City Hall News : AROUND THE VALLEY

BALDWIN PARK: The City Council reviewed a proposed ordinance that would impose stricter controls on hotel and motel operators in order to prevent drug dealing and prostitution on their premises. The ordinance would mandate that all customers show legal identification when renting a room and that hotels have standardized registration cards and maintain records for five years. The law would allow impromptu inspections by law enforcement or city officials. The council will vote June 15 on the ordinance.

CLAREMONT: In a 5-0 vote, the City Council tentatively approved an ordinance prohibiting tattoo parlors from operating in the city, explaining that they represent an unregulated health concern. There will be a public hearing June 14, at which time the council will hold a second reading and decide whether to approve, amend or deny the ordinance.

LA PUENTE: The City Council voted to change the 1996 municipal election date from April, 1996, to March, 1997. The council decided to change the date after county officials informed La Puente that the original date was too close to the 1996 primaries, scheduled for March, 1996, and that the county would be unable to provide support services for both elections. The new date will extend the terms of council members seeking reelection by 11 months.

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE: The Public Safety Commission has recommended that the City Council approve a public safety budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that includes an additional $48,000 for a contingency overtime officer.

MONROVIA: The city is one of 30 finalists for an All-American City Award, a program of the National Civic League. Monrovia was chosen for its program of citizen participation, a successful community policing program in which officers work with local churches and social services, and a weekly merchants festival that helped revitalize the downtown area. A delegation of city leaders and officials will travel to Oakland on June 9 in hopes of clinching the trophy.

PASADENA: The City Council has hired an independent legal counsel to defend its code of conduct ordinance, which Councilman Isaac Richard and the American Civil Liberties Union say violates the 1st Amendment. After a closed-door session Saturday, the council announced it had retained Pierce O’Donnell. The ACLU filed a lawsuit last week challenging the 1992 ordinance governing council members’ behavior and asking the council to repeal it.