The federal government Friday approved an American Indian tribe's plan to build a casino/resort in Yuba County.
The project, proposed by the Estom Yumeka Maidu tribe nine years ago, meets the qualifications for being established outside the tribe's existing reservation, according to Larry Echo Hawk, assistant secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs .
By federal law, the casino proposal has one year to receive concurrence from Gov. Jerry Brown before land for the casino can be taken into trust.
"I think the decision was an important step in the process, but several steps remain," said Glenda Nelson, tribal chair for the Maidu. "It's taken a long time, but we feel it's been important to go through every step."
In its decision, the federal government cited the tribe's memorandum of understanding with Yuba County and Marysville to mitigate possible impacts from the casino as reasons for support. The decision also found cause to support because the casino would be in a "sports and entertainment" zone in the county, near Sleep Train Amphitheatre.
Tribal representatives first proposed in 2002 an eight-story, 170-room hotel with a casino featuring 1,700 slot machines, on 40 acres.
The tribe's headquarters are in Oroville, but the tribe wanted its casino in Yuba County both because members said the tribe's ancestral lands included the area and because there wasn't suitable land in Butte County.
The decision analysis also found the casino would generate net revenues of up to $46.2 million by its seventh year, with $19.3 million going to the tribe's government.
Another tribe with a nearby casino, the United Auburn Indian Community, could not show evidence of a new casino in Yuba County being detrimental to its Thunder Valley Casino, the federal government's decision states.
If Brown concurs with the Bureau of Indian Affairs' decision, the bureau would issue a final record of decision, and set the stage for the state and the tribe to negotiate a compact for the casino, covering such topics as how much revenue from the casino the state would receive, for example.
John Fleming, Yuba County's economic development director, said the government's decision appears good for Yuba County at first blush, but the critical step of forming a gaming compact with the state is still to come.
Since it's been proposed, he said, the casino has represented jobs, lower unemployment and bringing income into the county, all positive aspects from an economic development standpoint.
Being situated near the amphitheater, which has had mixed success since it opened in 2000, could prove helpful to both entities, Fleming added.
"Once you start a cluster of any type of industry, you have the potential to be a larger draw," he said.
Yuba County Supervisor Mary Jane Griego, a casino supporter, said the governor's concurrence is critical, but provisions of the MOU make her confident the project will bring jobs if it goes through.
"This news could not come at a better time for Yuba County," Griego said, explaining county residents, along with tribal members, get first preference for casino-related jobs under the MOU.
But the government's decision disappointed others, such as Sandra Gilbert, a Wheatland resident who said she feels the casino would bring more harm than good.
"I'm really disappointed they would even consider that," Gilbert said. "It doesn't come close to paying its own way."
Gilbert said she and other casino opponents will lobby Brown against endorsing the casino, but she noted campaign donations sometimes speak loudest.
"I don't think the real sentiment of the people is behind this," she said.
In a 2005 ballot measure, 52.1 percent of county residents opposed the casino. The government's decision did not mention the measure, which was only advisory.
Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Lake Wildwood, said he'd point to the measure if he's consulted by Brown on the issue.
"The governor needs to realize this goes against the wishes of the people," said Logue, who opposed the casino as a Yuba County supervisor. "The problem is there are numerous casinos around the area, and this just transfers wealth from Yuba County to the casino."
Nelson, however, said she believes the governor could see the casino favorably.
"I don't want to speculate, but I think it would be important to the governor to bring jobs and economic development back to the state," she said.
Evan Westrup, a spokesman for Brown, said the governor had just received the Department of Interior's decision and would review it over upcoming months.
"As the governor looks ahead, he'll be considering the interests of not only the tribe and the local community, but California as a whole," Westrup said.
He said it's too soon to say when the governor will issue a decision.

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