DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — It's Monday, January 5, and the Los Angeles City Council is set to begin 2009 with a week that's light on meetings but heavy on Downtown interest. Coming up over the next three days: Quimby reports, the revival of an ordinance banning smoking in outdoor dining areas and a report on city assistance to keep MOCA on Grand Avenue.

MONDAY: The Public Safety committee is the only item on the Council calendar. A light schedule with talk on LAPD items.

TUESDAY: Council's in session, and item 25 is CF 07-0046-S1, a DOT report on high-tech parking meter deployment. It's just a note-and-file (meaning no action), but does include this bit on a coming Downtown program:

DOT is also planning to issue an additional RFP in March 2009, subject to Council approval, for the Downtown Intelligent Parking Management (IPM) Project. The Downtown IPM Project will utilize vehicle sensors and a real-time parking guidance system to optimize the utilization of public on- and off-street parking in the Downtown Los Angeles Area, thus reducing the significant traffic congestion and pollution associated with drivers searching for parking. The project is budgeted at $18.5 million with $15.0 million from the LACMTA Congestion Reduction Demo Initiative (USDOT Grant) and the balance projected from the Special Parking Revenue Fund (SPRF).

Item 44 is CF 08-0508-S1, a technical item directing funds for work currently being done to widen the First Street Bridge for the Gold Line Eastside Extension.

WEDNESDAY: Three committees are in session, two with items of Downtown interest.

First up is Arts, Parks, Health and Aging, where CF 08-1544 returns after being continued in September. The motion by Councilman Dennis Zine would have the City Attorney prepare an ordinance banning smoking in outdoor eating areas, similar to an ordinance enacted in Burbank. When the motion was last discussed, the committee deferred to get more input from the restaurant community.

The next item is CF 08-3265, a motion by Councilman Tom LaBonge and Councilwoman Jan Perry asking various city departments to report back on ways the city can help the financially-challenged MOCA stay on Grand Avenue.

Audits and Government Efficiency makes up a meeting that was canceled before the holiday break, picking up a pair of items on Quimby fees and City Controller Laura Chick's audit of the program. Also on the docket is a discussion of the Parks department's recent citywide Needs Assessment study.