Several Oceanside leaders: Stadium idea not in jeopardy

Several city leaders said Friday that Councilwoman Esther Sanchez's sudden opposition to the San Diego Chargers coming to Oceanside won't jeopardize that possibility.

"I don't think it will affect anything," Mayor Jim Wood said Friday. "Everyone wants a council majority or unanimous decision, but our opinion doesn't hold a lot of water on this item because it will eventually go before voters."

Wood and the rest of Sanchez's council colleagues said they planned to continue to work with the Chargers on the idea of building a stadium on a 70-plus-acre, city-owned golf course near Interstate 5 and Oceanside Boulevard.

The Chargers say they want to leave aging Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley within the next decade for a first-class facility that will generate more money. The team has identified Chula Vista, National City and Oceanside as potential homes.

Mark Fabiani, the team's lead negotiator on the stadium issue, said Friday that "it's good news to hear that the other council members are determined to at least explore the idea."

The City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 6 to meet with team officials to see if it is feasible to build a stadium on land now occupied by the Center City Golf Course, also known as Goat Hill for its steep terrain.

Sanchez, who first proposed the idea of a stadium on the site in February 2006, told the North County Times on Thursday that she no longer supported the idea.

Sanchez said she changed her mind on the stadium because of the council's support Wednesday night of a controversial hotel and time-share project next to the northwestern end of the Buena Vista Lagoon.

She said the council didn't try to address some residents' complaints about plans for a three-story, 82-room hotel and time-share development, a restaurant and four condominiums on a vacant, 3.8-acre site on the southwestern end of Oceanside.

She said that because the council didn't try to work with residents on a compromise, city residents could no longer trust the council to look out after their best interests for projects as important as a football stadium.

Her council colleagues said she's wrong.

"We look at what is in the best interest of all the city," Councilman Jerry Kern said.

Kern declined comment on Sanchez's comments, but said "it's way too early to take sides on anything."

"I want to keep my options open," Kern said. "I understand some people have a real reluctance to bring the Chargers here and I understand a lot of people in town think it will be a great shot in the arm."

Kern said he had a meeting with several business owners on Friday and that they were concerned about Sanchez's comments.

Councilman Jack Feller said that "it's a little too premature to be so negative."

Feller said it's always better to have unanimous support for a project, but that Sanchez's opposition would not really change anything.

Sanchez said her opposition "makes all the difference in the world."

"I doubt the project will go any further ---- period," Sanchez said.

When told that several of her colleagues said her opposition wouldn't affect the proposed idea, she said that "they're putting their heads in the sand."

Former Councilwoman Shari Mackin, who has vocally opposed building a stadium on a golf course zoned for parkland, said in an e-mail to the North County Times not to "underestimate the residents."

"It's about time (Sanchez) woke up," Mackin wrote.

Former Councilwoman Melba Bishop, who is still actively involved in Oceanside politics behind the scenes, said she thinks Sanchez was wrong to declare her opposition to the idea so early in the process.

"It won't kill the project, but I don't think it will help," Bishop said. "It would have been better if she would have waited until she wasn't angry (about the hotel project.)"

Sanchez said she is not worried about political backlash from her statements because "I have been taking heat from people from day one and it doesn't make a difference to my supporters."

Wood said Sanchez's stance on a Chargers stadium will probably generate more support for her from environmentalists and residents who oppose a stadium. But he said the city would be foolish not consider a potential deal with the Chargers that would provide significant benefits to Oceanside.

Fabiani said voters will get to decide whether a stadium is built in Oceanside or any other city the team decides upon. He has said the team wants to try to put the issue on the November 2008 ballot, and would probably begin collecting signatures at the start of next year.

Fabiani said the team would want to have support from at least a majority of council members because many voters are influenced by elected officials.

But, Fabiani said, "What we really need is 50 percent of the voters plus one."

He said the team plans to meet again with city staff in the next couple of weeks.

Team officials and city staff have met twice in the last month on the issue, but there have been no details about how to pay for a $700 million stadium.

"It will take two to tango," said Councilman Rocky Chavez. "Right now, no one even knows if the Chargers are coming here."