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The Weekly Newspaper of Torrance Herald Publications - Torrance, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 5, No. 20 - May 14, 2015 Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.....................10 Classifieds............................4 Crossword/Sudoku.............4 Film Review..........................3 Food.......................................5 Legals....................................9 Police Reports.....................3 Real Estate.........................12 Sports....................................6 TerriAnn in Torrance..........8 Weekend Forecast Councilmember Tim Goodrich set a personal goal to climb Mount Shasta, and accomplished his goal while carrying a copy of the Tribune. Here he is at 14,179 feet, with a 40mph wind and 25 degree weather. Photo provided by Councilman Goodrich. Friday AM Light Rain 66˚/55˚ Saturday Mostly Sunny 65˚/56˚ Sunday Mostly Sunny 64˚/55˚ Councilmember Goodrich Totes the Tribune 14,000 Feet Council Hosts First Public Hearing, Budget Workshop By Cristian Vasquez The first public hearing and budget workshop regarding the City of Torrance’s proposed two-year operating budget for fiscal years 2015-2017 was completed during Tuesday night’s regular council meeting. The public hearing was closed and approved to continue for the second public hearing and budget workshop at the next council meeting on Tuesday, May 19. No formal action is required to be taken by the council until the May 19 meeting; however, Tuesday night’s meeting gave members of the council a general idea of the expenditure costs for daily operations by each department, as well as expected revenue projections for the two upcoming fiscal years. “As we prepared the budget there were some bumps along the way and some real problems in the current budget because of some shortfalls in the utility users tax and some anticipated problems in the utility users tax and in some of our other revenues sources,” Torrance City Manager Le Roy Jackson said. “It shifted our concerns and outlook to a more conservative budget. We thank the departments for their participation in making some difficult choices.” This budget process began December 2014 when the council was approached for advice in the start up and development of the budget. Jackson admits that the budget expectations at the beginning of the process were optimistic but given certain circumstances, a more conservative budget was presented to the council. “We had a lot of input and ideas that would be available if we saw growth in the development of the budget,” Jackson said. “We had already accomplished a great deal in the budget that was being proposed to you in that it encompassed pay raises for our employees; offset some increases in our retirement cost and address certain improvements that had taken place over the last several of years.” The budget presentation led by Torrance Finance Director Eric Tsao estimates that sales tax will grow close to 12 percent during the next two fiscal years, in large part to the Del Amo Mall renovation project which is expected to be completed by this year’s holiday season. With 100 new stores and six restaurants expected to open, the new source of revenue is expected to begin making an impact on the city by March of next year. “We are expecting a lot of new retail sales and activity in Torrance, so might it be more than 12 percent,” Tsao said. “It might. It depends on what kind of stores open up at the mall. We don’t have a definitive list but once they open, we will and know more what to expect. We are being cautious and waiting for those store to open before making projections.” The presentation included a break down of general fund revenues expected, $172.3 million by June 30, based on what the city does See City Council, page 4 The Scottos Are Awarded Jared Sidney Torrance Award On Tuesday, May 5, 2015, during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting, Mayor Patrick J. Furey presented the Jared Sidney Torrance Award for lifetime commitment to the community to Cindy and Frank Scotto for their individual contributions to the City of Torrance.  The evening began with the 9th Annual Students and Government Day presentation, featuring students from several Torrance middle schools opening the City Council meeting. The program allows selected students to engage in various activities including shadowing the Mayor, Council members and executive staff in their jobs; the students then act in those roles. Frank and Cindy Scotto are two of the founding members of the program that is designed to give students a look inside local government.  Together, Frank and Cindy Scotto have dedicated much of their time to the Torrance Sister City Association, on which Cindy is currently a board member. They also are involved in fundraising for the arts locally. Their efforts have benefitted the Torrance Symphony Association, the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, Art Attack and the Torrance Theatre Company. See Scottos, page 4


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