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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9CCasinoBallotMeasure9.0 June 19, 2006 MEMORANDUM i 1 � Tv: 4Slltta irttaAtl i rUXG: Mice Healy, Mike Hnrtia, Kuea idea i Sub)"i: Ageg" Request i Puksuant tp itasla II(Ax7) of :he t:ouncii' m Rules, Poltcitx atul Ptoeedures. tit undersi hereby kegttest that the following ltom be Wed to *,a aye Far the coupcii's vme 19, 2006 moc*: Discussion mad possible action to plea a mdAsoty mmmsne om thv I lovembor 7, l 20ps bdlot ttpmtding possible ca,tittu imm-diately Saudi of the C t} of NwInta. f j i '. Date& Iune adj, 2006 Dntai:.I�e � ,1406 Doled: J�m 2006 j i I i ADVISORY MEASURE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA WHEREAS, in 2005 the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Porno Indians purchased 277 acres of farmland immediately south of Petaluma between Highway 101 and the Petaluma River opposite Kastania Road; and WHEREAS, the Dry Creek Rancheria attempted to conceal it's identity when it purchased the property; and WHEREAS, when confronted with the fact it had purchased the property, a spokesman for the Dry Creek Rancheria denied any intent to open a casino there and instead said the property would be used for farming to support the tribe's existing large and environmentally insensitive River Rock Casino north of Healdsburg, which is a 24 hour, seven -days -a -week operation featuring 1,600 slot and video poker machines and two dozen gaming tables; and WHEREAS, the Dry Creek Rancheria has now applied to the federal government to have the property taken into trust which, if successful, would allow a casino or other uses inconsistent with county zoning to be constructed on the property; and WHEREAS, the property need not be taken into trust if the Dry Creek Rancheria merely wished to continue its agricultural use, leading to the strong inference that the tribe's real intent is to open a casino there; and WHEREAS, the efforts of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and their Nevada gambling partner, Station Casinos, Inc., to open a huge casino with 2,000 slot machines in Rohnert Park could undermine the viability of River Rock casino, giving the Dry Creek Rancheria a strong incentive to find a new casino location closer to the Bay Area; and WHEREAS, the property is located in ancestral Coast Miwok lands rather than ancestral Pomo lands, exposing the efforts of the Dry Creek Rancheria band of Porno Indians to have this property taken into federal trust as a brazen example of reservation shopping; and WHEREAS, the 277 acre Dry Creels Rancheria property is located in an important community separator south of Petaluma and outside of Petaluma's voter -approved Urban Growth Boundary, so that the development of a casino complex on the site would represent a major extension of urban sprawl contrary to adopted Petaluma and Sonoma County land use policies; and WHEREAS, a casino on the property would also be exempt from normal design review guidelines, allowing the Dry Creek Rancheria to build a gaudy, neon -bedecked Las Vegas style casino at the gateway entrance to Petaluma; and WHEREAS, a casino on the site would invariably create significant negative environmental impacts, including substantial additional traffic and congestion on Highway 101 and city streets; additional water shortages in our water -scarce region; wastewater disposal challenges adjacent to the sensitive Petaluma River; lowered housing availability; and public safety challenges to the San Antonio Volunteer Fire Department and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department; and WHEREAS, a casino on the property would undermine Petaluma's cherished small- town character by attracting social problems that typically accompany casinos, including alcohol, drug and gambling addictions, as well as money laundering, prostitution, and other crime. NOW, THEREFORE, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA do strongly urge and advise the Petaluma City Council, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, their elected and appointed officials of the State of California and of the federal government, to take all steps within their authority to oppose taking the 277 acre property into trust for the Dry Creek Rancheria, to oppose any gaming compact needed to open a casino on the property, and to take all other steps necessary and possible to oppose a casino or any other uses incompatible with existing zoning and land use designations on the property.