MAYOR NAMES TV STAR, 4 OTHERS TO ZOO PANEL.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Actress and animal rights activist Betty White was among the five people named Friday by Mayor Richard Riordan to the first citizen advisory commission for the newly created Los Angeles Zoo Department.

Riordan filled the other seats on the oversight commission by appointing actress Julie Dees, Veterinary Centers of America West Los Angeles Animal Hospital medical director David Bruyette, Los Angeles school administrator Guadalupe Reyes and businesswoman Shelby Kaplan Sloan to the panel.

``I am thrilled that, by creating the Zoo Department, we are able to give the Los Angeles Zoo the focused attention it deserves,'' Riordan said in announcing the appointments to the new city Zoo Commission.

The zoo has faced criticism for years by animal rights groups about deteriorating and unsafe conditions, and many city officials blamed the problems on the diffusion of responsibility for the facility.

Until July 1, the zoo was operated by the city Recreation and Parks Department, but many funding and spending decisions were shared with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, a nonprofit group that operates zoo concessions, heads fund-raising and membership efforts, and runs the docent program.

To better focus authority for the zoo's operation, the City Council decided in June to take responsibility for the facility away from the parks department and create a new city agency, the sole job of which is to run the zoo.

The five-person commission will serve as an advisory panel for zoo director Manuel Mollinedo, while GLAZA will serve in a support role for the department.

Although the mayor's appointments were praised by GLAZA officials, at least one animal rights activist charged that the mayor was appointing celebrities to the panel at the expense of crucial expertise.

``These people are high profile and the mayor probably owes them a favor, but it doesn't mean they know a cat from an elephant,'' said Barbara Fabricant, who heads a group called the Humane Task Force.

However, Deborah Ives, GLAZA executive vice president, said White is very knowledgeable about the zoo, having served with Sloan for a combined 30 years on GLAZA's board of trustees.

In addition to roles on hit television shows including ``The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' and ``The Golden Girls,'' White has worked for 26 years for animal rights causes.

Mayoral spokeswoman Stephanie Bradfield said actress Dees, a resident of Toluca Lake who is married to KIIS-FM (102.7) radio personality Rick Dees, shares an interest in animals.

At the same time, Bradfield said consideration was given to the ability of high-profile commissioners to help the zoo in its fund-raising efforts.