County Supes Direct Executive Office to Develop 'Template' Agreement with Area Tribes

Riverside County supervisors on Tuesday authorized agencies to move forward with plans to develop standardized agreements with local Indian tribes that have gaming operations that impact the county.

The Executive Office and the Office of County Counsel will work cooperatively to create a “template” for all future intergovernmental agreements with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, the Ramona Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians.

“All discussion and negotiation with tribal governments shall be founded on respectful government-to-government relations, conducted in a spirit of cooperation,” according to an Executive Office statement. “Negotiations will be conducted in consultation and collaboration with county counsel and the supervisorial district in which the casino is or will be located.”

According to county documents, agencies that identify potential “significant effects” that require government attention, including flood control, infrastructure use and noise, would need to be involved in drafting agreements.

Only those tribes that have received legislative approval to expand or establish new gambling operations, with associated facilities, would be approached by the county, officials said.

Tribal compacts would seek to compensate the county for diversion of public services.

For nearly a decade, the county and its 28 cities received sizable disbursals from a state-maintained “Special Distribution Fund” to mitigate the effects of gaming operations on communities. However, the fund has been rapidly depleted over the last few years due to changes in gaming compacts sought Gov. Jerry Brown.

--City News Service