Three items before the Chula Vista City Council tonight involve the search for a Chargers stadium site, including the hiring of a land-use expert to recommend a location.

Councilman John McCann sees the vote as the beginning of a long journey - with a single destination.

"This would be a huge step forward," McCann said. "We are going to be the city that the Chargers will be playing in."

Much must happen before he's proven right or wrong.

The Chargers want a new stadium and are analyzing proposed sites in Chula Vista, National City and Oceanside. The team wants to select a site this year and work out a proposal that would be put to a public vote in 2008.

Chula Vista council members are to vote tonight on the hiring of New York-based design firm Cooper, Robertson Partners as a land-use consultant on stadium issues.

Cooper, Robertson is asking for $200,000 to analyze Chula Vista sites for traffic, environmental issues, size and other criteria. The analysis will include a recommendation of the most suitable site.

Chargers officials said the team would pay the fee, plus any additional money for city staff costs, and the consultant would work under the direction of the city, not the team.

"The fact they are paying should put our taxpayers' minds at ease," McCann said. "It shows they are not trying to play us off against another city" as leverage in a stadium deal."

The council will vote on whether to limit membership in its Chargers Relocation Subcommittee to Mayor Cheryl Cox and McCann. The other members would be dropped because they are not elected policy-makers, McCann said.

The council might also adopt 10 guiding principles in considering a stadium site, including extensive public comment and no public subsidy.

Patricia Aguilar, president of the Crossroads II watchdog group, said she wants the council to require a binding public vote on any stadium proposal - even though the Chargers plan a public vote anyway.

"A football stadium would have such enormous impact on traffic and neighborhoods that it should be put to a vote," Aguilar said.

The Chargers items are scheduled to be heard at 6:45 p.m. at Chula Vista City Hall, 276 Fourth Ave.