LOS ANGELES CITY HALL JOURNAL : A summary of significant Los Angeles City Hall decisions affecting the Westside in the last week.

CITY COUNCIL

WALK OF FAME: Approved adding the name of the 5th Dimension singing group to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. An installation ceremony is scheduled for Friday at 10:30 a.m. in front of the Roosevelt Hotel.

TUNNEL CLOSURE: Approved the closure of the pedestrian tunnel at Parkman Avenue under the Hollywood Freeway, to eliminate crime. Councilman Michael Woo, who made the request, said the tunnel has become a congregating area for vagrants and gang members. Residents fear using it, he said.

ARTS COUNCIL: Approved subleasing 2,858 square feet of commercial space in the Century City Shopping Center to the Los Angeles Arts Council for use as an office, exhibit space and a community meeting room. Under the Century City North Specific Plan, the city has a 60-year lease of the space at no cost.

HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD FACE LIFT: Approved the two-year Hollywood Boulevard Improvement Program, which is expected to cost an estimated $7.5 million. Both public and private funds will be used to restore the boulevard, including refurbishing storefronts, repairing sidewalks and planting trees.

REVERSAL: The city council overturned a decision by the Board of Zoning Appeals and granted conditional use permits for two restaurants at 345 North La Brea Avenue. Nineteen conditions were imposed, including hours of operation and prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption. Neighbors had complained about alcoholic beverages being sold because of several nearby schools and the lack of parking.

CRUISING: Approved a request to spend $12,800 in Councilman Woo’s district to buy signs, barricades and other traffic devices to help control cruising along Hollywood and Sunset boulevards and adjacent streets.

BLOCK PARTIES: Councilwoman Ruth Galanter requested that the 4300 block of West 58th Street be closed Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a block party. Councilman John Ferraro asked that Bellflower Street between Hortense Avenue and Sarah Street be closed Aug. 18 from 3 p.m to 10 p.m. for a block party.

MWD: Councilman Ferraro introduced a motion asking the council to act to prevent the Metropolitan Water District from relocating outside the city. The district is considering moving from its headquarters on Sunset Boulevard. The council has yet to take action.

HOW THEY VOTED

APPOINTMENT: Approved the appointment of Ann Reiss Lane to the city Police Commission. Lane has served on fire and library commissions for 18 years. Lane replaces Melanie Lomax, who resigned. Passed: 10 to 0.

Voting yes: Ferraro, Joel Wachs, Woo and Zev Yaroslavsky. Marvin Braude, Galanter and Nate Holden were absent.

AIDS: Approved spending $300,000 to buy and rehabilitate a house in the 10th District, which will provide 24-hour home care for babies with AIDS. Caring for Babies With AIDS, a nonprofit group, will operate the home with assistance from the county Department of Children’s Services.

Westside council members voting yes: Braude, Ferraro, Galanter, Holden, Wachs, Woo and Yaroslavsky. Passed: 11 to 0.

SMOKING: Passed a motion opposing a pending Assembly bill that keeps cities and counties from adopting tougher smoking laws. The bill SB 376, sponsored by Sen. Ralph Dills (D-Gardena) and Assemblyman Gerald Felando (R-Torrance), would also permit the distribution of tobacco samples, which the Los Angeles City Council opposes. The council has asked the city attorney to draft an ordinance to prohibit the distribution of samples. Passed: 13 to 0.

Voting yes: Braude, Ferraro, Galanter, Wachs, Woo and Yaroslavsky. Holden was absent.

ETHICS: Approved a procedural change authorizing the staff of the City Ethics Commission to perform its own administrative duties. Previously the duties had been carried out by the City Clerk’s staff because the commission was without a staff. Candidates’ statements of economic interests still must be filed with the clerk’s office, which will turn them over to the commission.

Voting yes: Braude, Ferraro, Galanter, Wachs, Woo and Yaroslavsky. Passed: 13 to 0. Holden was absent.

WATTS FESTIVAL: Approved the closure of Los Angeles Street between Slauson Avenue and 60th Street from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday for the Watts Summer Festival. Food, entertainment and arts and craft displays will be part of the celebration.

Voting yes: Braude, Ferraro, Galanter, Woo and Yaroslavsky. Passed: 11-0. Holden was absent.