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A coalition of D.C. Council members is drafting legislation that would authorize Mayor Adrian M. Fenty to spend $150 million in public money to subsidize construction of a soccer stadium for D.C. United in Southeast Washington, city government sources said.

Under the plan being developed by Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), the 27,000-seat stadium would be included in a larger, mixed-use development at Poplar Point, a 110-acre swath of parkland along the Anacostia River. The site is across the river from the Washington Nationals' baseball stadium.

The city would finance construction bonds with excess tax revenue being collected by the District to pay for the baseball stadium. D.C. United would be responsible for paying for any costs above $150 million, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan is still being finalized.

The legislation could be introduced at the council's next legislative meeting Tuesday, if all goes smoothly, the sources said. Gray, Evans and Barry are working to win majority support on the 13-member council, but the project could prove contentious. Debate over the baseball stadium's $611 million financing package dragged on nearly two years, dividing the council and residents.

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D.C. United officials continued to lobby the District government yesterday for $225 million in public money for a new stadium, far more than some city leaders say they would support.

In addition, even the amount officials have considered, $150 million, has raised some concern with D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi, whose analysis has concluded such a deal could push the government above a Wall Street debt ceiling that he recommended last year.

On the day The Washington Post disclosed that a coalition of D.C. Council members was drafting legislation to authorize the $150 million for the stadium in Southeast, United officials and city leaders met for another round of negotiations. The political fallout from the publicity over the stadium plan was making some council members skittish, city government sources said.

Member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) said yesterday that he expects to be part of a group that will submit legislation at the council's meeting Tuesday that would authorize Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) to spend $150 million on a 27,000-seat stadium. "We are collectively and collaboratively trying to get a soccer stadium, and legislation is one way to get it done," Barry said.

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When it comes to building a soccer stadium for D.C. United in Southeast Washington, there has been a debilitating political paradox at the District government building: Although city leaders say they support the project, no one wants to take the lead.

D.C. officials said the difference between the soccer negotiations and the long fight over the Washington Nationals stadium is that at least the ballpark had a clear champion -- then-Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D). The soccer stadium proposal has been handed around the John A. Wilson Building like a baton at a relay race with no finish line.

Behind the scenes, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) and several other key council members have been willing to move forward with a public financing package of at least $150 million. But, mindful of the political fallout from the baseball stadium, each has been reluctant to push hard publicly for soccer.

Now that contradiction appears to have torpedoed another attempt to get the stadium project, on hold for more than a year, moving again.

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If this doesn't jumpstart the discussion over a new soccer stadium for D.C. United, nothing will. For the second time in two years, a bank of lights went out at RFK Stadium during a game. This time, it caused a 19-minute delay in a game that saw D.C. United lose to Chivas, a Mexican team, 2-1, in the opening round of the Super Laga tournament.

RFK Stadium is 47 years old and has had a hard life. Just last week, the stadium's pitch was totally replaced. The question for the area will become this: Is it worth it to fix patch up RFK when needed or should somebody just bite the bullet and build a new stadium? There have been a few mini-runs at the issue but, as of now, nothing concrete seems to be happening.

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A professional soccer stadium in Prince George's County could draw up to 840,000 attendees annually, employ more than 1,300 workers and bring in as much as $6 million in state and county taxes each year, according to a feasibility study released yesterday by state officials.

The Maryland Stadium Authority commissioned the study after County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) asked for an analysis of the potential economic impact of relocating D.C. United to Prince George's.

Aides to Johnson said he hoped the study would lend support for such a move. D.C. United has sought for more than a year to relocate from its home at RFK Stadium.

"We'd love to have them," David Byrd, the county's deputy chief administrative officer for economic development, said yesterday as the report was delivered to the County Council.