated at $118,071 as compared to the highest current Commercial rate at $303,903.
These rates are likely to be different in Fiscal Year 2028-29. Staff is seeking Council’s direction as to which Rental Rate classification to apply and whether to apply current or rates in place of time of rental.
Staff notes that the Chinese National Taipei Olympic Committee previously expressed an interest in exclusive restroom use. Given the multiple functions the Dee Hardison Sports Center restrooms support, staff would recommend against an exclusive restroom utilization but does note that if granted, additional portable restroom rentals would be required estimated at an additional $4,000.
2 City Council
February 24, 2026
During the summer months, certain regularly scheduled classes and programs may be temporarily displaced. Staff is working to identify alternative locations of comparable value or adjust schedules as needed to accommodate all program participants.
The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee has requested approval to utilize the City facilities at the interdepartmental/non-profit rental rate for the duration of the Olympic preparation period. Staff supports this request given the unique nature of the Olympic Games, the international profile of the event, and the substantial community and economic benefits anticipated for Torrance.
Hosting an international Olympic delegation presents a rare and meaningful opportunity for the City, including:
• Increased hotel occupancy, with the delegation pursuing approximately 50 hotel rooms for an extended stay at the DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance;
• Increased patronage of local restaurants, retail businesses, and services; • Opportunities for Torrance youth and community members to observe, engage with, and be inspired by international Olympic athletes;
• Enhanced global visibility and prestige for the City of Torrance as a welcoming and capable Olympic partner.
• The presence of Olympic athletes and support teams in the Civic Center area further reinforces Torrance’s role as a regional hub during the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
While applying the interdepartmental/non-profit rental rate will reduce facility rental revenue compared to standard external rates, staff anticipates this will be offset by broader economic benefits to the community, including transient occupancy tax (TOT) revenues, local spending, and long-term promotional value for the City.
Any additional operational costs, staffing needs, or security requirements will be addressed and detailed in the final MOU.
Staff requests that City Council discuss and provide direction on whether to advance development of a formal MOU, which rental rate classification to include and whether to apply those rates that would be in place at the time of the rental.
ATTACHMENT
1. Formal Memorandum of Understanding Request Letter from Chinese National Taipei Olympic Committee
3 8771 139
4 3
th
F
ebruary
202
6 M
r. Danny Santana
Assistant City Manager
City of Torrance
Email
:
DSantana
@
TorranceCA
.
Gov
Dear M
r. Santana
,
On behalf of
the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee
, I would like to extend our sincere
appreciation to you and the City of Torrance for the warm hospitality extended to our
delegation during
the
visit last
November
. We were very pleased with the facilities and
venues offered by the City, which fully met our operational needs.
After careful evaluation, we have decided to establish an Olympic Delegation Supporting Operation Center in the City of Torrance
during LA28
,
mainly
utilizing the following three
sites:
1. The four dance studios at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center
2. The kitchen and hall at the Ken Miller Recreation Center
3. The entire basketball court and the judo studio at the Dee Hardison Sports Center
Further to the online meeting held on 21 January 2026, during which a comprehensive site release and coordination procedure was introduced, this NOC would like to formally request the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Torrance .
The
purpose of the MOU is to secure the use of all required sites and facilities, as well as to seek favorable approval from the City Council to apply an interdepartmental rate for this release.
In the meantime, we are reaching out to the DoubleTree by Hilton Torrance to reserve 50 rooms to accommodate our support teams during the Games period. We sincerely believe that the City of Torrance will provide a welcoming and home
-
like base for our deleg
ation
throughout the Games.
We look forward to your kind consideration and to further strengthening our cooperation with the City of Torrance.
Thank you once again for your generous support and assistance.
Sincerely yours,
Hsiao
-
Tzu Hsu
Secretary General
ATTACHMENT 1
4