The Weekly Newspaper of Torrance Herald Publications - Torrance, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 6, No. 33 - August 11, 2016 Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................8 Classifieds............................4 Crossword/Sudoku.............4 Film Review..........................2 Legals....................................9 Pets........................................8 Real Estate...................10-12 Sports....................................5 TerriAnn in Torrance..........6 Weekend Forecast The New Murdock Stadium is Ready for 2016 Football Season El Camino College will play the 2016 season in the New Murdock Stadium. The Warriors new $40 million stadium has an 8,000 capacity seating and features state-of-the-art facilities. The field is made of synthetic turf for football and soccer. Photo by Eric Ramos Council Approves Small Residential Solar Energy System Permit Fees By Cristian Vasquez In a 6-1 vote, the Torrance Mayor and City Council approved a recommendation by Community Development Director Jeffery W. Gibson to authorize small residential solar energy system permit fees, as well as adding an permit technician II position. The council also adopted an ordinance for processing small energy residential solar energy systems, as well a structure to collect fees that will cover the mandated requirements in place. The city’s new fee permit structure will be a recommended flat fee of $400, which was amended by the council who wasn’t in agreement with the staff report’s $450 fee, or the city’s prior $750 fee. “The City of Torrance has always encouraged green building practices and energy efficiency in all construction projects,” states the staff report signed by Gibson. “In particular, for small residential solar energy systems installed on single family homes such as the ones addressed by AB 2188.” Prior to the passage of Assembly Bill 2188 [AB 2188], which modifies parts of the Solar Rights Act by mandating that all localities adopt an ordinance that expedites the permitting process for small rooftop solar panel systems, the Torrance City Council took action to encourage residents to install these eco-friendly systems in single family homes. “We have done a great job; in 2010 there were only 59 permits for this issued; last year 248 building permits were issued for solar panels,” Mayor Patrick J. Furey said. “Obviously solar panels are starting to resonate. The only thing that I am concerned is that we are going to have such a high rate already.” Among the steps taken by the city to streamline the permitting and inspection process to projects including solar panels was waiving permit fees for the installation of the eco-friendly technology on single-family homes. The staff report indicates that it is expected for 200 permits to be issued for solar panel installations, for several reasons, including the numerous government incentives available such as federal tax credits and the State’s net metering program. “Net metering is the ability of a homeowner to sell electricity generated by these systems back to the utility company and it is capped at 5 percent of a region’s power use,” states School Board Approves Contracts, Polling Places for General Election By Cristian Vasquez Members of the Torrance School Board approved the renewal of Adult Education Contracts with the City of Torrance and Torrance Memorial Center for the 2016- 2017 academic school year. “Torrance Adult School provides a number of classes for students in various facilities throughout the city,” states the agenda presented to members of the board during the Aug. 1 board meeting. “Separate contracts for Adult Education classes conducted in facilities run by the City of Torrance and Torrance Memorial Medical Center are required by statute.” Certain programs offered to students of the Torrance Adult School are carried out at sites such as the City of Torrance Bartlett Center, El Retiro Park and Ken Miller Recreation Center Torrance Memorial Medical Center; hence, they each require individual contracts. Each contract itemizes the responsibilities that fall on TUSD, as well as on the sites involved in the agreement. Also approved was the contract renewal with About Time Catering, which provides catering services at the city’s adult education sites. About Time Catering, which is the provider of catering services to students during class breaks, will be contracted for the adult school year from Sept. 12, 2016- July 31, 2017. This contract will have no fiscal impact on the district. Friday Sunny 73˚/65˚ Saturday Sunny 75˚/66˚ Sunday Sunny 79˚/68˚ See City Council, page 2 See School Board, page 9
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