CITY NOT IN NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY MOOD.

Byline: Joseph Giordono Staff Writer

It's not often that you get a second chance to ring in the first day of a new millennium.

But Los Angeles officials - still stinging from the city's monumental flop of a celebration last year - say they want nothing to do with fireworks, laser shows or lighting up the Hollywood sign on what experts say is really the beginning of the new millennium.

``The only time the city has ever focused on a citywide celebration was for the Y2K, which ended up being rained out,'' said Peter Hidalgo, spokesman for Mayor Richard Riordan.

``There is nothing being thrown by the city this year, but the mayor is encouraging Angelenos to celebrate in their homes or other private parties and have a good time.''

City officials are still embarrassed about last year's $6 million celebration that a city audit said failed because of poor leadership, bad planning and inadequate fund raising.

In the weeks leading up to the event, organizers said they expected up to 400,000 people at various events throughout the city and the San Fernando Valley.

But in the end, only 87,000 tickets were handed out to Los Angeles residents for the five community celebrations planned around the city.

Officials estimated total actual attendance at around 18,000 people, with the largest crowd being the 5,000 who showed up for a disappointing show at Van Nuys Airport.

The centerpiece event for the city - which was to feature sky divers and a laser light show around the lit-up Hollywood sign - failed to come off because of neighborhood opposition and rain.

Instead, city officials made do with a ceremony that featured the sign lit up with 2.7 million watts of colored lights.

``It doesn't get any cheesier than that,'' cracked comedian Jay Leno, moments after he helped flip the lights on.

Leno wasn't the only one embarrassed by the spectacle, which paled in comparison to celebrations seen around the world from Paris to London to Washington, D.C., and even as close to home as Las Vegas.

``Los Angeles has no history of holding a New Year's event. The five community events could be used as the groundwork for continued events. The city may also want to consider having one large event in a central location,'' the audit said.

But those recommendations are going nowhere.

``As far as I know, there are no big plans for anything to go on,'' said Al Nodal, who led the city's Cultural Affairs Department in last year's planning.

``I think last year was a one-shot deal, and it probably will not happen for as long as anyone remembers that.''

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Photo:

Mayor Richard Riordan and ``Tonight Show'' host Jay Leno appear at one of the city's lackluster events of Dec. 31, 1999.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer