A summary of significant Los Angeles City...

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

CITY COUNCIL

MASONIC TEMPLE: Denied an appeal by the owners of the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, 4347 Wilshire Blvd., and upheld city zoning administrator’s ruling that forbids the temple from being rented for commercial use. The administrator ruled that the temple has been in violation of a zoning permit that allows the building to be used only for nonprofit activities. Despite negotiations aimed at resolving longstanding complaints from residents about traffic congestion, loitering and other nuisances caused by some of the events that took place at the temple, its owners failed to eliminate the problems, said Councilman John Ferraro, who represents the area. A spokesman for the temple expressed concern that without the income from commercial rentals, the facility might not be able to remain open.

THEATER PARKING: Approved awarding a contract of $502,776 for reconstruction and improvement of a city-owned parking lot next to the Doolittle Theatre at Vine Street and Selma Avenue in Hollywood. The reconstruction is to include artistic features to complement the entertainment and cultural facilities in the neighborhood, officials said.

PALISADES BUS SERVICE: Approved spending $120,000 to continue the city shuttle bus service in the Palisades for a year. The agreement calls for the Palisades DASH Committee, a nonprofit organization, to contribute $4,500 a month to supplement the service’s operation.

FEES WAIVED: Approved waiving $19,964 in city permit fees to display 434 banners citywide from April 14 to May 15 announcing the 1994 Venice Art Walk fund-raising event. The May 15 event will help fund the Venice Family Clinic, which provides medical services to needy families in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista and other communities.

HOW THEY VOTED

How Westside representatives voted on selected issues.

CONTRACTS: Approved a proposal by Councilwoman Ruth Galanter requesting that public hearings be held by a number of city commissions and boards to discuss any proposals to contract out services previously provided by city employees. Galanter said the purpose of the proposal is to “try and reduce the level of fear and paranoia” about potential job losses. PASSED: 13-0.

VOTING YES: Marvin Braude, John Ferraro, Galanter, Jackie Goldberg, Nate Holden and Mark Ridley-Thomas.

ABSENT: Zev Yaroslavsky.

GUN CONTROL: Approved proposals by Councilman Braude requesting that the city host conferences on gun control with representatives from other large California cities--including Long Beach, San Diego, Oakland and San Francisco--as well as cities in other states with populations exceeding 1 million. The conferences would explore possible solutions to the proliferation of guns. PASSED: 13-1.

VOTING YES: Braude, Ferraro, Galanter, Goldberg, Holden, Ridley-Thomas and Yaroslavsky.