CITY HALL ROUNDUP : We don’t know much about art, but this sculpture is pure trash.

FISH OUT OF WATER: Luckily for Redondo Beach, Trashy was the one that didn’t get away.

Trashy, a trash sculpture in the shape of a fish, was created by children who used nearly 500 pounds of garbage collected by scuba divers under the Redondo Beach pier. Presented to the City Council Tuesday night, the fish was stuffed to the gills with ocean floor refuse--cans, bottles, hats, plastic six-pack rings and even an American flag.

“Basically, we started with a big pile of trash,” said sculptor J. MacRae Wylde, who supervised the 41 youngsters between the ages of 3 and 13 in making the fish art.

For those who missed Trashy’s debut, The Galleria at South Bay will exhibit him in the coming months. “He’s not, in a conventional sense, beautiful. But he is interesting,” said Lauren Schwartz, a spokeswoman for the Galleria.

CATCALLS FOR THE MAYOR: Everyone loves a good animal story--which is why they were jeering Carson Mayor Michael Mitoma last week when he walked out in the middle of one.

It all happened while the City Council was hearing from a group of animal lovers who were pleading for the survival of a horse stable that stands in the way of a redevelopment project.

With the clock approaching 11:30 p.m., the number of council members present had dwindled to three--Mayor Michael Mitoma, Pete Fajardo and Sylvia Muise-Perez. Councilwoman Kay Calas was absent and Councilwoman Juanita McDonald had left earlier.

Pat Cox of J & E Stables and dozens of supporters were asking the council to preserve the stables by extending her conditional use permit, due to expire Dec. 1. Cox has said her boarders can’t take their horses elsewhere.

Things fell apart when Muise-Perez excused herself from the meeting shortly before 11:30 because of a previously scheduled commitment. That left the council without a quorum, and Mitoma walked out as a resident spoke at the podium.

“Nothing can be done. We have no quorum,” Mitoma said as he left to the jeers and catcalls of the audience.

Left sitting alone, Fajardo finally adjourned the meeting.

HOG WILD: Pretty soon in Redondo Beach the only place you be will able to see a pig may be in a grocer’s freezer.

Before the potbellied pigs become as common as potbellied visitors to the beach, the Redondo Beach City Council is considering placing a moratorium on granting special permits required for keeping the little porkers as pets. The City Council expressed concern that the little swine may be unsuitable neighbors for Redondo Beach residents.

“I don’t think I want to live next door to a pig,” said Councilman Terry Ward, who admitted he had voted in favor of other potbellied pig requests.

According to owners, potbellied pigs are supposed to make delightful and relatively maintenance-free pets. And, as one city official added, pig droppings are biodegradable.

“We’ve hit a new low tonight,” said Councilwoman Kay Horrell.

CONFERENCE OR COMMUNITY CENTER? The Carson City Council is on its way toward a hard decision over whether the community center should be more business-oriented or community-focused.

The Carson Street center next to City Hall costs about $2 million a year to run, but it only takes in about $500,000, City Administrator Larry Olson said.

With that in mind, the council has directed its staff to look for a consultant who can suggest other, more commercial uses for the center. The consultant will review proposals from caterer Jay Mastroianni, who wants to operate a restaurant at the center, and other ideas for putting the space to good use.

But some worry that all this could hurt the kind of community-oriented events--arts and crafts classes, senior events, youth activities--that the center currently offers. Those programs are offered at fees usually under $10, but some have failed to attract much interest. Olson said the consultant will help determine the proper balance between the community events and business uses.

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Redondo Beach: The City Council delayed a vote on a 25-year franchise agreement with the Southern California Gas Co. for at least two weeks after city Treasurer Alice E. DeLong argued that better terms for the city could be negotiated. Though applauding parts of the agreement, especially a clause requiring a $500,000 gas company payment to the financially strapped beach city, DeLong urged the length of the agreement be cut to five or 10 years.

Carson: The City Council approved $11,256 for the purchase of baseball-like trading cards carrying the pictures of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies at the Carson station. The cards will given to children as a way of developing rapport between cops and kids.

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 at 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).

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. Tuesday, 340 Palos Verdes Drive W., 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.

Rolling Hills Estates: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 4045 Palos Verdes Drive N., Rolling Hills Estates. (310) 377-1577. Televised live on Channel 3 (Dimension).

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.