Anaheim City Council members are scheduled to meet behind closed doors on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 8 a.m. to discuss the appointment of a new city manager. The individual chosen for this position will be responsible for leading Orange County’s largest city and overseeing its substantial nearly $2.6 billion budget.
This deliberation comes roughly seven months after former city manager Jim Vanderpool resigned in February. Vanderpool’s departure followed questions concerning his close ties to resort interests that had been investigated by FBI agents. His tenure, while marked by some city council members as bringing consistency to the leadership role over the past 15 years, was also significantly affected by a city hall corruption scandal.
The corruption scandal, initially brought to public attention by an FBI probe in 2022 and later reinforced by the city’s own internal investigation, had raised concerns. Over time, questions emerged about whether Vanderpool and other senior city officials prioritized the interests of Disneyland resort entities and developers over those of Anaheim residents. Vanderpool's resignation specifically occurred after he faced scrutiny for not disclosing a trip to Lake Havasu, paid for by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce.
This trip took place just before city officials were set to vote on the chamber-backed Angel Stadium deal in 2020. That deal subsequently unraveled due to the unfolding corruption scandal. Following Vanderpool’s resignation, approximately a month later, city council members moved to hire a consulting firm to conduct a nationwide search for his successor.
The new city manager will assume leadership at City Hall during a significant period for Anaheim’s sports landscape. Angels Owner Arte Moreno is anticipated to finalize a deal early next year to sell his Major League Baseball team to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke. This potential team sale, alongside the upcoming city manager deliberations, unfolds as residents continue to await the findings of an assessment of Angel Stadium’s condition.
That stadium assessment, initially approved four years ago, is particularly relevant as its results could inform any future negotiations regarding a stadium deal. The appointment of a new city manager is a critical decision for Anaheim, impacting the city's administration, finances, and its path forward amidst ongoing developments in both its government and local economy.
