Panel to Suggest New Westdome Site on April 24

A citizens’ committee will recommend to the Santa Ana City Council in April a new site for a sports arena under a “work plan” adopted by the council Monday.

The council voted unanimously last week to remove a downtown site from consideration for the Westdome, a 20,500-seat arena proposed by a four-man partnership. In taking that action, the council also directed City Manager Robert C. Bobb and city staff members to work with the partners to find another site for the project.

The city has hopes of attracting a National Basketball Assn. team, and a group of developers has submitted a $100,000 application fee to the league for a new franchise.

Council members voted Monday night to form a citizens’ committee to help select a new site. Under a proposal by Councilman Dan Young, the committee will consist of two members appointed by each council member, a chairman appointed by Mayor Daniel E. Griset and one member each from the planning, redevelopment and transportation advisory commissions and from the park and recreation board.

Although committee members were not selected Monday, the council did approve deadlines for them to come up with a new site. The committee is expected to be selected at the next council meeting Feb. 18 and be directed to reach its decision by the following timetable:

- March 20--Tour of site alternatives identified in an environmental review of the downtown site released in December.

- March 27--Identification of additional sites.

- April 10--Selection of “site finalists.”

- April 24--Selection of the preferred site and recommendation to the City Council.

The site recommendation would be followed by an environmental impact review, which is expected to take about four months. Final City Council consideration is tentatively scheduled for September.

The rejected plans for an arena at Flower Street and Civic Center Drive sparked opposition from some residents, who formed a group called Save Our Stadium to oppose destruction of Santa Ana Stadium to make way for the arena. The group protested at council meetings, collected signatures during high school football games and filed a notice with the city stating the members’ intention to put a proposition before the city’s voters to retain the stadium.

Council members P. Lee Johnson and Patricia A. McGuigan voted against formation of the committee, arguing that it would only slow the process. McGuigan said her concern is that “by the time we set up this committee and run through the site selection, we’ve lost the Westdome,” adding that she feels the developers might woo other cities in the meantime.

Johnson said he doesn’t believe the developers will go to another city because Santa Ana has approved a $40-million bond issue to finance the project. However, since public hearings in December focused on the downtown location, the city will have to gain Internal Revenue Service approval to use the money for another site. City Atty. Edward C. Cooper said one of the arguments the city will use is that public hearings will be held on the environmental review of the next site.