GETTY'S WISHES IGNORED?; DIRECTIVE SPECIFIED NO CHARGES.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Cheryl Qallab calls it the ``Petty Getty.''

The new $1 billion Getty Center charges a $5 parking fee, at odds with the written wishes of late founder J. Paul Getty, who directed that no one should have to pay to view his collections - even for parking.

In ``The J. Paul Getty Museum Handbook of The Collections,'' the late oil tycoon wrote that ``the collections should be completely open to the public, free of all charges - be they for admission or even for parking automobiles.''

Qallab, a Canoga Park resident and patron of the former J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, said she discovered Getty's remarks recently and was upset by the seeming disregard of his intentions.

After all, why would the Getty, with its $4 billion endowment, need to charge for parking, she asked.

``It's incredible,'' said Qallab, 34, who works as a researcher for a vocational consulting firm. ``I can't imagine how they can continue when they know that's what his wishes were.''

Stephen Rountree, vice president of the Getty Trust, said Getty's statement about fees is more an expression of his philosophy rather than official policy for operation of the museum.

``That is what he said,'' Rountree confirmed, adding, however, that Getty left a ``trust indenture'' that governs the museum and overrides his remarks.

``The trust indenture, which is the controlling legal document, clearly gives trustees the sole discretion . . . to levy fees to defray the cost of the museum and the trust program,'' Rountree said.

Rountree called the parking fee ``very reasonable'' and said that school groups and nonprofit organizations are not required to pay for parking. Revenues from the parking fee and the museum's bookstore, restaurant and cafes would help pay the cost of the museum, with any profit funneled to charities, he said.

The new parking fee is part of the ``fiduciary responsibility'' of the Getty Trust, according to a statement issued by the museum in response to the Daily News inquiry about parking.

``The trustees, as part of their fiduciary responsibility, have the charge of generating revenue through the operation of a restaurant, cafes, museum bookstore and parking,'' the statement said. ``While we are making admission free, we decided that a $5 parking fee is a reasonable charge when compared to other cultural and entertainment venues in the city.''

While the Getty Trust said it is committed to keeping admission free to the nearly $1 billion hilltop complex, parking is $5 and advance reservations are required. No reservations are required for those traveling by public bus, taxi or bicycle.

J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, now closed for renovations, always offered free parking but required visitors to reserve spots. When it reopens in 2001, visitors will be required to pay for parking, Rountree said.

``They don't need the public to subsidize this,'' Qallab said. ``They're well off. With all the charges of elitism I don't think this is in their best interest to do this.''

But that won't stop the art lover from visiting the new museum. ``I intend to go,'' she said.

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Photo, Box, Map

Photo: The Getty Center charges a $5 parking fee, at odds with the written wishes of late founder J. Paul Getty.

Dean Musgrove/Daily News

Box/Map: GETTY-ING THERE