Officials Were Warned About Gift Limits in Anaheim : Ethics: City attorney briefed councilmen after it became apparent that the city could be negotiating a deal involving the $3-billion Disneyland expansion.

City Council members, mired in an ethical dilemma over acceptance of free Disneyland tickets, were briefed only last summer about the state-mandated gift reporting requirements and laws that now threaten to disqualify a majority from voting on Disney-related issues.

Councilman William D. Ehrle and other officials said Friday that the closed-session legal briefing came from City Atty. Jack L. White after it became apparent that the city could be negotiating with the entertainment company over plans for a $3-billion expansion of Disneyland.

“I remember him discussing that in executive session,” Ehrle said about White. “I remember him saying the (gift) limit was $249. I listened.”

Reports filed earlier this week showed that three of his colleagues--Mayor Fred Hunter and councilmen Irv Pickler and Bob D. Simpson--accepted a total of more than $8,000 in free tickets to the park from the Walt Disney Co. last year, each surpassing the state limits on gifts from a single source. A number of those tickets were accepted after White’s warning.

State law bars elected officials who accept more than $250 in gifts in a year from voting on issues involving the donor for a year. Hunter and Pickler could also face fines of up to $10,000 if they are found to have violated a separate state law that bars local elected officials from accepting more than $1,000 in gifts from a single source during the year. Gifts to Simpson are valued at less than $1,000.

Ehrle said White’s presentation was specifically timed to address Disney’s expansion interests in the city and the requirements to stay within the gift reporting limits.

“When I received the reports, I was surprised and shocked like everyone else was,” Ehrle said of separate documents filed by Disney with the city early last month, which showed the number of tickets credited to the councilmen.

According to reports filed Wednesday by councilmen, Hunter reported receiving 170 tickets, Pickler received 98 and Simpson 24. The tickets are valued at $27.50 each. Ehrle reported receiving none, while Councilman Tom Daly reported three.

The largest number--424 tickets, worth $11,660--was credited to City Manager James D. Ruth. However, only elected officials are constrained by state reporting laws.

Hunter, Pickler, Simpson and Ruth have maintained that the bulk of the complimentary admissions were obtained by either them or their staffs on behalf of other government officials and dignitaries visiting the city and should not be charged as political gifts. White said some tickets also went to friends or relatives of council members.

City and Disney officials have asked the Fair Political Practices Commission to render an opinion about state laws on the issue and how they should be interpreted in the Anaheim case. A decision is expected in about a month. Until then, White has recommended that all Disney-related issues be deferred.

Disturbed by the revelations, Hunter has recommended a complete prohibition on gifts--which would force council members to turn in their season tickets to the California Angels, Los Angeles Rams, Convention Center events and Anaheim Stadium parking privileges.

Ehrle said he will not support the mayor’s proposal and added that the council should wait for the FPPC ruling before making city policy.

“To say that you are not going to accept anything from anybody anymore is not solving the problem,” Ehrle said.

“We’re not your typical city,” he said. “I do not consider going to a city-owned facility (Anaheim Stadium) for an event as a gift. I look at it as an extension of our duties as elected officials.”