Furey Jr. Replaced by Mom and other Torrance News

With much of the focus on the recent election here are several noteworthy items from the local scene you may have missed.

Mom Replaces Son

• Patrick Furey Jr who resigned from his position on the TUSD Personnel Commission was replaced by his mother Teresa Furey. Patrick’s father, now Mayor Furey, had held the same post prior to his son. Teresa Furey was appointed to the Commission by the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter #845. She is currently listed on CSEA’s website as its First Vice President. The Personnel Commission was established to ensure favoritism and nepotism are kept out of the District’s hiring practices and that employees are hired based only upon demonstrated ability and not on who they know. Teresa’s appointment was approved by the School Board in October.

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Moves Forward

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  Joe Galliani – Local Environmental Activist

  The formation of a CCA took another step forward with Torrance becoming the first local City to approve participation in the South Bay Clean Power Advisory Committee. The Committee will solidify plans to create a CCA by forming a local JPA with other cities, work on a business implementation plan, and draft an RFP for financing and the necessary services to create the CCA. According to its website, the South Bay Clean Power Advisory Committee is chaired by local environmental activist Joe Galliani. Galliani has been a leading proponent of creating a CCA over the last several years.

Tree/View Ordinance Nearing Completion

• After what has seemed like a never ending series of community meetings and Council deliberations on the subject that have occurred over the course of the last several years since Mayor Furey took office it would appear that a final ordinance is nearing completion.  At a meeting held in October, the Council considered a draft of the proposed ordinance and directed staff to return with a final version.

Ordinance Regulating Short Term Rentals in Work

• The Council once again took up the issue of short term vacation rentals offered through various avenues such as Airbnb. The Council had previously considered an outright ban of such enterprises. With litigation surrounding such bans cropping up in other jurisdictions it appears the Council will opt for some form of regulation versus a ban. At a meeting held late October staff was directed to return to Council with a draft ordinance for consideration.