The City of Torrance wishes you and your family a happy Thanksgiving!  In observance of Thanksgiving Day, City Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28.  Enjoy the holidays!

TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 24, 2008 - On November 18, 2008, the Torrance City Council concurred with the United States Conference of Mayors' (USCM) Main Street Stimulus Plan.  This plan allows for local control of funds to stimulate the economy and bring jobs to the local community.  There are ten "Main Street Stimulus" programs that will immediately create jobs, improve infrastructure, and have lasting economic and environmental impacts.  In the first of a series of reports by the USCM that inventory each city's 'ready-to-go' infrastructure projects - projects that could be started and completed in calendar year 2009 if emergency federal funding were made available, 153 cities of all sizes in all regions of the country identified a total of 4,591 infrastructure projects costing a total of $24.4 billion that would create more than a quarter of a million jobs.  This initial report of city infrastructure projects validates the USCM's recommendations to Congress for direct emergency stimulus funds that cities can invest immediately in job creation, small business activity and lasting infrastructure improvements for Main Street America.  In light of the challenges of the current economic situation, the Torrance City Council supports this effort to help ensure that concerns of local communities are considered, and their security and stability undiminished.  The City of Torrance would like to encourage all Torrance businesses to support the Main Street Stimulus Plan and to share this information with other members of the community.  To view the plan, please go to http://www.usmayors.org/.

From November 3 - December 5, 2008, bring in two strands of old energy guzzling holiday lights to SBESC and exchange them for two strands of LED lights!  Please click here for more information.

Crenshaw Blvd will be reduced from 3 to 2 lanes in each direction due to construction.  Please click here for more information.

TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 14, 2008 - New audible pedestrian push buttons have been installed at the intersection of 231st Street and Arlington Avenue.  The equipment is programmed to emit a "cuckoo" walk sound for crossing in the north/south direction and to emit a "peep-peep" walk sound for crossing in the east/west direction in order to comply with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD).  The CA MUTCD is a reference for determining the type and appropriate use of all traffic control devices to ensure consistency in types and applications.

When these audible pedestrian push buttons were first installed, the equipment was programmed to emit verbal "walk" and "don't walk" commands, instead of "beeps."   A few days after the initial programming, the sounds were reprogrammed to comply with the CA MUTCD guidelines.  At that time, residents and pedestrians were informed of the sound change.  The "beep" sounds are consistent with the audible pedestrian push buttons in operation at the Caltrans-maintained intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard and 230th Street, as well as other installations in the surrounding areas.  Contrary to the verbal commands given only in English, the "cuckoo" and "peep-peep" sounds  are universal and international sounds understood by people of all languages, presenting an important benefit to Torrance residents and visitors.

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2008 - On September 23, 2008, the City of Torrance officially launched the new Torrance Events Calendar on the Torrance citywide website.  The Torrance Events Calendar is a new service and tool to help improve the quality of life in the City of Torrance.  This comprehensive calendar will provide the community and worldwide visitors with a resource for Torrance-based meetings, events, and activities.  Presently, the Calendar is populated with City-hosted events, and all Torrance-based nonprofit groups and organizations are encouraged to submit information about their events for inclusion in the Calendar.  With the click of a mouse, the community can now discover everything that is happening in the City of Torrance.  Everyone is invited to visit the Torrance Events Calendar at www.torrnet.com/events, which is linked to the bottom of every page in the citywide website, under the heading Events Calendar, and also at the top of every page, listed inside the "Quick Links" drop down menu.  For Torrance-based nonprofit groups that are interested in submitting their events for inclusion in the Calendar, please click here for information on how to submit an event.  If you have any questions, please email the Calendar Administrator at TorranceCalendar@torrnet.com.

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 2, 2008 - With sadness and joyous memories, the City of Torrance announces the passing of former Councilwoman Gene Drevno on Monday, September 1, 2008 after battling cancer. Gene Drevno passed away surrounded by her nine children, grandchildren and close friends. She was 78 years old. read more (PDF)>>

TORRANCE, Calif. - The City of Torrance is pleased to announce the appointment of William Racowschi as its new fire chief. Since starting his career at the Torrance Fire Department in 1980, William Racowschi has risen through the ranks. He was promoted to fire engineer in 1986, and fire captain in 1992, wherein he also served as training coordinator. In 1999, Racowschi rose to battalion chief, a position he has held until his appointment as Torrance's new fire chief effective Sunday, August 17, 2008. read more (PDF)>>

TORRANCE, Calif., May 15, 2008 - On Thursday, May 15, 2008, Mayor Frank Scotto presented his 2008 State of the City Address at the Torrance Marriott.  Mayor Scotto's recorded 2008 State of the City Address will begin cablecasting on Torrance CitiCABLE Channel 3, May 28th through June 24th at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.; and June 25th through July 23rd at 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m.

Watch Mayor Scotto's 2008 State of the City below and click HERE to view a copy of the transcript.

The City of Torrance began registering oversized vehicles and trailers in January of 2007.  As of July 1, 2007 only registered oversized vehicles and/or trailers with activated daily paperless parking permits are allowed to be parked on public streets.  There are also provisions for residents who are hosting visitors traveling in an oversized vehicle or trailer.  The resident registration stickers are available at the Community Development Department (CDD), and  the daily paperless parking  permits can be pre-purchased at the CDD or the Torrance Police Department (TPD) when City hall is closed.  The daily paperless parking permits can be activated by calling the TPD at (310) 618-5636.

Please visit our updated website here for more information.  If you have any questions or need clarification about registration stickers or daily paperless parking permits, please feel free to contact the Transportation Planning Division of the Community Development Department at (310) 618-5990 or via email at cddtraffic@torrnet.com.  If you have questions about parking enforcement, please contact the Traffic Division of the Torrance Police Department at (310) 618-5557.