8J
Date: August 11, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Robert Dunn, Chief of Police
By: Carlos Huizar, Management Associate | [email protected] Subject: City Manager and Police – Adopt Categorical Exemption and Approve Ten-Year Lease Agreement for Torrance Police Substation at Del Amo Fashion Center.
Expenditure: $100 (General Fund: $10 Annually).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the City Manager and Chief of Police that City Council:
1. Adopt a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Categorical Exemption pursuant to Guideline Section 15301 (Existing Facilities); and
2. Approve lease agreement between the City of Torrance and Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, LLC, in the amount of $100 ($10 annually), to continue operation of the Torrance Police Substation at Del Amo Fashion Center, for a ten-year (10) term beginning September 1, 2026 and ending August 31, 2036.
FUNDING
Funding is available in the FY2026-27 Police Operating Budget and is expected to be available in the subsequent fiscal years.
DISCUSSION
The Torrance Police Department (TPD) has maintained a dedicated police substation at the Del Amo Fashion Center since its initial establishment in 1987. Located in the southern portion of the shopping center between Macy’s Men & Home and Dick’s Sporting Go ods, the approximately 2,216-square-foot facility serves as a vital operational base for officers to address retail crime, handle localized public safety incidents, and provide a visible, reassuring law enforcement presence within Southern California’s largest retail center.
The approval of this new lease agreement between the City of Torrance and Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, LLC permanently restores and stabilizes TPD’s physical footprint at the mall under a highly favorable, long -term structure. Under the proposed agreemen t, the City will continue to operate the space exclusively for an active police substation and retail crime investigation office. In conjunction with this agreement, TPD plans to execute an interior renovation project to provide a modernized police substation.
1 City Council
August 11, 2026
The lease covers a ten-year term from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2036, at a nominal rental rate of $10 per year, totaling $100 over the ten -year period. Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, LLC will provide all water, sewer, gas, and electric utilities at no cost to the City.
Securing this lease reinforces TPD’s commitment to community policing and public safety at one of the City's primary commercial hubs. Accordingly, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the CEQA Categorical Exemption and approve the 10 -year lease agr eement with Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, LLC to maintain modernized police operations at the facility through August 31, 2036.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The proposed action consists of leasing existing commercial space involving no expansion of existing or former use. Therefore, the project is Categorically Exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 - Existing Facilities).
ATTACHMENT
1. Police Substation Lease Agreement – Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, LLC. (Materials Available)
2