Forum on Stadium Revisions Planned

After hearing a plea from residents opposed to the $100-million renovation plan for Anaheim Stadium, the City Council this week called for a forum to discuss details of the plan and hear public comments.

A decision on when and where the forum will be held is expected at the May 7 council meeting.

Councilman Bob Zemel, who continues to criticize the city’s tentative agreement with Walt Disney Co. for stadium operations and renovation, urged that the “cold, hard, cash facts” of the deal be brought out at the forum.

Mayor Tom Daly, who voted with the council majority April 3 to approve the Disney pact, said the public forum would “lay out the facts and figures for the citizens.”

Under the agreement with Disney, the stadium would undergo a $100-million renovation, with Disney paying 70% of the cost. Anaheim’s $30-million share would be paid from stadium advertising revenue, a bond issue and the city’s reserve fund.

Zemel and Daly’s comments followed an appeal from the Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, chairman of the Anaheim-based Traditional Values Coalition, for the council to postpone voting on a final lease agreement with Disney until at least July 1.

As a leader of the Anaheim Taxfighters Assn., Sheldon characterized the stadium pact as a “bad deal” for the city and argued that residents have been unfairly left out of the decision-making process.

Sheldon said he was heartened by the council’s decision to hold a forum, but he is concerned that city officials may try to reduce the session to a public relations event.

“It’s very easy to placate, to pacify,” Sheldon said, “but we must have full revelation.”