BRIEFLY : MTA TOLD TO SAVE WALK OF FAME TILES.

In a victory for preservationists - not to mention stars such as Danny Kaye, Johnny Weissmuller and Jack Klugman - a city panel Wednesday said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority cannot take shortcuts in repairing stars along Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame.

In tearing up a stretch of the boulevard between Cherokee and Vine streets, the MTA had proposed preserving only the brass medallion and nameplates and destroying the square terrazzo pads as it repairs the street.

Agency officials said they could save $159,000 by replacing the stars with new terrazzo squares.

But the city's Cultural Heritage Commission ruled Wednesday that the transit agency will have to remove the entire block of 122 stars rather than only the medallions and nameplates as it repairs the streets.

``I don't think you'll save that money,'' Commissioner Thomas Russell said. ``I think someone will appeal that and it will take months for a decision to be made. That will cost you more time and more money than if you preserve the stars.''

The MTA already has removed and stored more than 300 of the sidewalk blocks, including not only the brass medallions but also the 3-foot square terrazzo pads in which they are placed.

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Colleges' budget plan being revised

Los Angeles Community College District trustees Wednesday postponed adopting a final $415 million budget, hoping to find ways to free up more money for the campuses.

The board asked its staff to come up with a revised budget that would allocate an additional $10 million to the district's nine campuses. The revised spending plan is expected to come back to the board for final approval Sept. 15.