Local Candidate Forum on April 6th

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Catherine Modesitt, RHA VP

Mark your calendar! The RHA and Seaside Neighborhood Association are hosting a local candidate forum for the June state and local elections.

Date & Time: Monday April 6, 7–9 PM

Venue: South High School Performing Arts Center Free parking is available in the school lot next to the auditorium.

Not sure if your voter registration is current? Check your status here: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/

Have a question you want to ask the candidates? Email it to info@hollywoodriviera.org!  

Can’t make the event? Here’s link to the live stream: https://youtube.com/live/qqJQG9PDt7Y?feature=share

No questions or chat are allowed during the live stream. Technical issues, such as internet, hardware, or platform failures may disrupt the stream. The content is provided “as is” without guarantees of uninterrupted service.

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RHA Officer Elections

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Catherine Modesitt, RHA VP

The RHA will hold elections and its spring General Meeting virtually at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, April 21st.

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89960433356?pwd=6bwYlxdjCTtAzgwc5d8shHx0cHvfki.1

The RHA Nominating Committee’s Slate of Nominees for 2026 are:

  • President: Elizabeth Spatz
  • Vice President, Communications: Gina Magee
  • Vice President, Membership: Catherine Modesitt
  • Treasurer: Linda Schwartz
  • Secretary: [vacant]

The RHA is looking for a candidate for the office of Secretary. If you are a type-A note-taker, here’s is your chance to put your pen (or keyboard) to good use while serving your community. Duties include attending 4 board meetings and 2 general meetings annually, recording the proceedings of the meetings, distributing the meeting minutes, and maintaining an accurate set of the Bylaws. Email info@hollywoodriviera.org for more information on this position!

Any parties interested in any board position should email info@hollywoodriviera.org by April 14th to be added to the ballot.

Filed under: General Meeting, RHA Board Elections | Comments Off on RHA Officer Elections

Updates on the Hillside Overlay Ordinance

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Catherine Modesitt, RHA VP

At the Planning Commission meeting on January 21st, numerous Riviera residents appealed the “Minor Hillside Exemption” issued for the construction project at 439 Via Linda Vista. Residents even presented a petition with over one hundred signatures. Their appeal was approved.

David Kartsonis, Chair of the Torrance Planning Commission, asked his fellow commissioners for consensus to ask the City Council to task the Planning Commission to update the Hillside Overlay Ordinance. The commission agreed.

At the Torrance City Council meeting held on Jan. 27th, Kartsonis made this request, addressing the need for specific language to better manage building projects in the HOO.  Michelle Ramirez, Community Development Director, shared that she and city staff were putting together a workshop on the HOO, which would be presented to the Planning Commission at their upcoming meeting in February.  The City Council suggested they wait until after the workshop has been presented to follow up with the Planning Commission’s request.

If you are interested in learning more and offering your input on the City’s efforts to update the Hillside Overlay Ordinance, consider attending the Torrance Planning Commission meeting, which will be held Wednesday, February 18, 2026, starting at 6:30 pm in the LeRoy J. Jackson Council Chamber at City Hall, located at 3031 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance.

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Upcoming Torrance Planning Commission Hearing

Posted on January 19, 2026 by bmerryman

It has come to the RHA’s attention that there will be a Torrance Planning Commission hearing for the appeal to the approval of a residential construction project involving a garage + second story ADU being considered for 439 Via Linda Vista.  For residents interested in learning more about this project, please consider attending the hearing, which will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at 6:30 pm in the West Annex Commission Meeting Room (City Hall, 3031 Torrance Blvd.). 

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Update on El Retiro Library Staffing

Posted on January 18, 2026 by bmerryman

At the December 8, 2025, meeting of the Torrance Library Commission held at the Southeast Branch Library, City Librarian Heather Cousins shared the current status of the Open Plus program being used at the El Retiro Library. (Open Plus offers use of library collections and services beyond staffed operating hours and is available to patrons 18 years of age or older with a library account in good standing. Applications to the Open Plus program are available online here.)

The Library Administration is proposing to add four hours of Open Plus (non-staffed time) at El Retiro Library on Sundays. Staffed hours at El Retiro, as posted on the library  website , will not be changing, and currently are:

  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Thursday 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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    Save the Date – Monday April 6 at 7PM!  RHA and Seaside Neighborhood Assn are hosting a Candidate Panel for Torrance City Candidates – Mayor, Council seat District 5, and Treasurer offices.  Come to South High School Performing Arts Center Auditorium to decide which Candidates will get your vote June 2!

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