COUNCIL COOKING UP DAY OF FOOD, MUSIC.

Byline: Laurence Darmiento Daily News Staff Writer

Unless you're a budding gadfly or a political junkie, attending City Council meetings is usually a matter of civic duty, rather than a source of enjoyment.

But hobnobbing with the council and other local big wigs just became a whole lot more fun, especially if you attend this Saturday's first-ever Council Corral Barbecue.

No, it's not the council members who will be on the grill. That kind of heat will be reserved for the barbecued hot dogs.

Mixing politics and partying, the corral is a barbecue and concert that will feature the sounds of The Hodads, who play everything from country-western music to the Beach Boys to the ``Macarena.''

City officials, meanwhile, will work the crowd, presuming they can be heard above the Brooks and Dunn covers.

And during a break, Olympic silver medalist and Valencia resident Mark Crear will be presented with the key to the city. He placed second in the 110-meter hurdles in Atlanta.

``We are providing a humanistic approach to government, an opportunity for the public to interact informally with city officials,'' said city recreation coordinator Dianne Schneider. ``It will be interesting to see how many people come out.''

The Hodads are a top-flight, 7-year-old party band who most recently performed at the Republican National Convention during a party sponsored by Chrysler Corp.

Lead guitarist Bob Schuster said the group took its name - which is a derisive nickname for a novice surfer - after being asked to play at several surf-rock parties.

``When we originally started the band, we catered to corporate parties. We didn't surf but you wouldn't know it in our music. We have a repertoire so large it's ridiculous.''

Country-western is the corral's theme, so you can plan a hoedown with The Hodads. But Schuster said the band expects to throw in some other tunes.

The concert is set for 5 to 7:30 p.m. at head of the South Fork Trail off Magic Mountain Parkway, just west of San Fernando Road.

During a concert break, city officials plan to dedicate the latest segment of the trail, which was completed several weeks ago and roughly runs from the intersection of the Santa Clara River's South Fork with McBean Parkway to the trail head.

Residents are encouraged to bike or walk to the concert and barbecue event using the trail.

On the menu will be hot dogs, baked beans, chips, beverages and dessert. The cost is $3 per adult, $2 per child or $6 per family with up to five members, with all proceeds distributed to several local nonprofit organizations. The concert and barbecue is being subsidized by the city.

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Photo: (color) The Hodads will be playing tunes from countr y to the ``Macarena'' on Saturday at the Council Corral Barbecue.