CITY HALL ROUNDUP : Torrance makes developer sing a different tune on street names.

OFF-KEY: Developers and Torrance city officials part company when it comes to naming streets in gated communities. Consider The Verdi Collection, a development that Watt Homes Inc. plans to build along the west side of Crenshaw Boulevard, south of Plaza Del Amo.

Watt was clearly striving for a refined, upscale image when it proposed that the development’s four private streets be named after Giuseppe Verdi and three operas he wrote: Aida, Otello and (La) Traviata.

The plan, however, didn’t figure in the city’s libretto. Torrance police and fire officials believe that for public safety reasons, private roads in gated communities should bear the same names as the public streets they feed into.

“It helps police and fire units find the locations much quicker in an emergency,” said city Planning Director David Ferren. Added Richard Nanney, a battalion chief with the Torrance Fire Department: “Otherwise, you have pockets of strange names throughout the city.”

Those arguments, endorsed by Torrance’s street-naming committee, persuaded city leaders. Last week, the City Council decided that the four streets will be called Elm Avenue, Date Avenue, Dorset Drive and Woodbury Drive. Hardly melodic, but consistent with the public street names.

HIGH FINANCE: In Rancho Palos Verdes, they give roundabout raises.

With municipal finances tight, City Manager Paul Bussey refused to accept a pay hike from the City Council last week. So the council, determined to reward him for what they consider a job well done, passed a measure designed to allow Bussey to pocket more money when he sells his home.

The city bought the home from former City Manager Dennis McDuffie in 1990 and sold it to Bussey for $510,000. As part of its deal with Bussey, the city gave him a $250,000 loan that, instead of carrying interest charges, entitles the city to a share of the profits when the property is sold.

Tuesday’s council action changed the terms of that deal so that Bussey’s share of the profits will be greater and the city’s will be less. The result is that if the house were sold today for $520,000, Bussey’s profit would be $10,000, or $4,902 more than under the original arrangement, and the city would get no profits. If it were to sell for $750,000, Bussey’s profit would be $119,000, or $6,980 more, and the remaining $110,000 in profits would go to the city.

“We paid him in funny money,” Councilman Robert Ryan said. “If the house appreciates, he’ll get (more profits) when he sells. . . . (It’s) like a lottery ticket, and we hope he wins.”

ON THE BEACH: Los Angeles County beach officials are nervous about a developer’s plan to pump 7.2 million gallons of water daily onto the Hermosa Beach shore during construction of a 171-room hotel.

The developer, Hermosa Beach Investment Co., says it needs to pump ground water from beneath The Strand property for up to 16 months to prevent flooding of the construction site.

But in a letter to the city, the county Department of Beaches and Harbors said the 5,000 gallons-a-minute flow could create deep depressions in the sand, endangering beach-goers and blocking beach-cleaning vehicles. The county agency provides lifeguard and beach maintenance services for Hermosa Beach.

“We’re not against the hotel,” said Larry Charness, the county beach agency’s planning chief. “We’re just raising legitimate questions about how that water flow will affect beach-goers and our operations.”

City Public Works Director Tony Antich says the city will not permit the water pumping until the county’s concerns are addressed. “If they’re worried that it may hamper safety or maintenance, those concerns have to be resolved,” Antich said.

RUMOR MILL: Is Mobil planning to sell or close its Torrance refinery?

The question emerged this week in the Oil Daily, a well-read oil industry publication. Mobil officials insist that the answer is no, saying they plan to write a letter to that effect to the refinery’s 1,000 employees.

The Oil Daily story, citing unnamed sources, suggests that Mobil may soon decide whether to stop refining in the Los Angeles Basin. The report created a stir, particularly in Torrance City Hall.

The city has spent $1.4 million fighting Mobil in court to improve safety at the accident-prone refinery. But city officials were clearly taken aback at the suggestion--albeit speculative--that such a large employer and taxpayer would ever leave town.

“It has never been our intent to drive Mobil out,” City Atty. Kenneth L. Nelson said. “ . . . We’ve lived together in a marriage for a number of years and don’t want to get divorced.”

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Avalon: The City Council denied developer Jay Fineberg’s request for permission to construct a five-unit hillside condominium building that would have exceeded the city height limit of 32 feet.

Carson: The City Council lowered residential trash rates by 8 cents a month--from $12.45 to $12.37--rejecting a staff recommendation to drop the monthly rate to $11.83. Council members said the decrease could not be larger because the city’s hauler, Western Waste Industries, faces start-up costs for a new recycling program.

Rancho Palos Verdes: A developer proposing to build 71 houses at Crest and Highridge roads was sent back to the drawing board by the City Council. The council cited several problems in the plan by Kajima Development Corp., among them excessively large home sizes and not enough public amenities, such as swimming pools and parks.

Redondo Beach: Hoping to end controversy over the creation of historic districts, the City Council decided that a district can only be formed with the assent of all the homeowners it includes. Previously, the approval of 85% of residents was required. The council also authorized Western Waste Industries to increase its residential trash rates by nearly 9%--from $10.50 a month to $11.43. City officials say the hike offsets rising landfill costs and the expansion of recycling service to include colored plastics.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Hermosa Beach: City Council to consider dropping a restriction that blocks two supermarkets--Alpha-Beta and Vons--from remaining open 24 hours a day in the city. The city currently requires the markets to close at midnight. But some say the city should encourage the markets to offer 24-hour service so more sales tax revenues would be generated. The council meets 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1315 Valley Drive. For information, call 318-0239. Televised live on Channel 3 (Multivision).

Lawndale: City Council to take a final vote on a measure that would give city workers access to private property to remove graffiti visible from the street. Residents would be given a three-day notice to remove the graffiti or allow the city to perform the task, at no charge. If no response is received within three days, city workers would be allowed to clean up the graffiti and charge the property owner for the labor costs. The council meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, 14717 Burin Ave. For information, call 973-4321. Televised live on Channel 60 and repeated several times during the week.

Torrance: City Council to decide whether to spend $80,000 for legal help in a lawsuit against Solvent Coating Inc. The city Redevelopment Agency wants to recoup the cost of the cleanup of contamination on land now occupied by American Honda Motor Co. The council meets 7 p.m. Tuesday, 3031 Torrance Blvd. For information, call 618-5880. Televised live on Channel 22 (Paragon), and replayed at 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

OTHER COUNCIL MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Gardena: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1700 W. 162nd St. For information, call 217-9565. Televised live on Channel 22 (Paragon) and repeated 7 p.m. on the two following Sundays.

Hawthorne: 7 p.m. Monday, 4455 W. 126th St. For information, call 970-7902. Televised on Channel 22 (Paragon) at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 6 p.m. Saturday.

Inglewood: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1 Manchester Blvd. For information, call 412-5280. No cable telecast.

Los Angeles: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles. For information, call 548-7637 in San Pedro; 548-7586 in Wilmington; 548-7664 in Harbor City/Harbor Gateway; 641-4717 in Westchester. Televised live on Channel 35; meetings repeated individually at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and collectively on Sunday starting at 10 a.m.

Palos Verdes Estates: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 340 Palos Verdes Drive West. For information, call 378-0383. No cable telecast.

Rolling Hills: 7:30 p.m. Monday, 2 Portuguese Bend Road. For information, call 377-1521. No cable telecast.

Rolling Hills Estates: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 4045 Palos Verdes Drive North. For information, call 377-1577. Televised live on Channel 3 (Dimension).