CITY HALL ROUNDUP : He’d rather ride the waves than make them in politics.

WAVING GOODBY: It was a tough decision, but in the end the choice between the body politic and the body surf came naturally to Manhattan Beach Mayor C. R. (Bob) Holmes.

The waves won.

In a surprise announcement last week, Holmes announced that he won’t seek a fourth term on the City Council and that he has decided against running for state Assembly.

Holmes, 45, cited his love of Manhattan Beach and his lack of surfing time as the main reasons for his decision. He noted that it has been eight long years since he last won a surfing trophy--something he had no chance of accomplishing in the waveless environs of Sacramento.

Although he believes he would have had a good chance of winning the proposed 53rd Assembly District seat, which includes the beach cities and several Westside communities, Holmes said 12 years in local politics is enough for now. Especially with the huge sets that have been breaking off the coast.

“It was a lifestyle thing,” he said. “I like my job, I love Manhattan Beach and I love body surfing. I’ve been in politics for 14 years and, like the Grateful Dead song says, ‘Lately it occurs to me/ what a long strange trip it’s been.’ I just found that suddenly my life was engulfed in civic things all the time. They’re very worthy, but I found it was getting to the point where it was tedious and it stopped being fun.”

Holmes said he will stay active in city events. And he didn’t rule out a possible return to politics after an extended breather.

“If a two-year hiatus charges up the batteries again, there’s always another election in 1994,” he said.

THIRD DOWN, $2,500 TO GO: Now here’s a neat trick. The Los Angeles Raiders finished the season more than two weeks ago, but on Wednesday quarterback Todd Marinovich still managed to be thrown for a loss.

This time, the Manhattan Beach resident was sacked by South Bay Municipal Judge Thomas Sokolov, who issued a warrant for Marinovich’s arrest after he failed to appear for an arraignment on a misdemeanor disturbance charge. Sokolov set bail at $2,500.

In addition to his talent at throwing a forward pass, it seems the rookie signal caller can throw a pretty mean party. He was cited on Halloween night by Manhattan Beach police after neighbors complained about the loud music emanating from Marinovich’s abode.

Police succeeded in reaching Marinovich, and the quarterback showed up in court early Friday, posted his bail and had his hearing rescheduled for Feb. 5.

“It’s not like he was a flight risk or anything like that,” Manhattan Beach Police Sgt. Jack Zea said. “We generally will make contact with someone in his situation and allow him the opportunity to come here and post bail on the warrant or go directly to court and take care of it there.”

No word yet on whether Marinovich was out doing passing drills or pricing new stereo equipment.

THE DOCK OF THE BAY: Good news came for the folks in Avalon this week when it was announced that Los Angeles County managed to secure funds for a $4-million face lift of the city’s public ferry terminal.

Built 20 years ago, the Cabrillo Mole terminal and dock area handles 149 passenger ships with 22 arrivals and departures daily. County officials say the ferry terminal serves 1.4 million passengers each year.

The reconstruction project will include a redesign of the dock area and a new loading area for private ships. Vehicle and pedestrian access to the terminal will also be improved, according to county officials. The state is putting up $1.5 million for the repairs, and additional funding is being provided by the state Department of Boating and Waterways, the Los Angeles County Transportation Committee and Community Improvement Agency bonds.

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Lawndale: The City Council last week moved to close its city boards, commissions and committees to outsiders. The council barred non-residents from the Beautification Committee and the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee.

Nearly all of the city’s other boards and commissions already require that members live in Lawndale. The remaining exceptions are the Personnel Board and the Cable Usage Corp., which the council has said should remain open to non-residents because of the technical and professional expertise required of their members.

Manhattan Beach: The City Council last week approved the El Segundo Unified School District’s request to hold a consolidated election in April. The school district, which had a parcel tax measure defeated by voters in November, wants to put the measure on the ballot again in April. Two city voting precincts lie within the school district boundaries.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Hermosa Beach: The City Council will hold a public hearing to discuss how to develop the former Biltmore Hotel site, which has been mired in controversy for decades. A referendum approved by voters in November allows development of the 0.82-acre beachfront lot, and the city is suggesting single-family homes and a small restaurant; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1315 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach; (310) 318-0239. Televised live on Channel 3 (Multivision).

OTHER MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Gardena: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1700 W. 162nd St., Gardena; (310) 217-9565. Televised live on Channel 22 (Paragon) and repeated 7 p.m. on the next two Sundays.

Hawthorne: 7 p.m. Monday, 4455 W. 126th St., Hawthorne; (310) 970-7902. Televised on Channel 22 (Paragon) at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 6 p.m. Saturday.

Hermosa Beach: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1315 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach; (310) 318-0239. Televised live on Channel 3 (Multivision).

Inglewood: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1 Manchester Blvd., Inglewood; (310) 412-5280. No cable telecast.Los Angeles: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles. In San Pedro, (310) 548-7637; in Wilmington, (310) 548-7586; in Harbor City/Harbor Gateway, (310) 548-7664; in Westchester, (310) 641-4717. 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. Wednesday, 340 Palos Verdes Drive West, Palos Verdes Estates; (310) 378-0383. No cable telecast.

Rolling Hills: 7:30 p.m. Monday, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills; (310) 377-1521. No cable telecast.

Torrance: 7 p.m. Tuesday, 3031 Torrance Blvd., Torrance; (310) 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.