BIA decision due for casino in Rohnert Park

Fears recently stirred at a supervisorial debate, that an Indian casino planned for Rohnert Park could end up on Route 37 land, may soon be put to rest.
On Wednesday, May 7, the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Carl Artman was due to announce that he has made a final agency determination to acquire approximately 254 acres of land near Stony Point Road and Wilfred Avenue, in Rohnert Park, as a trust for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria of California. The announcement means the public has 30 days to seek judicial review before transfer of title to the property occurs. This is one of several steps in a long process, which includes the National Indian Gaming Commission publishing its environmental impact statement and make its determination that the land is eligible for gaming.
The first Sonoma County site for the casino had been the Baylands property on Route 37, which is now protected in perpetuity by the Sonoma Land Trust. John Brosnan, Program Director of the Sonoma Land Trust said that when the casino was originally proposed back in 2003-2004, the Land Trust, joined by local, county, state and federal agencies, and supported by 600 local donors, mounted a collective effort and managed to purchase the land and preserve it as open space. Their chief and deciding argument against the casino, he said, was not that they did not favor development, but that the bay-front land itself, was ecologically sensitive and must be protected.
According to Brosnan, some land is still owned by tribal concerns, but in no way can that land be considered fit for development, much less a casino. “What the tribe has told us is that once the Rohnert Park deal is tied up, the 321 acres will be a gift to the Land Trust.”
Greg Sarris, Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the tribe whose rights were restored as one of President Bill Clinton’s last official acts, confirms that intention. “The tribe would like to talk to the Land Trust to put an organic farm or cultural center there. But we understand that that decision is up to them.” Sarris said that that land had originally been picked without proper vetting, and that as soon as District 1 Supervisor, Valerie Brown called him and said, “Greg, there’s Bay Institute land on both sides; it’s not the place to go,” he pulled back.
On the Rohnert Park land, he said the tribe has completed their Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and now the Department of Interior has made the announcement of its decision to take the land into trust, and the National Indian Gaming commission is reviewing their project plans. He said that among the many concessions the tribe is making to the city of Rohnert Park, they are going for Silver Certification, building it “green,” plus running an all-union staff. “We’ve pledged $2 million for an ecology garden,” he said. As for water and other environmental impacts, “That’s in the EIS, and we’re waiting to hear, and depending what the county and city of Rohnert Park decides, that’s the way we’ll go. What we want to do is tertiary water reclamation. I want this thing to be a model socially and ecologically.”
District 2 Supervisor Mike Kerns said, “The board is already on record on objecting to this casino. We can lobby the governor’s office and express community opposition, but they have an act of Congress saying they can buy land and put it in trust.” What matters now, he said, was how to live with the casino that nobody wants, and create the best deal for the area. “My position is to at least make them pay for the impacts.” That part, so far, is going well. “This tribe, right from the start, has been one of the most reasonable tribes to deal with in terms of wanting to share revenue with the community and paying for impacts.”
Brown agreed. “I can battle, battle, battle, or I can accept what is and make sure there is a government-to-government relationship. The federal government has given them a right. And I want to make sure we are at the table.”