City of Vallejo and Scotts Valley Tribe Set to Consider MOU

VALLEJO, CA – The Vallejo City Council is set to consider a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the City of Vallejo at the April 14 City Council meeting.

“This memorandum of understanding represents an important step in building a mutually beneficial relationship between the Tribe and the City. As our Tribe moves forward with the responsible development of our sovereign trust land, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is working to transform our homeland into a place that brings our members together and creates lasting economic opportunity for Vallejo. We are committed to being a long-term partner to the City and its residents.

“The MOU ensures the taxpayers and the City do not bear new costs and instead achieve a net positive position from this interim facility. While a few competitors have valued their profits over our community and sought to mischaracterize the law and facts, we are moving forward thoughtfully to build a brighter future. This is more than a development project. It is an opportunity to address historic inequities while creating shared prosperity with our neighbors here in Vallejo,” Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Tribal Chairman Shawn Davis said.

The MOU would provide the City with over $400,000 per year for up to 3 years, plus a one-time $100,000 payment. Additionally, it would commit at least $100,000 per year from the Tribe to support local nonprofits, distributed in coordination with the City. The agreement includes defined mitigation measures to address public safety, traffic, and infrastructure impacts, and mechanisms for coordination. The purpose of the MOU is to ensure that the City of Vallejo shares the benefits of the project and that coordination occurs in a structured and mutually beneficial manner.

The Tribe’s long-term vision includes a comprehensive development consisting of 24 units of tribal housing, a tribal government administration center, open space preservation, and a gaming and entertainment facility that will serve as a major regional economic engine – creating thousands of local jobs and generating hundreds of millions in wages annually.

While that broader project proceeds through planning and impact analysis, the Tribe is advancing interim uses, including temporary tribal offices and a limited-scale gaming operation within modular facilities. It consists of approximately 5,400 square feet of two enclosed modular structures and will house up to 100 Class II gaming positions, along with related support space, parking, security, and utilities. The Facility includes four restrooms, security stations, 24/7 on-site security personnel, surveillance systems, and gaming administration.

No aspect of the Facility requires state or municipal gaming approval, licensing, or oversight. As a federally recognized Indian tribe developing its own trust land, Scotts Valley does not require City approval or an MOU to move forward with the Interim Development. The project can and will proceed under Tribal and federal authority. Additionally, the MOU does not govern the larger casino development, which will undergo further study, negotiation, and a separate intergovernmental agreement.