55 User Fees Approved by Council

In an effort to make residents pay more of the cost of providing a wide range of city services, the Torrance City Council last week unanimously approved 55 new or increased user fees.

The fees, for services provided by the Planning, Building and Engineering departments, are among 91 the council has been considering at a series of five meetings.

Last month the council approved two fees to pay for police response to false burglary and robbery alarms. The remaining fees, 10 for Police and Fire department services, 22 for programs in the Parks and Recreation Department and two construction fees, are still to be considered.

The increases will be phased in over a three-year period begining July 1, city officials said. The fees approved last week will raise about $300,000 next year and about $450,000 in the third year, according to City Financial Director Mary Giordano.

If all the proposed increases and new fees are approved, they will increase annual city revenue by $1.9 million.