Rohnert Park to Get $40 Million More from Casino

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria will give Rohnert Park an additional $40 million to offset impacts of the casino, the result of a new memorandum of understanding approved Tuesday evening by the city council.

The new agreement, reached over a series of meetings between the city and the tribe, will now funnel $5 million a year for general impacts on the city, another $2.4 million for impacts to city services, $500,000 for public safety, $125,000 for gambling treatment and $50,000 for storm water runoff, among other things.

The contribution essentially quadruples the recurring payments Rohnert Park stands to receive to help the city deal with increased traffic, crime, addiction and other problems.

Vice Mayor Joe Callinan said the $40 million extra was not going into the general fund, but would be put aside and used to mitigate impacts of the Las Vegas-style casino.

“We just don’t know the full impact,” Callinan said, adding that his support for the new agreement did not mean endorsement of the project. “There is nothing we can do about the casino except protect ourselves the best we can...We’re not filthy rich and we still have a $2.5 million budget shortfall.”

City Manager Gabe Gonzalez said he asked the tribe to renegotiate after the Federated Indians selected a site much closer to the city than the one they had originally proposed at Stony Point Road and Rohnert Park Expressway.

“This is a different location that is much closer to the city and the urban growth boundary and the prudent thing to do is to look at the new impacts on Rohnert Park,” Gonzalez said.

In addition to the recurring payments, the Federated Indians will also make a $1 million annual contribution to local schools, $1 million for the Rohnert Park Foundation, $1 million for neighborhood upgrades or housing and $1 million a year on “enhancement” of the city or Sonoma State University, depending on the tribe’s choice.

The council voted 5-0 to approve the new agreement, with several members praising the tribe for being a “friendly partner” and more than upholding its end of the bargain.

“The federated Indians couldn’t have been responsible,” said Mayor Pam Stafford. “They have been an example for other tribes about how to work with a community.”

What do you think of the new agreement? Are you concerned about the casino’s impacts on the quality of life in Rohnert Park?

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