United Auburn Indian Community approves Lincoln Agreement

Adds Millions of Dollars to Fund Route 65 Bypass, Law Enforcement Services, Cultural and Youth Activities, and Economic Development

CONTACT:  Doug Elmets                      Nicole Poimiroo                      (916) 329-9180

NEWCASTLE, CA  — The Tribal Council of the United Auburn Indian Community today approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Lincoln that provides for sewer service to the Tribe's proposed entertainment and  gaming facility to be located in the unincorporated area of Placer County west of Highway 65 on Athens Avenue, and provides financial support for the Lincoln Route 65 Bypass Project, law enforcement  services, cultural and youth activities, library collections, and economic development in the City.

"It has always been our goal to cooperate with neighboring local government, community groups, and citizens to ensure that any potential impacts from the project are mitigated. The MOU with Lincoln is  another step towards fulfilling this objective," said Jessica Tavares, Chairperson of the United Auburn Indian Community.

On August 22, the Lincoln City Council proposed and voted to approve the MOU with the Tribe.  This agreement establishes that the Tribe will make the following contributions:

• $1,013,200 for sewage connection and ongoing fees required of other users;
• $1,000,000 toward the development of the Lincoln Route 65 Bypass Project;
• $1,000 per call for fire/medical services;
• $37,500 per year for the indirect costs that the gaming facility will have on the City's police department;
• $25,000 the first year, $50,000 the second year, $100,000 the third year, and $125,000 the fourth year and each year thereafter for promoting cultural, social and youth activities;
• $50,000 towards the Western Placer Education Foundation Outdoor Learning Environment Project for educating youth on Native American Culture;
• $15,000 the first year toward the Lincoln Library for developing a Native American book collection, and $5,000 annually thereafter for developing, expanding, and maintaining Native American and  environmental collections or other library-related purposes as agreed to by the Tribe and the City; and
• $30,000 a year to support economic development within the boundaries of the City's Redevelopment Agency.

In addition, the City of Lincoln responded yesterday to the Environmental Assessment prepared by the Tribe in compliance with the National Indian Gaming Policy Act.  The response addressed concerns  related to wastewater services, traffic mitigation, and law enforcement services.

Lincoln Director of Community Development Rodney Campbell wrote, "While our review of the Environmental Assessment indicates that the project may have potential impacts upon the City of Lincoln and its  operations, these impacts are being addressed.  These actions would include those mitigation measures proposed in the Environmental Assessment and those provisions included within the Memorandum of  Understanding once it is fully executed and implemented by the United Auburn Indian Community."

Tavares commented, "We feel that Lincoln has provided constructive comments on the Environmental Assessment that will help in establishing a first-class entertainment and gaming facility in the Sunset  Industrial District."

In January, the Placer County Board of Supervisors and the Tribe entered into an historic and comprehensive land use agreement that mitigates environmental and public service impacts arising from the  development of the property and endorses the Tribe's application for a fee to trust transfer.

In a letter dated September 19 to the Bureau of Indian Affairs with comments on the Tribe's Environmental Assessment, Placer County Counsel Anthony La Bouff wrote, "The County of Placer feels that it  was fortunate to work with the United Auburn Community and their willingness to recognize the concerns of the County of Placer and to reach agreement upon the attached  MOU."

The Tribe entered into a Tribal-State Compact with the State of California in September 1999 in order to conduct Class III gaming on trust land.  Both California voters and the Department of the  Interior approved the Compact this past spring.

The United States Congress restored the Tribe's federal recognition through the Auburn Indian Restoration Act of 1994, which also entitled the Tribe to acquire a new reservation in Placer County.