Councilman Asserts ‘Nothing Happens’ at Private Meetings

Torrance City Councilman Bill Applegate this week defended council members’ practice of meeting with developers privately to seek consensus on projects, saying no decisions are made at the sessions.

“Nothing happens,” said Applegate, who acknowledged that council members consult privately with the interested parties on certain issues, either individually or in small groups. “No approvals and no commitments are made.”

His comments at Tuesday’s council meeting were prompted by a Times article Sept. 11 that noted that such meetings are held without public notice--sometimes before a project is announced. The article quoted City Atty. Stanley E. Remelmeyer as saying the practice puts the council “on somewhat thin ice” legally.

Calling the article “distorted,” Applegate said, “The City Council is accountable for its actions. I think it is about time that the press is, too.”

Applegate said that such meetings with developers are intended to “tone down the projects so that they do not infuriate the citizens and create problems.

“We are being chastised for being polite.”

He said that the council neither approves nor rejects any project outside of an open council meeting.

No other council members spoke on the issue, nor did any members of the audience.

Several homeowners’ organization representatives quoted in the story said the practice puts them at a disadvantage because they don’t know what happens and don’t have the same ability to meet with council members during the afternoon, when most hold office hours.