A summary of significant Los Angeles City...

A summary of significant Los Angeles City Hall decisions affecting the Westside in the last week.

CITY COUNCIL

* PARKING LOT: Approved spending $312,588 to construct a public parking lot on Pisani Place and Amoroso Court in Venice. The area, which is in need of parking, lost 181 spaces recently due to the widening of Venice Boulevard. The new lot will provide 78 spaces.

* TRAFFIC STUDY: Approved spending $29,500 for a study to determine traffic mitigation measures to reduce commuter and commercial traffic congestion in Westwood residential areas.

* SLUMLORD: In the wake of media reports that 19 city-owned residential properties are run-down and hangouts for drinking and drug-dealing gang members, Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky has introduced a proposal requesting that the city formulate a policy to deal with the problem. Yaroslavsky said a policy should be established to maintain these properties to prevent them from becoming “neighborhood nuisances or hazards.”

* URBAN FOREST: Councilman Michael Woo is proposing the creation of an urban forest commission to advise the city on the “planting and care of trees.” The work of the commissioners would include reviewing public and private landscaping plans and requests for street tree removals.

BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS

* WALK OF FAME: Approved placing the name of entertainer Paula Abdul on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Dec. 4 at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. The council must give final approval.

BOARD OF RECREATION AND PARKS

* GOLF FEES: Approved a $5 increase for 30-minute golf lessons taught by professionals at the city parks. Effective Dec. 1, teaching professionals can charge $35 and their assistants and Professional Golf Assn. apprentices $25.

HOW THEY VOTED

* AIDS: Approved a Community Redevelopment Agency loan to Project New Hope, a nonprofit organization, to purchase property at 11th and Palos Verdes streets in San Pedro to develop housing for physically handicapped or critically ill people with AIDS. The loan will not exceed $942,100. Passed: 13-0. Voting yes: Marvin Braude, John Ferraro, Ruth Galanter, Nate Holden, Joel Wachs, Michael Woo and Zev Yaroslavsky.

* SETTLEMENT: Approved spending $222,676 to settle a civil suit brought by a woman who was raped by an on-duty Los Angeles police officer. The suit arose after the woman was detained in 1981 by Sgt. Leigh B. Schroyer on suspicion of drunk driving. Instead of arresting her, Schroyer drove her to her home in his patrol car. When she tried to flee he raped her. The officer was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Passed: 10-0. Voting yes: Braude, Ferraro, Galanter, Holden, Wachs and Yaroslavsky. Woo was absent.

* DEVELOPMENTS: Approved an exemption to an interim planning ordinance that controls growth to allow the construction of two low-income and moderate-income apartment buildings in the Crenshaw area. A 29-unit building will be constructed at 3804 S. Arlington Ave. and a 22-unit building at 6720-6728 11th Ave. Passed: 14-0. Voting yes: Braude, Ferraro, Galanter, Holden, Wachs and Yaroslavsky.