Torrance council approves one-year pilot for nonprofit-run coffee cart at library plaza

The Torrance City Council on April 13 approved a one-year pilot that will allow ICANN, a nonprofit that serves people with developmental disabilities, to operate a staffed mobile coffee cart at the library plaza.

Scott Elliott, CEO of ICANN, said the pilot is intended to create real paid jobs and bring more patrons back to the library. “ICANN is a nonprofit that empowers people with disabilities,” Elliott said, describing a trailer outfitted with battery and solar backup and a generator for reliability.

City staff explained the agreement includes compensation to the city equal to 15% of net sales and allows staff and the nonprofit to adjust hours based on demand. Danny Santano of the city manager’s office told the council the one-year term will let ICANN test market conditions and collaborate with staff on suitable operating hours.

Councilmembers asked about hours, weekend programming and how the cart would fit with library and event schedules. Scott Elliott said the cart’s proposed start time as early as 7 a.m. is intended to serve city staff and clients working morning shifts, and explained safety and noise mitigation measures, including placing the cart 40–50 feet from busy streets.

Councilmember Lewis moved to approve item 8d; her motion was seconded and the council voted unanimously to adopt the pilot. Councilmembers praised the nonprofit’s work and noted the project’s partnership with Cal Poly and Da Vinci High School in building the structure and with Harbor Regional Center as a funder.

The pilot includes operational details that staff may adjust during the one-year term, and the city will monitor performance and community response before considering a longer-term arrangement.

The council voted to adopt the item in the public session; no additional conditions or amendments were recorded.