CITY TO HIRE PAC BELL TO SET UP LAPD LINE FOR NON-EMERGENCIES.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to hire Pacific Bell to set up a non-emergency telephone number for the LAPD, in hopes of reducing the flood of non-urgent calls that is clogging the 911 system.

The council also authorized the Los Angeles Police Department to seek bids in anticipation of launching an information campaign to encourage the public to call the new number - not 911 - for questions about city services.

``Having non-emergency calls flood 911 slows down our emergency response,'' said Councilman Mike Feuer, who championed the proposal.

About 80 percent of the 911 calls are for non-emergencies, including questions about traffic, requests for directions and complaints about abandoned cars, officials said.

The council had previously approved $415,000 for a non-emergency line. Wednesday's action allows the LAPD to enter into a contract to set up an easy-to-remember number that people can call for non-emergencies.

While the LAPD is still considering options, the leading contender for the new line is a toll free number that would translate to ``ASK-LAPD,'' officials said.

The new line will include an interactive voice-response system that will allow callers to reach the appropriate city department for their call.

Some officials want the LAPD to eventually set up a 311 line for non-emergency calls, as other cities have done. But that proposal is more costly and complicated.

The LAPD was asked Wednesday to report back to the council in three months on the volume of calls received by the new line and the type of call to help decide what features to include in a possible 311 line.