Media firestorm at City Hall****

New, apparently temporary, regulations designed to curb noise in the City Council chambers drew a wide protest from the City Hall press corps today.
The regulations, developed by Council President Eric Garcetti and President Pro Tem Jan Perry with the concurrence of other council members, also puts severe limits on the media's access to council members and the activities of council members.
For instance, council members who go in a the back media room for interviews _ or even as one member said was a call of nature _ need to formally be excused from the council meeting.
Also, it says access to the media room can be controled by the sergeant-at-arms.
Perry acknolwledged the regulations, drafted without talking to any members of the press, probably "went too far" and would be reviewed.
"I've been taking notes and we'll figure something out," Perry said.
Perry said the regulations were drafted to respond to complaints from various council members.
"Sometimes, it gets too noisy and raucus in there," Perry said, adding most o f the problem was due to staff members standing around the council chambers.

*** City Council President Eric Garcetti issued new guidelines at 5 p.m., giving back teh access to council members by the media and not limiting their movements.