The Anaheim City Council will continue funding an investigation started last year into prior dealings on the sale of Angel Stadium, potential broader “pay-to-play” allegations and possible Brown Act violations, though it has doubled in cost to $1.5 million.
Councilmembers had asked the JL Group – hired in August by the previous council – to try to refine the scope of its investigation, and with it the additional funding request – when the investigating team requested an additional $750,000 to finish its work. The consultants told the council at that Feb. 7 meeting that the investigation was turning out to be more “complex and time-consuming” than initially expected, but what was being discovered raised “real concerns” and would develop “some valuable recommendations for public policy.”
Tuesday night the council agreed to raise the cap on the investigation’s cost to $1.5 million to have it completed by July 1, but is requiring detailed progress reports each month.
Investigators have also been permitted to share investigation details with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, which had requested a meeting soon because of concerns over potential statutes of limitations coming into play if there turns out to be any crimes alleged, even though the investigators’ report won’t be made public until its completion.
JL Group was hired to conduct the investigation into past campaign contributions, contracts and various official dealings following the revelation in the spring that FBI investigators were asking questions and allegations emerged of potential corruption and outside influences at work in City Hall.
Members of Clean Up Anaheim Coalition protested in front of City Hall prior to Tuesday’s council meeting and urged Anaheim leaders during a long public comment period to continue the investigation into potential corruption. Previously, councilmembers had balked at the increased price tag and what else in the city that money…
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