JL Group Revised Anaheim Scope of Work
The purpose of this proposal is to respond to the current Anaheim City Council direction at their meeting of February 7, 2023, for the JL Group to attempt to clarify the scope of work in this investigation, which was originally decided by the previous City Council and provided to the JL Group as their official scope in August of 2022, and which the JL Group has been using as its guiding investigative mandate for approximately the last five months.
We are addressing this new Council direction with the understanding our goal is to clarify the scope, rather than materially change it in any way that would defeat or alter the previous Council’s direction and intent in initiating and authorizing the official investigation.
Proposed Scope of Work Clarification
1. Investigate issues of corruption or inappropriate conduct in the proposed sale of the Anaheim Stadium under Mayor Hari Sidhu, to include the related Angels Stadium lease controversy.
Also examine local corruption issues identified in the recent FBI investigation(s). This includes investigating the conduct of concurrent city and local elected officials, city staff, consultants, lobbyists, and others with direct involvement in these events.
2. Investigate suspicious or questionable campaign donations to Anaheim elected officials which may have led to undue influence in any council decisions or direction from 2012 through 2022.
Where possible, identify specific expenditures for which the donations were used by the elected officials.
3. Investigate the City’s financial interactions and joint projects with the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce while under the leadership of Todd Ament. This should include financial interactions with Visit Anaheim, Anaheim First, and any PACs or charitable entities associated with the Chamber.
4. Investigate any Brown Act violations by elected city officials, including serial communications, relative to any significant city project, event, or contract over the last ten years, that may have involved financial interest or undue influence.
5. Investigate consultants and lobbyists, that did business with the Ccity on significant projects or contracts, that failed to properly report their involvement, and/or that made campaign contributions to elected city officials, over the last ten-year period.
6. Investigate significant City Council actions, including contracts, projects, and other official decisions, over the last ten years, in which improprieties may have arisen in connection with those actions, specifically relative to issues of public corruption.
7. Review the applicability of local ordinances, policies, or procedures. Make appropriate recommendations relative to improving the transparency, ethical conduct and interactions of Anaheim political officials, city staff, and those doing business with the city.