FALSE: At the City Council meeting on January 23rd, the Torrance City Council reviewed Item 9B, which delved into the feasibility of conducting a Land Use Study to evaluate the Torrance Municipal Airport – Zamperini Field for its 'highest and best' use. Following extensive discussions and public input, the City Council made the decision to formally accept and file the report, opting against initiating a land use study at this time.

Read the latest updates at  the Airport Matters page on Trending In Torrance.

FALSE: Torrance enforces local laws including making sure sidewalk vendors have permits.  In fact, Torrance is the only City in Los Angeles County that has reached an agreement with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to assign an inspector to join the City when conducting permit enforcement action.  This allows collection of any food from sidewalk vendors that are not permitted. Sidewalk vending is permitted in the state of California under certain conditions. 

FALSE: Last year, the Public Works Department removed 639 street trees in City parkways and center medians and planted 866, a net gain of 227 trees. In 2018, Torrance achieved the status of “Tree City USA” and has maintained this designation for the last four years. Tree City USA is a national program that recognizes communities for their commitment to having a viable tree management program. Please contact the Public Works Department, Streetscape Division, at (310) 781-6900 to request a replacement tree if you have vacant tree site adjacent to your property.   

TRUE:

What is a BID?
- BID stands for Business Improvement District. 
- Serves as a tool for strengthening small businesses, creates a beautiful and safe place to visit, and ultimately attracts more customers.  

FACT #1 - A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID) SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES

• A BID serves to strengthen and improve the overall visitor experience.
• Maintains a safe, clean, and beautiful community.
• Pools funds to address priorities and improvement areas beyond those provided by the City.
  
  

FACT #2- A BID IS SUPPORTED BY THE BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN TORRANCE

• Businesses within the downtown area collectively agree to pay assessments that directly fund improvements and priorities within the business district.
  
  

FACT #3- CALIFORNIA HAS OVER 100 BIDS ACROSS LOCAL DOWNTOWN AREAS.

• California has the second highest number of BIDS in the nation.
  
  

FACT #4-THE BID DETERMINES THEIR OWN DOWNTOWN PRIORITIES AND GOALS 

• BIDs operate as a non-profit group of stakeholders who determine their priorities and areas of improvement.
• To name a few, the Downtown Torrance Association BID Working Group seeks to create an added layer of safety and security, improve parking, create a unified brand, and promote community events to attract visitors to Downtown Torrance.
  
  

FACT #5- THE BID DETERMINES HOW MUCH TO PAY FOR THE ASSESSMENTS AND WHAT THOSE ASSESSMENTS WILL COVER

•  All Business Improvement Districts require establishing a Management District Plan created by the members to clearly state how revenues are collected and how the funds will be used.
  
  

FACT #6- FOR A BUSINESS BASED BID IN DOWNTOWN TORRANCE, THOSE WHO PAY INTO THE BID REALIZE THE BENEFITS OF THE BID

• That’s right! Only participants in the designated area are assessed, pay a BID fee, and are part of the business improvement district governing board.
• No residents, homeowners, or renters will be assessed nor charged a BID fee 

  unless in certain cases where BIDs have decided to include residential properties in mixed-use areas.
  Under current law, BIDs are for commercial areas only. Only mixed-use areas (like condo buildings near commercial areas) might have residential properties in a BID.

FACT #7 DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOWNTOWN BID IS SUPPORTED BY LOCAL BUSINESSESS

• Development of a BID in Torrance is supported by the Downtown Torrance Association and the City of Torrance

Business Improvement District Fact Sheet

Check out more information on BIDS
Business Improvement Districts in California

U.S Department of Transportation- 

FALSE: The City of Torrance has reached out to all flight schools in the area and have requested pilots to abide by the following:

1. Incorporate altered flight path to complete training turning maneuvers over the Ocean and at minimum altitude of 1500 feet above sea level;
2. Minimize the number of “Touch and Go” trainings within a given hour;
3. Limit training hours from 1000-1700 hours Monday – Saturday;
4. Prohibit or strictly reduce use of the south pattern; and
5. Other suggestions that Pilot and Flight Schools recommend and wish to implement immediately.

The City of Torrance continues to search for ways to allow pilots to use the airport while simultaneously reducing noise impact to the community. For more information, please visit https://www.torranceca.gov/government/city-departments/general-services/torrance-airport/noise-abatement-information

FALSE: The City of Torrance Coyote Hotline only accepts coyote sightings reports that occurred within Torrance City limits. The Torrance Coyote Hotline is staffed 24/7 and can be reached at 310-618-3898.

 You can also report coyote sightings online.

MOSTLY TRUE: A sidewalk vendor is a person who sells food or merchandise on a sidewalk or pedestrian path, and does not apply to food trucks or anything with a motor.

On September 17, 2018, former Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill (SB) 946, which is also known as the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act. This law ends criminalization of sidewalk vending in California and allows local authorities to adopt non-criminal laws to protect public health, safety and welfare.

As a result, the City of Torrance adopted a Sidewalk Vendors Ordinance whereby vendors must comply with local laws when vending in Torrance.  For example, sidewalk vendors must obtain a sidewalk vending permit from the City of Torrance.

Vendor must also comply with applicable State and County laws.  For example, food vendors must comply with the California Retail Food Code, which requires food vendors to obtain permits from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Violations of the City’s Sidewalk Vendors Ordinance by a sidewalk vendor operating on the sidewalk or pedestrian path are punishable through administrative fines, as required by SB 946.  However, sidewalk vendors remain subject to the generally applicable laws and, just like any other person, may be subject to criminal penalties if those laws are violated.

A violation of the City of Torrance Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance:

1. An administrative fine of $100 will be assessed to first violation
2. $200 to the second violation
3. $500 for each additional fine issued within one year of the first violation.

Operating without a Sidewalk vending permit:

1. An administrative fine of $250 will be assessed to first violation
2. $500 to the second violation
3. $1,000 for each additional fine issued within one year of the first violation.

Mobile Food Facility Permits Factsheet

To report violations of vendors not following the requirements of the Ordinance: Contact Code Enforcement via email at CDDInfo@TorranceCA.Gov or by phone at (310) 618-5929.

To report complaints regarding food safety concerns or health permits for vendors: Contact the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health via email at https://ehservices.publichealth.lacounty.gov/servlet/guest?service=0&formId=4&saveAction=5 or by phone at (888) 700-9995.

TRUE: The City of Torrance adopted an ordinance that prohibits any person to use any of the streets, highways, sidewalks, parks or public places, including, but not limited to, parkways, beaches, bus stop sites, the transit center, the civic center, and the Madrona Marsh Preserve as a camping place at any time.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Martin vs. City of Boise prohibits the City’s ability to enforce this anti-camping ordinance when shelter is not available in the City of Torrance. In short, a shelter bed must be available for the City to enforce this ordinance, and may not do so when a shelter bed is not available.