Disney, Anaheim Resume Their Talks About Angels Buy

Disney and the city of Anaheim reopened talks Friday that could lead to Disney buying a controlling interest in the Angels, according to Tony Tavares, president of Disney Sports Enterprises.

Both sides said they broke off negotiations in mid-March as a Disney-imposed 60-day deadline approached to cut a deal on the renovation of Anaheim Stadium.

“We started talking again today,” Tavares said, “but I don’t want to speculate too much. There are just too many details to be worked out. It’s sufficient to say that we’re talking, and that’s good thing.”

Tavares said that no new deadline has been set.

“Either we make the deal or we don’t,” he said.

Tavares spent Friday’s Angel game with Angel Executive Vice President Jackie Autry, wife of owner Gene Autry. Mayor Tom Daly, Councilman Lou Lopez and City Manager James D. Ruth also attended the game.

While several city officials seemed encouraged that they could strike a deal with Disney, talks between the two parties have caused a rift on the City Council.

“It’s extremely frustrating to hear from a reporter what’s going on in your city,” said Councilman Bob Zemel, who has spoken out against the use of taxpayer funds to renovate Anaheim Stadium. “I think only certain members of the council are included in this, and I am not one of them.”

Zemel said the city gave Disney a stadium renovation proposal last Friday, but when he asked Ruth for a copy of the proposal, “he did not give it to me.”

Ruth, who would not comment directly on the negotiations, said the city’s proposal was verbally discussed with the council. “They were briefed on it,” Ruth said. “No one got a copy of it.”

Zemel said he is not at all opposed to Disney buying a controlling interest in the Angels--”I think it would be great,” he said--but he’s concerned about the secrecy of negotiations.

“I’m the one who’s not willing to give a gift of public funds [for this deal], but I shudder to think that’s why I’m being left out of the process,” Zemel said. “I should be able to tell you what the deal is, but I have no idea.”

Bill Schweitzer, American League attorney, met with Anaheim officials this week to discuss what had caused the impasse, according to a city official. Tavares declined to comment on whether that meeting had prompted Anaheim to make the new proposal.

Disney had agreed to pay 70% of the estimated $100-million costs. But the two sides clashed over the proposed 167-acre Sportstown, Anaheim’s plan for an entertainment-retail-sports complex. Disney officials had expressed reservations about the concept.

Times staff writer Greg Hernandez also contributed to this story.