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Council approves consent calendar, adopts ordinance on fee challenges; dedicates $2.5M for CIP with parks priority
Summary
The Torrance City Council adopted an ordinance establishing an administrative procedure for challenges to fees and a resolution authorizing state criminal-history access for employment checks, approved several retirement recognitions, and approved staff recommendation to free $2.5 million for capital projects with direction to prioritize parks.
The Torrance City Council approved multiple consent items and a separate capital funding action intended to free about $2.5 million for capital projects, with council clarifying that those dollars should be prioritized for parks projects.
On the consent calendar the council adopted Ordinance No. 3959, which amends the municipal code to adopt an administrative procedure for challenges to fees, charges and assessments. The council also adopted Resolution No. 2025-60 authorizing access to state criminal-history information for employment, volunteers and contractors through the Department of Justice and repealing a prior resolution. The clerk recorded that the motion to approve the consent calendar carried with Council Member Kaji absent.
During discussion of item 8F, staff explained the action would “free up” general-fund dollars previously expended on capital projects so those dollars could be repurposed and used in the FY27–FY30 Capital Improvement Program. Finance Director Ian Daley told the council that freeing these dollars would allow staff to reprioritize previously deferred capital projects, including parks work. Council members pressed staff to ensure the $2.5 million would be directed to park projects rather than simply returning to an undesignated general fund. Staff confirmed the intent to prioritize parks and said the council could include that dedication as part of the motion.
Council Member Metucci made a clarifying motion to adopt staff’s recommendation for item 8F and to dedicate the $2.5 million to park capital improvements. The motion was seconded and the clerk announced, “that motion carries with Council Member Kaji absent.”
Separately, council adopted proclamations and resolutions recognizing retiring employees and proclaiming October observances: Resolution No. 2025-58 honored Torrance Police Lieutenant Gregory Tittle on his retirement; Resolution No. 2025-59 honored Administrative Assistant Denise E. Thurston on her retirement; the council also proclaimed October 2025 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and declared September 15–October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month. Those items were presented and the motions to adopt the proclamations and resolutions were recorded as carried (clerk: “that motion carries with Council Member Kaji absent”).
Staff said the freed $2.5 million will be available as staff prepares the upcoming budget and CIP for FY27–FY30 and will be used to prioritize capital projects that had been deferred, with an explicit directive from council to prioritize park projects.
