CITY HALL ROUNDUP

BEVERLY HILLS

An overflow crowd that included Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti witnessed the installation Tuesday of Vicki Reynolds as the city’s 36th mayor and the departure of outgoing Mayor Maxwell Salter, who declined to seek a third term.

The office of mayor rotates annually among the five council members. Reynolds’ selection marks her second time as mayor in the six years she has been on the council, having first served a one-year term from 1991 to 1992. Councilman Allan Alexander replaced Reynolds as vice mayor.

Newly elected council members MeraLee Goldman and Les Bronte, who edged out Councilman Robert K. Tanenbaum in the April 12 election, were sworn to four-year terms.

MALIBU

Incumbent Walt Keller lost his bid for reelection by 51 votes, according to the city’s official tally from the April 12 election released Tuesday.

John Harlow, the other incumbent in the race for two council seats, finished first with 1,936 votes and Jeff Jennings placed second with 1,692. Keller got 1,641, Tom Hasse, 1,291, Louis Ragsdale, 242, and Robert Stratman, 62.

Harlow and Jennings were sworn to four-year terms Tuesday. Mayor Carolyn Van Horn relinquished her post to Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Kramer in a vote by the five-member council, and Joann House became mayor pro tem. The mayor and mayor pro tem posts rotate annually among the members.

Harlow promised to scrutinize the General Plan, the city’s blueprint for overall development, to ensure it does not contain policies onerous to single-family homeowners. The plan is scheduled for release next month.

Jennings, an attorney, pledged to rein in what he calls the city’s excessive litigation costs by urging council members to pursue settlement negotiations in cases that the city seems likely to lose. Both new council members said they would seek more timely, comprehensive monthly budget reports from the city’s finance director.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Councilwoman Abbe Land was elected mayor and Councilman John Heilman became the new mayor pro tem on Tuesday. Although the post is largely ceremonial, political observers say Land’s election as mayor may give her a boost in her bid for a state assembly seat in the June Democratic primary.

Steve Martin, the only new face on the council, is expected to act on his campaign promise to work as a fiscal watchdog over City Hall, particularly in upcoming discussions on how to eliminate a projected budget shortfall next year of at least $1 million.

Heilman and Councilman Sal Guarriello, who were reelected to the council, were also installed.

CULVER CITY

Councilman Albert Vera, who had served as vice mayor for one year, was appointed mayor and Councilman Steven Gourley was appointed vice mayor at Tuesday’s council session.

Former Planning Commissioner Ed Wolkowitz was sworn in as a councilman, leaving a vacancy on the commission that will be filled in July when Wolkowitz’ term on the commission expires.

Tom Crunk was sworn in as city clerk, replacing Pauline Dolce, who had served in the position for 16 years until her defeat in the April 12 election.

MEETINGS NEXT WEEK

* Culver City: 7 p.m. Interim City Hall, Trailer No. 1, 4095 Overland Ave. (310) 202-5851.

* Los Angeles: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. 200 N. Spring St. (213) 485-3126.

* Malibu: 6:30 p.m. Monday. Hughes Laboratory, 3011 Malibu Canyon Road. (310) 456-2489.

* Santa Monica: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. 1685 Main St. (310) 393-9975.