Anaheim City Council members are expected to hold closed-door meetings on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 8 a.m. to discuss the appointment of a new city manager. This deliberation comes approximately seven months after the resignation of the previous city manager, Jim Vanderpool, who oversaw Orange County’s biggest city and its nearly $2.6 billion budget.
Vanderpool resigned in February following questions regarding his close ties to resort interests that had been investigated by FBI agents. His departure came after he faced scrutiny over his failure to disclose a trip to Lake Havasu, paid for by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, taken just before city officials were to vote on finalizing the chamber-backed Angel Stadium deal in 2020. This stadium deal was later nullified by the corruption scandal.
While serving as the city’s top executive during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vanderpool was one of Anaheim's longest-serving city managers in the past 15 years. Some city council members had previously praised his tenure for bringing consistency to the leadership role. However, his time in office was also significantly affected by a city hall corruption scandal.
The scandal, which first became public with an FBI probe in 2022 and was later compounded by the city’s own internal investigation into city hall operations, raised questions. These questions centered on whether Vanderpool and other top city officials prioritized the interests of Disneyland resort entities and various developers over the well-being and interests of Anaheim residents.
Following Vanderpool’s resignation, city council members voted about a month later to engage a consulting firm. This firm was tasked with conducting a nationwide search to find a suitable replacement for the city manager position.
The individual chosen to succeed Vanderpool will step into the role at a significant time for Anaheim. Angels Owner Arte Moreno is currently expected 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 Anaheim residents continue to await the results of an assessment of Angel Stadium’s condition. This assessment was initially approved four years ago, and its findings could potentially inform any future negotiations concerning a new stadium deal.
