Council adopts framework for exterior facility lighting; gives staff authority to light for routine holidays and events

The Torrance City Council on Jan. 14 approved a staff framework to govern the use of exterior lighting systems on city facilities and instructed staff to implement routine holiday and event lighting without additional formal council action.

Logan Golimi of the city manager’s office presented a draft external lighting policy that would define how the city uses programmable exterior lights at city facilities. The policy defines standard white lighting and red/white/blue patriotic displays, provides that the city manager may authorize white or patriotic lighting for nonreligious civic observances, and reserves to the council the right to decide on other special lighting requests. Staff originally included mayoral authority to request quick changes for championships; council elected to simplify authority and to allow staff to proceed with rapid responses for championship and celebratory requests without a formal item.

Council also directed staff to remove redundant definitions for mayor and mayor pro tem from the draft, to permit rapid implementation, and to proceed with a default white illumination for facilities. Council asked staff to ensure lighting is used in a way that avoids religious endorsement and to coordinate with community groups for other awareness or recognition events.