ANAHEIM, Calif. - Owner Arte Moreno proceeded with a plan to rename his team the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Monday, a move Anaheim officials said they plan to sue to block.

The city believes the Angels violated the 1996 lease agreement that required "Anaheim" to be in the team's name. The city contributed $30 million, mostly for stadium renovations, in exchange for the "Anaheim" name to bring prestige, business and tourism to the city.

Moreno adopted the lease when he bought the Angels in 2003, shortly after their 2002 World Series championship. Moreno hopes to expand the marketability of the team by identifying with the greater Los Angeles region, the nation's second largest media market.

Talk of the name change has swirled since summer, but Anaheim officials were stunned to find a fax announcing the new moniker when they returned to their offices on the first business day of the New Year.

The City Council already voted to sue if the team changed the name. The city plans to request a temporary restraining order by Friday.

"I think this whole act demonstrates the Angels' lack of understanding and respect for the lease, the city and all of Orange County. It's really rather baffling that this action has been taken this way," City Manager Dave Morgan said.

Angels vice president of communications Tim Mead said he could not comment on the potential lawsuit because he has yet to see it. "But we certainly will deal with those other issues when they arise," Mead said. Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was traveling and unavailable for comment.

"There was a lot of discussion inside (within the organization) that it was time to move forward on the change. The 2005 season is here and it was time to implement the strategy," Mead said.

"Nothing triggered the decision. It's not like anyone woke up today and decided this. It's the new year and it's time."

The team was born the Los Angeles Angels as an expansion franchise in December 1960.

The name changed to the California Angels when the team moved to Anaheim six years later. Then, the team became the Anaheim Angels when Disney bought the franchise in 1996. Now, they're the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

"This name is silly," Mayor Curt Pringle said. "It doesn't pass the smell test."

The Los Angeles City Council and the Dodgers are opposed to Moreno's move. The L.A. City Council might help Anaheim in its legal fight.

"As long as they are not playing in Los Angeles and contributing to our community, they don't deserve the name," said Alex Padilla, LA council president.