ANAHEIM – Councilwomen Kris Murray and Gail Eastman said that two members of the City Council should have a seat at the bargaining table as city officials try to strike up a new stadium lease with the Angels.
“It shows the Angels that we are totally serious, that we’re willing to be reasonable and make sure that everybody is working well together,” said Eastman, who along with Murray seeks a second term Nov. 4.
The suggestion comes after the Angels walked away from more than a year of failed negotiations with the city on Sept. 26.
For now, Anaheim’s negotiating team is led by interim City Manager Paul Emery, City Attorney Michael Houston and Tom Morton, Anaheim’s executive director of conventions, sports and entertainment. Those officials sometimes get assistance from outside consultants.
“I think it’s important to have elected representatives at the negotiating table so that we can make sure that the city moves forward in a positive direction,” Murray said. “It’s important to start working again in good faith and get to an agreement quickly.”
Negotiations stalled in March. Since then, the team has struck up preliminary discussions with the city of Tustin on a potential new ballpark at the former Tustin Marine Corps Air Station.
Contact the writer: 714-704-3769 or amarroquin@ocregister.com
