EDITORIAL CIVIL CITY HALL IF GARCETTI CAN GET COUNCIL TO RESPECT PUBLIC, IT WOULD BE A REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

ON Wednesday, a truly amazing thing occurred in the Los Angeles City Council's chambers: The nation's highest paid elected municipal officials commenced a meeting, on time.

This was the work of incoming Council President Eric Garcetti, and it was no small feat. Normally, council meetings begin 20 to 30 minutes late. Sometimes even later. And organizing the unruly lot is not unlike trying to herd a bunch of deaf and blind cats.

If Garcetti can make the reform stick, it will be good news to the members of the public who take time out of their workdays to come to council meetings at 10 a.m. sharp for an issue most likely critical to their lives - only to be left waiting in chambers.

The insult to the public doesn't end there. When ordinary citizens stand up to express their views, the self-indulgent council members routinely chit-chat in the back or are away entirely at press conferences in the media room or finishing up a breakfast meeting with an important campaign contributor.

As Garcetti notes, this behavior is rude. But worse than rude, it indicates a total lack of respect for the public the council serves, at least in theory.

To truly restore civility at City Hall, starting meetings on time is just the first step. Next, Garcetti must ban lobbyists and other influence-peddlers from swarming behind the horseshoe, where they distract attention away from the proceedings while getting the ``access'' they paid for and wheeling and dealing.

Then, Garcetti's task will be to figure out how to get the council members to pay attention to members of the public who come to testify before the body, often inwardly trembling.

While this may seem like a whimsical goal for a council president, promoting civility and respect for the public is actually the most important thing that Garcetti can do in this new role. And if he can achieve that, it will be a truly grand accomplishment.