Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS : CITIES : Angels, Anaheim Settle ‘Peripheral’ Disputes

Most of their steps since they became adversaries in court had been on each other’s toes. But this step, both sides agreed, was “a step in the right direction.”

Under a banner that proclaimed “Back Together Again,” California Angels owner Gene Autry and Anaheim Mayor Donald R. Roth signed papers settling most of the lawsuits and counter-complaints they had filed during the past two years.

The litigation began when Autry decided to fight city approval of a high-rise development on the parking lot of Anaheim Stadium where his baseball team plays.

The settlements, however, cleared away only peripheral issues. The major lawsuit, which has been in trial for 10 months, is still alive, but both sides said they hoped a new spirit of cooperation would lead to settling that dispute as well.

Last week’s settlements will affect some fans directly. The parties agreed to a 2.5% surcharge on beer sales--about a nickel--to pay for police stationed at the stadium during games. “In essence, beer drinkers will pay for the police,” an Angels executive said.