Tribe wins federal OK for Placer County casino

January 5, 2002

By Jennifer K. Morita - Bee Staff Writer Auburn Journal

The United Auburn Indian Community has secured 58 acres in Placer County's Sunset Industrial Area for a 200,000-square-foot casino complex.

The federal government's decision, announced Friday, to take the land at Athens and industrial avenues into trust for the tribe marks the last major hurdle for the community of Maidu and Miwok Indians.

"I am happy to stand here today and announce a new chapter in our history-one that we believe will be marked with renewed hope and economic self-sufficiency," said Jessica Tavares, United Auburn Indian Community tribal chairwoman.

Sacramento attorney Howard Dickstein, who represents the United Auburn Indian Community, said construction could begin later this year.

Plans call for a 75,000-square foot casino with slot machines, video games, bingo and card games. The facility is also to include offices, a restaurant and a gift shop.

The casino will likely face opposition from Citizens for Safer Communities, a local group that has fought the project for the last several years.

"What this tribe Is doing that is different is selecting a parcel of land that is separate from the reservation, over the objections of the local, surrounding community, for the sole purpose of building a casino," said Scott Smith, the Citizens for Safer Communities attorney, "This truly represents a dangerous and significant expansion of Indian gaming, both for this state and other states."

Members of what was once the Auburn Band of California Indians had lost federal recognition and all but 2.8 acres of their reservation under the U.S. policy of termination.

But in 1991, surviving members reorganized as the United Auburn Indian Community and petitioned the government to be recognized as a tribe.

A 1994 act of Congress restored the United Auburn Indian Community's federal recognition, allowing it to acquire land in Placer County for a new reservation.

The 200-member tribe has been working for the last five years to secure land in the Sunset Industrial Area between Roseville and Lincoln, and struck an agreement with Placer County to pay for road-improvement projects as well as law enforcement and emergency services.

"This tribe really went out of its way to be a good neighbor," said Wayne Smith, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs. "It's really a model for the rest of the nation."

Tribal members also agreed to follow local zoning, building and design guidelines, give $50,000 annually to the California Council on Problem Gambling, and donate up to $100,000 a year to the Placer Legacy open space preservation program.

In return, the county sent a letter to the Interior Department supporting the tribe's effort.

"This is a cutting-edge agreement that exemplifies how it ought to be done," said Robert Weygandt, the supervisor who represents Lincoln and western Placer County. He said the tribe agreed to pay for a total of $30 million in improvements.

"This is a landmark agreement that was voluntary on the tribe's part. They did not have to take this path," Weygandt said.

The United Auburn Indian Community is the first tribe in the United States to enter into a contract with any local government, according to proponents.

Roseville City Councilman Earl Rush said that despite the tribe's agreement with Placer County, he still has concerns about negative effects the casino may have on the community.

"I'm not an attorney, so I don't know what the enforceability of such an agreement would be," said Rush, who added that he believes the casino would likely bring more traffic congestion, air pollution and noise.

"I am not a gambler, but I am not opposed to gambling, it is the potential spinoff from gambling, such as criminal activity, that I'm concerned about."

Many tribal members live in dilapidated homes and trailers on what were once the original hilltop reservation near Auburn.

in recent years, large luxury homes have sprung up around the Rancheria, where broken-down vehicles sit abandoned on the side of the road.

"This casino means we can start building new homes and schools for our children, so that future generations won't have to grow up in the poverty that we did," Tavares said. "We also need health care. We have many very sickly members who don't have any health care."

The public has 30 days to comment before the U.S. government formally takes the land into trust.

Janine Lend) of Roseville, who is raising her five children a few miles from the casino, wants it moved to another location.

"There's going to be a complex of schools 5,000 feet across Highway 65 at Twelve Bridges," Lendi said. "It's way too close to schools, businesses, churches and residences."

Scott Smith, citizen’s group attorney, said he and group leaders may move forward with a lawsuit before the 30 days is up.

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	Tribe wins federal OK for Placer County casino January 5, 2002 By Jennifer K. Morita - Bee Staff Writer Auburn Journal The United Auburn Indian Community has secured 58 acres in Placer County's Sunset Industrial Area for a 200,000-square-foot casino complex. The federal government's decision, announced Friday, to take the land at Athens and industrial avenues into trust for the tribe marks the last major hurdle for the community of Maidu and Miwok Indians. "I am happy to stand here today and announce a new chapter in our history-one that we believe will be marked with renewed hope and economic self-sufficiency," said Jessica Tavares, United Auburn Indian Community tribal chairwoman. Sacramento attorney Howard Dickstein, who represents the United Auburn Indian Community, said construction could begin later this year. Plans call for a 75,000-square foot casino with slot machines, video games, bingo and card games. The facility is also to include offices, a restaurant and a gift shop. The casino will likely face opposition from Citizens for Safer Communities, a local group that has fought the project for the last several years. "What this tribe Is doing that is different is selecting a parcel of land that is separate from the reservation, over the objections of the local, surrounding community, for the sole purpose of building a casino," said Scott Smith, the Citizens for Safer Communities attorney, "This truly represents a dangerous and significant expansion of Indian gaming, both for this state and other states." Members of what was once the Auburn Band of California Indians had lost federal recognition and all but 2.8 acres of their reservation under the U.S. policy of termination. But in 1991, surviving members reorganized as the United Auburn Indian Community and petitioned the government to be recognized as a tribe. A 1994 act of Congress restored the United Auburn Indian Community's federal recognition, allowing it to acquire land in Placer County for a new reservation. The 200-member tribe has been working for the last five years to secure land in the Sunset Industrial Area between Roseville and Lincoln, and struck an agreement with Placer County to pay for road-improvement projects as well as law enforcement and emergency services. "This tribe really went out of its way to be a good neighbor," said Wayne Smith, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs. "It's really a model for the rest of the nation." Tribal members also agreed to follow local zoning, building and design guidelines, give $50,000 annually to the California Council on Problem Gambling, and donate up to $100,000 a year to the Placer Legacy open space preservation program. In return, the county sent a letter to the Interior Department supporting the tribe's effort. "This is a cutting-edge agreement that exemplifies how it ought to be done," said Robert Weygandt, the supervisor who represents Lincoln and western Placer County. He said the tribe agreed to pay for a total of $30 million in improvements. "This is a landmark agreement that was voluntary on the tribe's part. They did not have to take this path," Weygandt said. The United Auburn Indian Community is the first tribe in the United States to enter into a contract with any local government, according to proponents. Roseville City Councilman Earl Rush said that despite the tribe's agreement with Placer County, he still has concerns about negative effects the casino may have on the community. "I'm not an attorney, so I don't know what the enforceability of such an agreement would be," said Rush, who added that he believes the casino would likely bring more traffic congestion, air pollution and noise. "I am not a gambler, but I am not opposed to gambling, it is the potential spinoff from gambling, such as criminal activity, that I'm concerned about." Many tribal members live in dilapidated homes and trailers on what were once the original hilltop reservation near Auburn. in recent years, large luxury homes have sprung up around the Rancheria, where broken-down vehicles sit abandoned on the side of the road. "This casino means we can start building new homes and schools for our children, so that future generations won't have to grow up in the poverty that we did," Tavares said. "We also need health care. We have many very sickly members who don't have any health care." The public has 30 days to comment before the U.S. government formally takes the land into trust. Janine Lend) of Roseville, who is raising her five children a few miles from the casino, wants it moved to another location. "There's going to be a complex of schools 5,000 feet across Highway 65 at Twelve Bridges," Lendi said. "It's way too close to schools, businesses, churches and residences." Scott Smith, citizen’s group attorney, said he and group leaders may move forward with a lawsuit before the 30 days is up.