NFL NOTEBOOK: PASADENA RESIDENTS FIGHT BALLOT MEASURE.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Rose Bowl neighborhood activists filed suit Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking to thwart Pasadena councilman Chris Holden's effort to put an initiative on the ballot that would require the city to resume negotiations with the league.

The suit asks that the court stop the initiative process because it violates several provisions of state law, including the naming of a private corporation - in this case, the NFL - in an initiative.

``Ultimately, we're seeking to ask the court that the city isn't forced to spend money on an invalid measure,'' said Fredric Woocher, an attorney representing Pasadena First, a political action committee formed mainly by Rose Bowl neighborhood residents.

Earlier this month, signature gatherers began canvassing Pasadena in an attempt to gather the 9,816 valid signatures that will be required to put the initiative on the ballot, which Holden hopes to do in a special election by March.

Woocher said the suit was filed as a warning shot. He would ask for an injunction if the signatures being gathered are filed with the city, which has 30 days to verify them.

Holden could not be reached for comment.

The drive comes after two years of stop-and-start negotiations with the NFL for a proposed $500 million renovation of the Rose Bowl ended in June when the city council was deadlocked on whether to go forward with the final negotiations of terms. The stalemate left Anaheim and the Coliseum as the NFL's two options.

The NFL had planned to make a decision on a site at an owners meeting next week, but in recent weeks it became clear that a decision is several months off - perhaps not until the owners' next scheduled meeting in March.

- Billy Witz

--A new tune: After the mayor of New Orleans blasted him for talking of moving his team to San Antonio, Saints owner Tom Benson said he hasn't made any plans to relocate in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Benson said Friday that he wanted to ``make it clear that no decisions have been made regarding our future plans,'' and added that none would be made until the 2005 season is over.

--Injury update: Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell sat out for much of practice with a strained left calf muscle, but remains listed as probable for Sunday's game against the 49ers.