VAN NUYS POSTAL CUSTOMERS TO GET BACK 10 PARKING SPACES.

Byline: Steven J. Gorman Daily News Staff Writer

Responding to complaints of public inconvenience, city officials have agreed to restore 10 parking spaces removed for security reasons from in front of the Van Nuys Civic Center post office, City Councilman Marvin Braude said Friday.

Braude said officials at the Los Angeles Transportation Department assured him Friday afternoon the nine 30-minute metered spaces and one space for the handicapped, eliminated last month, would be returned next week or the following week.

The Transportation Department took out the meters and painted the curb red as a precaution against car or truck bombs at the urging of the General Services Administration, the federal agency that manages U.S. government buildings. The GSA building manager, Curtis Phelps, called the parking meters a serious security breach that should be removed.

``This is something that's going on all across the country as a result of Oklahoma City and the like,'' said John Walsh, the head of the GSA's field office in West Los Angeles.

The four-story federal building at 6230 Van Nuys Blvd. houses offices of several government agencies in addition to the post office. The Internal Revenue Service, military recruiters and a defense auditing agency also have offices there, Walsh said.

Van Nuys residents and community leaders reacted angrily to removal of the meters, saying post office customers had no other short-term parking available nearby and that security concerns were being exaggerated.

``Not only the regular patrons, but also the handicapped, are going to be inconvenienced,'' said Don Shultz, president of the Van Nuys Homeowners Association. ``People are going to have to walk blocks.''

City transportation officials and staffers for Braude and U.S. Rep. Howard Berman reported receiving numerous complaints from citizens.

Braude, whose district includes the post office, said he asked city transportation officials to reverse their action. He said they advised him that, in their opinion, security was not measurably improved by removing the parking spaces.

``Even if there is a red curb, a bomber could come along, park the car at the red curb, and 30 seconds later, the bomb could go off,'' he said.

He added that the post office is vulnerable as well from the employee parking lot at the rear of the building.

Braude said he contacted the GSA and Walsh told him the federal agency would abide by the decision of city officials.

Word from Braude that restoration of the parking spaces had been agreed to came late in the day Friday, and neither GSA nor city transportation officials could be reached for comment.