RANCHO BERNARDO -- Palomar Pomerado Health will pay San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson $2 million over the next five years for promoting the hospital district and community health, under the terms of a contract released Thursday by the hospital district's board.

The release, which had been sought by media outlets for four weeks, came after the board discussed the 11-page document behind closed doors during a special meeting at the Radisson Hotel in Rancho Bernardo.

When the meeting was re-opened to the public, the board voted 4-1 to approve the deal between the district and Tomlinson, as well as a three-page amendment to the contract.

Board Chairman Marcelo Rivera said afterward that Palomar Pomerado was getting a good deal, given the football player's high profile and positive image and the district's desire to get its health-education messages heard, especially by children and teens.

"A person like Mr. Tomlinson has tremendous appeal to the young people," Rivera said. "And if we want to reach them at an early age, (you have) to have a spokesperson like Mr. Tomlinson."

Rivera also predicted the football player will do for Palomar Pomerado and North County what retired National Basketball Association superstar Michael Jordan did for his hometown city of Chicago.

Board member Linda Greer voted against the contract's approval.

"I thought the concept is good," she said afterward. "But I'm uncomfortable with the financial issues."

Board members Alan Larson and Nancy Bassett were absent.

Palomar Pomerado and Tomlinson held a press conference late last month to announce they were teaming up to raise awareness of Palomar Pomerado, its services and community health concerns. District officials initially declined to say how much Tomlinson would be paid. Their stance prompted the North County Times and other local media outlets to file Public Records Act requests seeking copies of the contract, on the grounds that state law required its disclosure since the district is a public agency.

Rivera raised more questions when he removed a scheduled discussion of the agreement from an agenda for the board's Aug. 13 meeting. On Thursday, he said he did so because the board wanted time to clarify some of the contract's language with attorneys and to warn Tomlinson that the document would be made public.

"I think this closes the issue and you have all of the documents we have," said Rivera.

The brainchild of Gustavo Friederichsen, chief marketing and communications officer for the district, the deal calls for Tomlinson to receive annual payments of $300,000 from the district and $100,000 from the foundation, through 2011.

Rivera said some of the money will come from funds the district already had budgeted for marketing and human resources and from a foundation gift that is paying for a Dial Don't Drive program that will urge men with heart attack or stroke symptoms to call 9-1-1 instead of driving themselves to the hospital.

"The rest will come from the foundation," he said.

The contract also spells out exactly what Tomlinson will do for the district, in exchange for the $2 million. His commitments include serving as a spokesman and endorser for the Dial Don't Drive program and helping with a Project21SD campaign that will promote programs to prevent childhood diabetes, obesity and other community health problems.

The district, meanwhile, gets to use the football player's photos and signatures on promotional materials. He also committed to hosting a major fundraising gala for the district each year, making radio, print and other advertisements for the district, and spending 40 to 60 hours per year helping Palomar Pomerado get its health-related messages to children and other segments of the population.

The contract gives district the right to cancel the agreement if Tomlinson is involved in "illegal, immoral or criminal conduct resulting in a felony conviction," suffers a career-ending injury, or is dropped from the Chargers or the National Football League.

Friederichsen said he pulled the deal together in just a month and a half. Already known for his commitment to the community, the running back and founder of his own nonprofit foundation was receptive to helping the district because his family has a history of diabetes and strokes, said Friederichsen.

Tomlinson is particularly looking forward to carrying a "healthy lifestyle" message into local schools, as part of the 21-month campaign, Friederichsen said.

"You can't put a value on it," he said about the deal. "He could have chosen any health-care organization that he wanted, but he chose (Palomar Pomerado)."

He said Dial Don't Drive is set to launch in the next couple of weeks, followed by Project21SD's debut next month.

Contact staff writer Andrea Mossl at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.