HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2003-122 N.C.S 06/16/2003~V~,~
resolution No.2003-122N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
OPPOSING STATION CASINO AND
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
PROPOSED CASINO PROJECT
WHEREAS, the agricultural lands and wetlands fronting the San Francisco Bay along
Highway 37 constitute one of the most environmentally sensitive regions in the entire Bay Area
in light of their proximity to and drainage directly into the Bay; and,
WHEREAS, the agricultural lands along Lakeville Highway afford an invaluable
agricultural and scenic resource, not only to the people of Sonoma County but to the populace of
the entire Bay Area; and,
WHEREAS, such lands provide one of the Bay Area's most cherished community
separators, and represent an important scenic gateway to Sonoma County; and,
WHEREAS, these bay, agricultural and wet lands have been the focus of preservation
and conservation efforts by environmentalists and local communities for many years; and,
WHEREAS, based upon press reports, approximately 2,000 acres of such lands are
presently in imminent danger of being withdrawn from County land-use control and placed into
trust for the purposes of casino development by Station Casinos, a Las Vegas-based developer
and the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria ("Tribe"). Proposed development includes
the potential of an extensive game complex consisting of a hotel, parking and other support
services as well as possible residential development; and,
WHEREAS, the Tribe was restored in 2000, based, in part, on its promise not to engage
in Indian casino gaming; and,
Resolution No. 2003-122 N,C.S.
WHEREAS, the federal legislation restoring the Tribe contains language that could be
used t o c ircumvent t he normally r equired e nvironmental r eview a nd a dministrative r egulatory
process for taking land into trust by the United States Government on behalf of the Tribe; and,
WHEREAS, the Tribe's gaming plans were announced in the .media without any
government-to-government consultation with affected local communities; and,
WHEREAS, the Board and Tribe have initiated communication regarding the proposed
casino but details regarding the project and siting have not yet been made available; and,
WI~EREAS, the proposed project could overwhelm the local infrastructure in the area in
which the casino project is proposed; and,
WI~EREAS, the environmental impacts of the proposed project have the potential of
being far-reaching and of such magnitude that they would negatively affect a significant portion
of the North Bay, including grossly aggravating of existing traffic problems along State
Highways 37 and 101 (as well as County roads in the project vicinity), posing severe water
quality risks, profound negative visual impacts in this scenic area, impacting the existing lack of
affordable housing; and impacting the service area of emergency services; and,
WHEREAS, when California voters approved Proposition lA (Indian Gaming) in March
of 2000 as a means of supporting the laudable goal of Indian economic development and self-
sufficiency, they were n of a ware t hat s uch a pproval w ould allow N evada d evelopers t o s eize
prized off-reservation environmental resources for intense development without regard to locally
approved General Plans or any meaningful environmental review or protection; and,
WIFIEREAS, under the provisions of Proposition lA and the Tribal-State Compact, local
communities have been granted no effective input into the development of proposed tribal
casinos that threaten their rights and the State appears to have no effective redress for significant
environmental impacts these gambling casinos impose on local communities.
Resolution No. 2003-122 N.C.S. Page 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Petaluma City Council, based on
the information currently available, strongly opposes the creation of a gambling casino on the
site proposed by the Tribe.
BE IT FURTI~ER RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Manager are directed to enter
into good faith discussions with tribal representatives for the purposes of facilitating
government-to-government communications, exploring casino development and reviewing
alternative sites, as well as minimizing and mitigating environmental impacts of any casino
project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Manager are authorized to
take all reasonably required action, including submittal of comments to agencies involved in
considering the trust application and casino proposal; requesting assistance from State and
Federal elected representatives; proposing legislation; participating in administrative
proceedings; and initiating litigation to insure that any proposed gaming project in Sonoma
County meets all federal and state environmental, public health, and public safety requirements
that otherwise would apply to anon-Indian development project; and to require that any land
proposed to be taken into trust goes through a thorough r egulatory a nd e nvironmental review
process.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: 1 hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the d as to
Council of the ~ity of Petaluma at a (Regular) (Adyourned) (Special) meeting
on the .........16 ............. day of ........June......................................, 20.03, by the
following vote: •••••• •• ••••••••••••••••••••••• ••
City Attorney
AYES: Canevaro, Mayor Glass, Harris, Healy, Torliatt
NOES: O'Brien '
ABSENT: Moynihan ~/~r ~~
~~,d ~~~ `'C/°
ATTEST: ............ ~f% ~` ..................:..................................................... ...........................................................................
City Clerk ~ Mayor
Council File ...................................
Res. No........2003-122 _ ,.N.C.S.