CITY HALL ROUNDUP : Don’t bet on this idea to be a big moneymaker.

THE BIG GAME: OK, so Torrance still has about $6 million more to go. But, hey, it’s a start.

The city Police Department announced last week that it has received $118,000 from a gambling forfeiture as a result of an illegal betting ring busted during last year’s Super Bowl.

The investigation uncovered several betting pools, including one that had $162,000 placed on the 1991 championship game between the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills.

With the city still rocking from the financial scandal that saw it lose more than $6 million in investments recently, the money couldn’t come at a better time. In fact, with a week to go before this year’s Super Bowl, the city might even want to put a few bucks down at the sports books in Nevada.

Of course, no one knows better than Torrance officials that there’s no such thing as a sure bet, given their experience with the lost investment money. But this is no time to bank it all on the underdog. Take the Redskins and give the points.

ROMANTIC BIKER GETAWAY: Just wait until the Hell’s Angels hear about this. If the Catalina Island city of Avalon has its way, it won’t require people to wear motorcycle helmets.

City officials last week persuaded state Sen. Robert G. Beverly (R-Manhattan Beach), to introduce a bill that would give Avalon the discretion to waive the state’s new mandatory helmet law.

Because of the unique nature of the city, Avalon officials maintain there’s not a great need for people there to wear motorcycle helmets. One simple reason is that there aren’t many motorcycles--just 374 at last count. Indeed, on Catalina, there are more golf carts than cars.

But there’s also another key reason: No store on the island sells motorcycle helmets.

Still, because the city is already the only municipality in the state allowed to regulate the size and number of motor vehicles, officials figure they might as well try to extend the provision to motorcycle helmets as well. No word yet on whether the bill has a ghost of a chance.

For the biker gangs interested in moving to Avalon if the bill is approved, please take note: The speed limit there is only 20 m.p.h.

YOUR TIME IS UP: The Hawthorne City Council has decided to crack down on long-winded residents.

It’s not that the council has become intolerant of public input. In fact, for years, the council declined to enforce a 15-minute limit on comments from the public--and some speakers have been known to drone on for more than an hour.

It’s just that council members are tired of meetings that last into the wee hours of the morning.

Under a new ordinance that received preliminary approval Monday, residents will be limited to five minutes per topic and are required to “confine their remarks to those which are relevant to the subject.” The council will take a final vote on the matter Jan. 27.

“The council feels (speakers) should be able to state their case, be concise and think about (their testimony) in advance,” City Manager James Mitsch said. “This basically says, ‘Let’s make an attempt to get down to business.’ ”

Apparently, the city’s windbags have gotten the message: When the ordinance came up for discussion, no one in the audience said a word.

BREAKS OF THE GAME: Talk about your tough nights. Los Angeles Laker guard Sedale Threatt not only has had to fill the gigantic shoes of retired star Magic Johnson this year, he’s had to learn the hard way about life in the big city.

After the Lakers’ victory over the Denver Nuggets at the Forum in Inglewood last week, Threatt pulled his $56,000 Mercedes-Benz in front of a pay phone on Prairie Avenue and was promptly robbed at gunpoint.

The thieves took his keys and his wallet, which contained $1,000. Threatt made a beeline for the Forum, where he called police.

It was quite an emotional swing for Threatt, who has been a solid performer for the Lakers this year. Earlier in the day, he became a father for the first time when his wife, Nicole, gave birth to their son, Tyler Sedale.

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Hermosa Beach: The City Council endorsed an Assembly bill that would allow the one-school Hermosa Beach City School District to remain independent despite consolidation efforts in Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. The bill is sponsored by Assemblyman Gerald N. Felando (R-San Pedro).

Torrance: The City Council last week approved construction of a major discount store at the new $65-million Torrance Crossroads shopping center at Crenshaw and Lomita boulevards. Developers are negotiating a lease with the store, Pace Membership Warehouse, which could open by Christmas, project leasing agent Ted Lawsons said. The store would occupy a 133,000-square-foot building. Construction started this month on the shopping center, which will include a Home Depot, Drug Emporium and Smith’s Food and Drug Center.

Palos Verdes Estates: The City Council on Wednesday introduced an ordinance requiring real estate agents doing business in the city to pay up to $247 annually in business license taxes. City officials said that for several years, real estate brokers and agents have avoided paying the business tax by having the realty firm with which they are affiliated pay a maximum fee of $681. The new ordinance amends an existing ordinance by specifying that every real estate broker and agent working in the city is an independent contractor and therefore required to pay the tax. The ordinance has a provision that allows agents experiencing a slump in sales to pay $5.45 per $1,000 on gross receipts.

Redondo Beach: The city won approval from the California Coastal Commission for a proposed V-shaped pier to replace the pier damaged by storms and fire in 1988. Construction is expected to begin this summer.

Rolling Hills Estates: The City Council on Monday approved spending $4,500 to resurface the three city tennis courts, which are leased by the Rolling Hills Community Assn. The courts haven’t been resurfaced in at least six years. The contract was awarded to Taylor Tennis Courts, a San Pedro company, and work will begin as soon as possible.

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Avalon: 7 p.m. Tuesday, 209 Metropole. 510-0220. Televised live on Channel 3 (Catalina Cable) and repeated Saturday morning.

Carson: 6 p.m. Tuesday, 701 E. Carson St. 830-7600. Televised at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on Channel 26 (Continental Cablevision) and repeated the next Wednesday.

El Segundo: 7 p.m. Tuesday, 350 Main St. 322-4670. Televised live on Channel 22 (Paragon) and repeated at noon Wednesday.

Lawndale: 7 p.m. Thursday, 14717 Burin Ave. 973-4321. Televised live on Channel 60 and repeated several times during the week.

Lomita: 7 p.m. Monday, 24300 Narbonne Ave. 325-7170. No cable telecasts.

Los Angeles: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles. In San Pedro, 548-7637; in Wilmington, 548-7586; in Harbor City/Harbor Gateway, 548-7664; in Westchester, 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.

Manhattan Beach: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1400 Highland Ave. 545-5621. Televised on Channel 3 (MultiVision) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Rancho Palos Verdes: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hesse Park, 29201 Hawthorne Blvd. 377-0360. Televised live on Channel 3; repeated at 7:30 p.m. the following Tuesday.

Redondo Beach: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 415 Diamond St. 372-1171. Televised live on Channel 8 (Century); repeated at 3 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Sunday.

Torrance: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, 3031 Torrance Blvd. 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.