COUNCIL FLEXES ITS POWER LONGER TERM LIMITS PUSHED; BRATTON APOLOGY DEMANDED.

Byline: RICK ORLOV and KERRY CAVANAUGH Staff Writers

Flexing its power, the City Council snubbed Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on two more fronts Tuesday while continuing to challenge his authority over the police chief.

The council members took the initial steps to ask voters to approve an ethics reform package that would give them four more years in office, while limiting the terms of the mayor and other elected city officials.

And in the face of the mayor's effort to take over the Los Angeles Unified School District, the council approved a ballot measure with its own reforms, including creating a full-time, highly paid school board with broad authority.

The moves came as controversy swirled around the council's increasingly vocal demands that Police Chief William Bratton apologize for telling two council members to stay out of the LAPD's affairs.

``A honeymoon doesn't last forever,'' said Councilman Dennis Zine, who with fellow ex-cop Councilman Bernard Parks has been critical of Bratton.

``That's not to say we don't agree with the mayor on most things -- we do. But, on these two issues, we have our own views.''

So far, Villaraigosa has responded with a relatively low profile, seeking to mediate the spat with Bratton, refusing to take a position on term limits and plunging ahead with his own reforms that need the state Legislature's approval.

Political analysts said the mayor is walking a fine line -- giving the council some leeway as he seeks its support for a balanced city budget, increased public safety and, his top priority, education reform.

``The honeymoon is over -- or about to be over,'' said political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe. ``But these things happen and they usually happen at the start of a second year.

``There is an appearance the mayor's been missing in action on these two issues -- of Bratton and term limits. But you also have to ask: Why would he get involved?''

The council voted 11-0 to direct the city attorney to draft a measure for the Nov. 7 ballot that would allow its members to run for a third four-year term while limiting the mayor, city attorney and city controller to just two. The measure came from a joint effort by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters.

``In our opinion, two terms for City Council members is too short,'' Chamber Executive Vice President Ron Gastelum said. ``We have permanently lost, and will continue to lose, highly qualified City Council members. It is self-defeating to mandate such high turnover at the expense of real progress.''

Tied to the proposal is a series of ethics law amendments that would increase regulations for lobbyists and limit their ability to contribute to campaigns and serve on city panels.

It also would extend to two years the length of time an elected city official would be prohibited from working on city business and require reporting of contributions of $100 or more to independent expenditure committees.

``I favor term limits, but I'm not sure eight years is enough time to accomplish our work,'' council President Eric Garcetti said. ``What is more important is the ethics reforms we are asking people to approve.''

Villaraigosa has refused to say whether he supports the measure.

City Controller Laura Chick initially opposed the measure but said Tuesday that she had softened her position.

``I tried to get it changed to what I thought would be a good government proposal,'' Chick said. ``I wanted it to apply to all officials and that it not take effect until all of us are out of office so it wouldn't seem self-serving.

``I wasn't successful, so, at this point, I am not going to take a position on it and leave it up to the voters.''

The council also wants to ask voters to impose term limits on Los Angeles Unified school board members, while making their position full time, with full-time pay. Members also would have a $1,000 cap on campaign contributions and be governed by the city's Ethics Commission.

Critics have expressed concern that the measure could interfere with Villaraigosa's ambitious plan to take more control of the district.

Councilman Jose Huizar, a former school board member, said the city has long had the authority to impose campaign regulations on the school board but never acted.

``We're finally putting in some rules and regulations so we can get some more transparency in the district,'' Huizar said.

The council's vote on ethics reform came as five of its members squabble with Bratton over comments he made about Zine and Parks after they criticized efforts to ease hiring stands in order to hire more recruits.

Bratton has refused their demand to apologize for saying Zine and Parks ``didn't know what the hell they were talking about,'' and he also refused to discuss the issue Tuesday during a Police Commission meeting.

Police commissioners made no mention of the letter that Parks, Zine and three other council members sent to the panel, demanding that the chief be disciplined.

Officials said the letter has been referred to the Inspector General's Office for review.

Bratton is a mayoral appointee -- tapped by former Mayor James Hahn and up for contract reconsideration next year. Only the Police Commission and the City Council, on a two-thirds vote, have the power to remove him.

Villaraigosa downplayed the spat Tuesday, saying he hopes to see the issue resolved quickly.

``I wouldn't characterize this situation as a feud,'' Villaraigosa said. ``There is a protocol the council expects to see the chief follow and, as I said, I hope we can resolve this to move ahead with the important issues of the day.''

Parks was out of the city Tuesday as part of a delegation to China. Zine, however, said the issue is a matter of respect.

``We wouldn't allow an officer to talk to anyone in the public this way,'' Zine said. ``We expect more of the chief.''

Jeffe attributed the animosity between Bratton and some council members on ``a personality clash.''

``The mayor understands that Bratton has been a godsend to him and doesn't want him to go,'' Jeffe said. ``I'm not sure all council members feel that way.''

Bratton enjoys wide support, although Parks -- who served as Bratton's predecessor before being pushed out by Hahn -- has continued to question Bratton's effectiveness.

``I think what you're seeing is the normal ebb and flow of political relationships,'' said Councilman Alex Padilla, who served as council president under Hahn and for the first six months of Villaraigosa's term.

``The mayor, rightfully, received a lot of attention during his first year, but the people (on the council) feel they have their own issues they want to pursue.''

The mayor, for his part, has carefully worked to build consensus among council members, including them in his various events and briefing them frequently on his proposals.

``I think this mayor has reached out to the council more than either of the last two mayors combined,'' said Councilwoman Wendy Greuel. ``He has been very inclusive.''

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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