City officials reported no action taken by the city council in the closed door meeting and no information was disclosed.<\/p>\n
But that could change after Aitken said she wants to work with the city\u2019s Ethics Officer Artin Berjilky to examine the allegations against Vanderpool and create a disclosable report to the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that we have an ethics officer in Anaheim is extremely important, but we need to make sure that that ethics officer is public facing \u2013 is open to concerns from the public in the spirit of transparency and that work product by the ethics officer in response to concerns by the public is then shared with the public,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is their ethics officer as much as he is ours.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CityCouncil_Anaheim_Jan13_2026_Taylor-7-1.jpg\")
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken at the Anaheim City Council meeting on Jan. 13, 2026. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the same ethics officer that, according to Vanderpool, said he did not have to disclose the Chamber of Commerce-paid trip on his disclosure form because he offset it by bringing food and drinks.<\/p>\n
Berjilky did not respond to email questions on the issue ahead of Tuesday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n
Aitken called public service a privilege and said her request was about accountability.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith public service comes a great responsibility to act with integrity whenever called to transparency at all times and I try to hold myself to a standard that is even higher than those of state law requirements,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, some Disneyland resort-backed council members publicly praised Vanderpool.<\/p>\n
Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava applauded Vanderpool, listing off accomplishments made by the city under his tenure including things like the Disneyland theme park expansion, the OC Vibe development and launching an affordable housing trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor these reasons, I continue to support our City Manager Jim Vanderpool. Anaheim is moving forward, and I believe it is essential that we remain focused on progress, stability and public good,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Councilman Ryan Balius echoed her comments.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just going to say, in the short time that I\u2019ve been here, Jim, I believe you bring a little bit of stability to Anaheim and I will say thank you for that,\u201d he said at the meeting.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CityCouncil_Anaheim_Jan13_2026_Taylor-12.jpg\")
Council Member Ryan Balius at the Anaheim City Council meeting on Jan. 13, 2026. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC<\/p>\n
Vanderpool in Charge<\/p>\n
City hall will continue under Vanderpool\u2019s leadership as a new Angel Stadium deal seems to be taking shape \u2013 four years after the previous sale imploded when an FBI investigation into the deal went public.<\/p>\n
It comes after some residents renewed calls to fire Vanderpool in light of recent TimesOC articles highlighting two events, including a rehearsal meeting<\/a> and a Lake Havasu retreat<\/a> leading up to the Angel Stadium sale in 2020 that sparked questions again on his role in the deal.<\/p>\n Tuesday marks the first time Vanderpool faced official questioning from elected leaders related to the 2022 FBI corruption scandal that ultimately led city council members to cancel the sale and former Mayor Harry Sidhu to resign and plead guilty to federal charges.<\/p>\n [Read: Ex-Anaheim Mayor Sidhu Agrees to Plead Guilty to Corruption Charges<\/a>]<\/p>\n Vanderpool didn\u2019t comment about the closed door questioning when the meeting reopened to the public or when he gave his report on Tuesday.<\/p>\n It comes as city officials begin mulling over the future of Angel Stadium.<\/p>\n Vanderpool was helping put together the last stadium sale that fell apart in 2022 after FBI affidavits surfaced in court, detailing a questionable process behind the negotiations.<\/p>\n A Shadowy Stadium Deal<\/p>\n Recent news reports based on records released by new leadership at the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce are shedding light on a timeline of events that took place right ahead of city council members finalizing the Angel Stadium sale in September 2020.<\/p>\n [Read: Is Anaheim\u2019s Controversial City Manager Going to Get Fired?<\/a>]<\/p>\n A planned mock city council meeting to rehearse selling Angel Stadium \u2013 first described in Sidhu\u2019s federal plea deal<\/a> \u2013 was scheduled on Sept. 21 2020, a little more than a week ahead of the council meeting that kicked off the sale.<\/p>\n TimesOC<\/a> reported this month attendance at the meeting potentially included Vanderpool, City Spokesman Mike Lyster, Angels executives, lobbyists and former chamber leaders.<\/p>\n Both Lyster and Vanderpool have denied attending the mock meeting.<\/p>\n The mock meeting was followed by a chamber-paid trip to Lake Havasu from Sept. 24 to Sept. 29, 2020 that included chamber leaders, consultants and other proponents of the stadium sale.<\/p>\n Vanderpool didn\u2019t disclose the trip on his statement of economic interest forms.<\/p>\n In a Jan. 11 email to council members, Vanderpool said he didn\u2019t know that the chamber paid for the rental unit he stayed in, adding he only stayed two nights and that the food and beverages he brought would have offset the need to report the stay.<\/p>\n He also noted the city\u2019s ethics officer confirmed that he didn\u2019t have to disclose the trip, but that he could amend his gift disclosure form from 2020 to include it.<\/p>\n The Havasu trip ended the same day the city council was scheduled to vote on the stadium sale \u2013 which was ultimately approved in the early hours of Sept. 30<\/a>.<\/p>\n Vanderpool\u2019s Leadership of Anaheim<\/p>\n Vanderpool took over the reins at city hall in September 2020 \u2013 the same month as the scheduled mock meeting, the Havasu trip and elected officials finalized the stadium sale.\u00a0<\/p>\n He was selected by Sidhu\u2019s council majority to take over the role after former City Manager Chris Zapata was fired after publicly questioning plans to offer the city\u2019s tourism bureau, Visit Anaheim, a $6.5 million bailout weeks after the pandemic began.<\/a><\/p>\n Two years later, officials would cancel the stadium sale after federal agents alleged former Sidhu tried to ram through the deal with the expectation of getting $1 million in campaign contributions from the Angels \u2013 something he later denied through his attorney.<\/p>\n Sidhu ultimately ended up going to prison last year for lying to federal investigators about the failed stadium sale.<\/p>\n In 2023, independent investigators released a report alleging Vanderpool was on board with a plan by Disneyland Resort interests to keep as much as $100 million a year out of the city\u2019s general fund <\/a>once the 1997 resort bonds are paid off.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP_2421-copy.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0A4A0244.jpg\")
City Manager Jim Vanderpool at an Anaheim City Council meeting in 2023. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n