TORRANCE, Calif., - The City of Torrance Office of Economic Development invites all Torrance businesses to apply for the third annual Torrance Advantage Awards (TAA) recognizing businesses for their accomplishments in the year 2009.  In addition to the prestigious trophy, winners will receive $200 to help with operating expenses, a signed Letter of Appreciation from the mayor of Torrance, Certificates of Recognition from regional elected officials, and will be featured on the City's website and other promotional materials such as the quarterly publication, Torrance Seasons.  Winners of the Torrance Advantage Awards 2009 will be announced and recognized among other Torrance businesses and the Torrance City Council at the Award ceremonies to be held on March 25, 2010, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the newly-opened Miyako Hybrid Hotel.  Please click here to download the application. read more (PDF)>>

Key Dates
February 25, 2010 - Application Deadline
March 25, 2010 - Winners Announced

For any questions or more information, please visit www.TorranceCA.Gov/TAA.htm or contact Fran Fulton at the Office of Economic Development at 310-618-5807 or at FFulton@TorranceCA.Gov.

TORRANCE, Calif., November 19, 2009 - The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) selected the City of Torrance as a finalist for one of its 2009 Most Business-Friendly City in L.A. County awards, also known as the Eddy Awards®.  The Eddy Awards® have become one of the most prestigious economic development award programs in the state of California.  The winners of each category were announced live at the 14th Annual Eddy Awards® on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at the Beverly Hilton hotel.  More than 700 leaders from the business, government, and education sectors attended the gala dinner.

Although the City of Torrance did not win the Eddy Award®, the LAEDC honored Torrance as a finalist for creating a business-friendly environment that encourages businesses to locate or expand in the community by reducing red tape and improving response time with additional assistance.  Torrance was also recognized for implementing such streamlining measures as a one-stop permit center, ombudsman services, online project status tracking, and training.  In addition, Torrance is proud to have the second lowest rate of property crime and third lowest rate of violent crime among 15 L.A. County cities with populations of 100,000 residents.

Please click here for the Eddy Awards® website.

On March 24, 2009, the Torrance City Council adopted Water Conservation Ordinance #3717.  Click here for the ordinance (pdf).

On July 21, 2009, the City Council adopted Resolution #2009-70 declaring a Level 1 Water Supply Shortage in accordance with the City's existing Water Conservation Ordinance #3717.  Click here for the resolution (pdf).  This action was necessitated by a third consecutive drought year in California and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) declaring mandatory cutbacks in deliveries of imported water supplies. MWD currently provides two-thirds of the City's annual water requirements.

The Level 1 activation places further restrictions on water use including:  

• No watering between the hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (changed from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.)
  
• Watering limited to 3 days per week (changed from unlimited days per week but still no restrictions on which days)
  
• Water no more than 15 minutes per station (remains the same)
  
• No excessive water flows or runoff (remains the same)
  
• No washing down of exterior surfaces (remains the same)
  
• All leaks must be fixed within 7 days (changed from 15 days)
  
• Washing of vehicles, boats, etc., only with a bucket or hose with a positive shut-off valve (remains the same)
• Fountains and other water features must use recirculating systems (remains the same)

All other permanent water use restrictions remain in place per the Ordinance.

In addition, the Resolution calls upon all customers to reduce their water usage by an additional 10% to stay within our mandated reduction targets from MWD and help maintain regional water reserves in the event that there is a fourth consecutive drought year in 2010.

TORRANCE, Calif., July 16, 2009 - The Los Angeles County West Vector & Vector-Borne Disease Control District has issued a pamphlet called "Biting and Stinging Insects" to inform the public about biting and stinging insects in Los Angeles County.  Recommendations listed in this pamphlet should be followed in order to reduce the risk of exposure to the following vectors and vector-borne diseases:

• Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus
• Africanized Honey Bees
• Ticks and Lyme Disease
• Red Imported Fire Ants

This pamphlet will be available at various public counters in City Hall and can be downloaded from the website: http://www.lawestvector.org/.