A summary of selected City Hall actions...

A summary of selected City Hall actions this past week affecting Central Los Angeles.

CITY COUNCIL

* HOME HEIGHT LIMIT: Approved an ordinance that lowers the maximum allowable height of a single-family home to 33 feet from 45 feet. However, if 40% or more of the existing single-family dwellings on the same street have heights exceeding 33 feet, the maximum height for the home shall be the average height of homes on that street. The main objectives of the ordinance include protecting street scapes from structures that are incompatible with surrounding houses and protecting the rights to privacy of neighboring properties.

* WATER RATES: Approved an ordinance that will lower water rates for high-volume water consumers between June 1 and Oct. 31. During that period, when more water is used than at any other time of year, the charge for water that exceeds the basic usage amount set by the city will be lowered to $2.33 per 100 cubic feet from $2.98 per 100 cubic feet.

* MARKET LOAN: Authorized the Community Development Department to provide a small-business loan, not to exceed $450,000, to Tri-Afram Associates Inc. to buy inventory and equipment for a new store, the Adams West Town Center Market. The 10,800-square-foot market is to be at Western Avenue and Adams Boulevard.

* CLEANUP FUNDING: Approved the use of $15,000 in Community Development Department funds for the cleanup of the closed Esquire Boys and Girls club at 81st Street and Vermont Avenue. The vacant building has been frequently vandalized and contributes to blight in the area.

* STREET SIGN USE: Approved a motion instructing the Department of Transportation to report on the number of Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn Place, Sunset Boulevard and Macy Street street signs that have been replaced by Cesar Chavez Avenue signs, and to consider donating them to nonprofit organizations for display at neighborhood centers.

* STREET CLOSURE: Approved the closure of 53rd Street between Hoover Street and Vermont Avenue on Friday from 11 a.m. until the conclusion of the Economically Positive celebration sponsored by the African-American Unity Center.

HOW THEY VOTED

How South-Central and Eastside City Council representatives voted on selected issues. * DEBRIS REMOVAL: Instructed the Board of Public Works to notify all demolition contractors of the option of disposing non-recyclable debris created by the Jan. 17 earthquake by railroad at the rate of $38.25 per ton. The waste would be loaded onto Southern Pacific rail cars and sent to a landfill in Utah. Passed 10-2. Voting yes: Richard Alatorre, Rita Walters, Nate Holden, Jackie Goldberg. Voting no: Mark-Ridley Thomas. Absent: Mike Hernandez, Rudy Svorinich Jr.