ISSUE CLOSED? Cypress Mayor Richard Partin had...

ISSUE CLOSED? Cypress Mayor Richard Partin had a unique idea for this Saturday’s special council meeting on the budget: Hold the whole thing behind closed doors. Uhn-uh, said City Atty. John E. Cavanaugh: To discuss the city budget in private would violate the Brown Act--a misdemeanor. . . . Partin had an answer for that: A misdemeanor, the mayor said, was only “a slap on the wrist.� But other council members considered a misdemeanor a little more than that: Saturday’s budget meeting will be open.

TRUCK ‘EM IN: Huntington Beach Deputy City Administrator Richard Barnard says Monday’s turnout of almost 600 for a hearing on development plans for the Bolsa Chica wetlands was the largest he’s seen in his 20 years with the city. But then, the word got spread pretty well for this one. . . . The Bolsa Chica Land Trust, a major development opponent, hired a truck to drive through city streets to urge residents to attend. Says a spokesman: “We got lots of attention from people eating outside of restaurants on Main Street.�

NEW SEASON: Track star Florence Griffith Joyner of Mission Viejo will be going to the Winter Olympics next week. Yes, she’s a Summer Olympics gold medal winner. But she’s going to Lillehammer, Norway, at the request of President Clinton--as part of the official U.S. delegation headed by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Joyner is co-chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. She’ll attend opening ceremonies Feb. 12.

BRACING FOR SNOW: There was a time last year when skier Donna Weinbrecht contemplated retirement--because of a bad right knee injury--instead of defending her Olympic gold medal at this month’s Winter Olympics. But she’s back in form, winning four 1994 World Cup races. . . . And the knee? It’s being held in place by a special brace developed by Innovation Sports of Irvine. Another Innovation Sports customer who has worn the special brace: Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly.