CITY NFL PANEL HAS DETRACTOR IN WEISS.

Byline: - Mariel Garza

Los Angeles Councilman Jack Weiss called on Friday for the council to disband its new pro football stadium committee even before its first meeting, arguing that it weakens the city's negotiating power in future proposals.

In a letter to Council President Alex Padilla, Weiss called the committee ``premature and counterproductive.''

On May 24, Padilla appointed the Ad Hoc Stadium Committee to examine proposals to build a National Football League stadium in Los Angeles. He named himself chairman, and included council members Hal Bernson, Eric Garcetti, Jan Perry and Mark Ridley-Thomas on the panel.

Tim Leiweke, president and chief and executive officer of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns and operates Staples Center, recently announced plans to build an NFL stadium downtown near Staples Center.

Weiss said the council would have better negotiating leverage if it waited for developers to approach the city, rather than evaluating proposals first.

``I think it was created with good intensions, but it has a counterproductive impact,'' Weiss said. ``It gives the impression that we're rushing to the altar.''

Padilla created the committee after Ridley-Thomas - who advocates the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as a site for an NFL team - suggested it in a council motion as a way to provide a ``forum for public input and a thorough discussion about the proposed stadium concept.''

Ridley-Thomas disagreed with Weiss' assessment that the committee was premature, saying it is appropriate to start discussing the proposals that have been talked about publicly. Padilla also responded to Weiss' request quickly, issuing a letter that called his issues thoughtful and appropriate. However, Padilla did not say he would discontinue the committee.