Updating the Torrance City Charter

A city charter is the basic document that defines the organization, powers, functions, and essential procedures for city government, equivalent to the constitution for federal or state governments.

From time to time, city charters are amended to comply with changes in state or federal law or opportunities created by new technology, and to meet evolving good governance standards.

Over the past year, the City of Torrance has conducted four public meetings to discuss potential changes to the city charter. On July 16, the Torrance City Council voted to place a measure, Measure TC, on the November 5, 2024, ballot for local voters to consider proposed amendments to the city charter. If the measure is approved by a majority of voters, the charter will be updated as proposed. If the measure is rejected by a majority of voters, the charter will remain in its current form.

Strengthening Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics

Over the past year, the City of Torrance has conducted four public meetings to discuss potential changes to the City Charter. On July 16, the Torrance City Council voted to place a measure called Measure TC, on the November 5, 2024, ballot for local voters to consider proposed amendments to the City Charter.

Below is a summary of the primary amendments to the Torrance City Charter that would be adopted if Measure TC is adopted by a majority of local voters:

• Requiring all lobbyists to register with the city
• Requiring ethics training for city officials
• Updating elected official descriptions to be independent of gender
• Confirming local control of city elections
• Strengthening requirements for audits of city finances and accounts
• Strengthening requirements for public disclosure and transparency related to the city budget and all spending of public funds
• Streamlining the appointment process for city boards, commissions, and committees
• Increasing disclosure requirements for campaign donations to candidates for city offices
• Strengthening anti-nepotism rules to prohibit council members and city officers from appointing a relative to a salaried position
• Strengthening conflict-of-interest restrictions that apply to city officials; employees; and members of city boards, commissions, and committees
• Modernizing approved methods of official city communication to include email, text messages, and other forms of electronic communication
• Restricting compensation for members of the City Council to no more than the minimum wage of the State of California, which is currently $16 per hour
• Expanding the circumstances under which a member of the City Council and other city-elected offices may be removed, including criminal activity and lack of meeting attendance

Measure TC will not increase taxes and is designed to increase the efficient operation of city government, avoid potential corruption and mismanagement, and increase public transparency. Measure TC will not impact the operations of Torrance Municipal Airport or Torrance Unified School District.

Measure TC will appear on the November 5, 2024, ballot, and all registered voters in the City of Torrance are eligible to vote on the measure.

City Council Meeting of February 27, 2024

Agenda Item 9C - City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney - Consider and give direction on potential City Charter amendments. 

Recommendation of the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney that City Council:

1. Direct staff on public hearing dates for potential City Charter amendments; and
2. Direct staff on potential amendments to the City Charter. 

Staff Report Part 1 | Staff Report Part 2 | Staff Report Part 3 | Staff Report Part 4 | Staff Report Part 5

Staff Report Part 6 | Staff Report Part 7 | Staff Report Part 8 | Staff Report Part 9 | Staff Report Part 10

Staff Report Part 11 | Staff Report Part 12 | Staff Report Part 13 | Staff Report Part 14 | Staff Report Part 15

Staff Report Part 16 | Staff Report Part 17 | Staff Report Part 18 | Staff Report Part 19 | Staff Report Part 20

View Supplemental

City Council Meeting of March 12, 2024

Public Hearing Agenda Item 10A-1 - Special Counsel - Discuss and Determine Action on Potential City Charter Amendments Related to the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and City Treasurer.

Recommendation of the Special Counsel that City Council:

1. Conduct the first Public Hearing on potential amendments to the City Charter regarding the positions of City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Treasurer; and
2. Discuss and determine action on potential amendments to the City Charter; and
3. Set the date of the second Public Hearing. 

View Staff Presentation

Public Hearing Agenda Item 10A-2 - City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney - Conduct First Public Hearing on potential City Charter amendments. 

Recommendation of the Special Counsel that City Council:

1. Conduct the first Public Hearing on potential amendments to the City Charter regarding the positions of City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Treasurer; and
2. Discuss and determine action on potential amendments to the City Charter; and
3. Set the date of the second Public Hearing. 

City Council Meeting of April 23, 2024

Public Hearing Agenda item 10A-1 - Special Counsel — Conduct Second Hearing on Proposed Amendments to City Charter concerning City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and City Treasurer Positions. 

Recommendation of the Special Counsel that the City Council:

1. Conduct the second Public Hearing on potential amendments to the City Charter regarding the positions of City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Treasurer; and
2. Direct the Special Counsel to draft City Charter amendment language that modernizes the City Manager and City Attorney Charter language to (1) comply with the law; (2) use gender-neutral language; and (3) eliminate any unnecessary terms; and
3. Determine what voting requirements, if any, should be included in the City Charter for the termination of the City Manager and City Attorney and direct the Special counsel to draft language to effectuate this determination; and
4. Determine what termination procedure, if any, should be included in the City Charter for the City Manager and City Attorney positions and direct the Special Counsel to draft language to effectuate this determination; and
5. Set the date of the third Public Hearing.

Public Hearing Agenda Item 10A-2 - City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney — Conduct Second Public Hearing on potential City Charter amendments. 

Recommendation of the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney that City Council:

1. Conduct the second Public Hearing on potential amendments to the City Charter:
2. Discus and determine action on potential amendments to the City Charter; and
3. Set the date of the third Public Hearing.

City Council Meeting of June 4, 2024 

Public Hearing Agenda Item 10A-1 - Special Counsel - Conduct Third Hearing on Proposed Amendments to City Charter concerning City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and City Treasurer Position.

Recommendation of the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney that City Council:

1. Conduct the third Public Hearing on potential amendments to the City Charter:
2. Direct staff on the potential amendments to the City Charter; and
3. Direct staff on the date of the City Council meeting to decide whether to submit the City Charter Amendments to the voters.

View Supplemental

Public Hearing Agenda Item 10A-2 - City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney — Conduct Third Public Hearing on Potential City Charter amendments. 

Recommendation of the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney that City Council:

1. Conduct the third Public Hearing on potential amendments to the City Charter:
2. Direct staff on the potential amendments to the City Charter; and
3. Direct staff on the date of the City Council meeting to decide whether to submit the City Charter Amendments to the voters.

View Supplemental

City Council Meeting of July 2, 2024

Agenda Item 9C -   City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney — Adopt Resolutions Calling 2024 Special Municipal Election on November 5, 2024 Regarding Amendments to the City Charter

Recommendation of the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney that City Council:

1. Adopt a RESOLUTION calling a Special Municipal Election on November 5, 2024 for the purpose of submitting proposed City Charter amendments to a vote of the qualified electors of the City of Torrance;
2. Adopt a RESOLUTION requesting the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to agree to consolidate the election on the Statewide General Election Ballot; and
3. Give direction to the City Clerk on whether the City Council would like to select a letter or letters for the ballot measure.

Materials Available | View Supplemental #1 | View Supplemental #2

City Council Meeting of July 16, 2024

Agenda Item 9B - City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney — Discuss and Give Direction on City Council Compensation.

Recommendation of the City Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney that City Council discuss and give direction to staff on City Council compensation as a potential amendment to the City Charter.

View Supplemental