SAN DIEGO -- A task force considering the future of the Chargers in San Diego decided to postpone going to Denver to look at its new stadium.

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The panel, which voted 12-0 Thursday to postpone the trip and continue its work in subcommittees, has until Feb. 15 to make a recommendation to the City Council.

"The task force believes that touring a new facility should be part of due diligence, but we wanted to postpone (the trip), so the subcommittee can continue its review of facilities throughout the country," said Geoff Patnoe, a member of the Citizens' Task Force on Chargers Issues.

In the same vote, the panel also put to rest a minor controversy over the Sept. 12 vote to tour the Denver stadium. The task force received some complaints that the earlier agenda was not clear on the issue; so, in agreeing to postpone the trip, the panel essentially took a revote.

Chairman David Watson, one of three members who voted against the trip earlier, backed a proposal from Patnoe, executive director of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, to put off the trip, pending more study.

Patnoe said the redevelopment and facilities subcommittee needs to do more analysis before a trip would be worthwhile.

Such a trip, derided as a "junket" by detractors, would cost the city about $20,000.

Mayor Dick Murphy created the task force to consider what the city should do to keep the team happy. The Chargers want a new stadium, and executives said that team could exercise a clause in its contract that would allow it to move.

Earlier this week, Councilman Jim Madaffer raised questions about how the task force is being run.

"I'm concerned that this group is either in a position to be set up for failure or they are not having adequate input in what they ought to be and how they conduct their affairs as a group," Madaffer said.

He said task force members had no say in the hiring of a consultant and hadn't had a chance to discuss the panel's $180,000 budget. He also said the public should be kept better informed about meetings.