Torrance Picks Travel Agent to Handle Employees’ Trips

In an effort to save on travel costs incurred by employees on city business, the Torrance City Council on Tuesday approved the selection of an exclusive travel agent.

By using a single agent, Flying Dutchman Travel, the city hopes to save money on such costs as air fares, hotels and car rentals, according to city officials.

Currently, there are no limits on such costs for city police and municipal employees, whose trips vary from picking up prisoners out-of-state to attending conferences.

“It has to be reasonable and has to be justified,” City Manager LeRoy J. Jackson said. The new system would also allow for greater monitoring and accounting of expenses.

However, unlike city employees, council members will not be required to use the agent. Instead, council members are free to make their own travel arrangements, Jackson said.

Over the years, some city officials have exceeded annual reimbursement limits for travel costs.

The council recently reduced its annual travel budget from $5,000 to $3,500 per person. Mayor Katy Geissert said she thought the council needed no other guidelines on appropriate use of the reimbursement.

“In my opinion, the total amount is the controlling factor,” Geissert said. “If they want to stay at an expensive hotel, they’ll have that much less to spend on their next trip. . . . These are elected officials. The public presumably has confidence in the judgment of elected officials. If they don’t, they can (vote them out) of office in four years.”