VOTE ON LIVING WAGE REMAINS IN LIMBO.

Byline: Daily News

The Los Angeles City Council delayed a decision Friday on whether to rescind a living-wage ordinance for Century Corridor hotels or let voters decide the issue in May.

The delay came as supporters of the ordinance and hotel operators continued to try to negotiate a deal to avert a ballot referendum on the issue.

City officials have estimated a May referendum would cost $3 million.

``Everyone is still talking and we hope we can work something out,'' said Councilman Dennis Zine, who opposes the measure that would apply to 12 hotels near Los Angeles International Airport. ``We want to give them every chance to work something out so we can avoid the cost of an election.''

Over the opposition of hotel owners and business groups, the council voted Nov. 22 to extend the city's living-wage ordinance to cover the estimated 2,500 workers at hotels along Century Boulevard.

The hotels are among L.A.'s busiest but pay employees about 20 percent less than other major hotels, city studies show.

Under the proposal, the hotels would be required to pay workers $9.39 an hour with health benefits, or $10.64 an hour without.

The only other referendum ever to qualify in L.A. challenged tough regulations on bars offering adults-only entertainment. The council subsequently repealed that measure and worked out a compromise with the adult entertainment industry.

The council will now consider the matter Wednesday and has until Jan. 31 to act.