Following an extensive meeting spanning Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, November 20, the Vallejo City Council voted unanimously in favor of advancing the Scotts Valley Casino Project, which could bring a new land-based gaming facility to Vallejo.
One outcome of the meeting was the committee’s decision to designate City Manager Andrew Murray as the responsible party for executing a Cooperative Agreement with the Tribe, given their plans to utilize land within Vallejo’s jurisdiction.
By taking this step, the city aims to protect its interests and contribute to the project’s decision-making process, despite the tribe’s sovereignty.
A letter from the office of the Assistant City Manager to the Mayor and members of the City Council read:
“This Agreement would allow the City to continue analyzing the environmental impacts and negotiating with the Tribe without committing to a position on the project. Since the City has no approval authority over the Proposed Project, it is recommended that we enter into this agreement to preserve our right to mitigate potential impacts of the potential project.”
What is to come from the $700 million project?
The California casino project has its roots in 2016, when the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians first announced their intention to develop a tribal casino in Vallejo.
Despite encountering numerous regulatory hurdles, including a rejection by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2019, the project has persevered, and its realization may now be within reach.
Located at Columbus Parkway, adjacent to Vallejo in Solano County, the $700 million project will feature a comprehensive resort complex, including a 400,000-square-foot casino, luxury hotel, spa, entertainment center, dining options, bowling alley, and more.
The gaming facility is also coming packed with:
- 3,500 slot machines
- 130 table games
Opposition party spirals
City politicians had earlier voiced their discontent with the casino project, claiming that the tribe had failed to involve them in the planning process before presenting it to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
According to Daniel Keen, Vallejo’s city manager, the city has experienced a pattern of being left out of the planning process for casino projects from the outset.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior:
“(I am) concerned that these specific projects are proceeding in a manner that would sidestep the state, ignore the concerns of tribal governments and other local communities, and stretch the ‘restored lands’ exception beyond its legal limits—while failing to adequately consider whether there might be a better way.”
Other reservations by the city council officials include how the casino would affect small businesses in Vallejo and, of course, its primary cause of concern, which is environmental impact.
This summer, the BIA initiated an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ casino project.
The assessment addresses various aspects, including water and sewer infrastructure, social impacts, public safety services, transportation infrastructure, and responsible gaming. The City of Vallejo reviewed the document and submitted its comments to the BIA on August 22, 2024.
City Council discusses ARPA funds
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were also part of the two-day meeting agenda, as both parties needed to know where the money generated will be going to.
While building a casino of that size will no doubt bring in job opportunities for locals, the casino project will also contribute over a million dollars towards six projects in the Vallejo Police Department.
Although, Council member Mina Loera-Diaz voiced her displeasure at the amount that will be channeled towards the department, as she considered it huge.
