The Cache Creek Casino Resort attracted patrons who fueled the economy, which led to improved emergency services, but ultimately traffic congestion, noise, and crime beyond remediation, according to a 2009-10 Yolo County grand jury report.

The grand jury, which released its report last week, found better communication between Yolo County and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, as well as stronger oversight of tribal mitigation dollars, would likely improve the situation.

It's hard to deny the economic impact of the 414,110 square-foot facility, which is the county's largest employer. The tribe annually awards $200 million in vendor contracts, $40 million in payments to the county and state, and $3 million in donations to local civic organizations, the report stated.

The casino's annual earnings, which go to YDWN members, are kept confidential by the sovereign nation but the grand jury estimated the reservation is home to fewer than 25 members and their children.

"These individuals are the direct and highly-compensated beneficiaries of the profits from the casino," the report states.

Representatives of the Tribe declined to be interviewed or answer written questions submitted by the grand jury, citing sovereignty rights. Representatives also did not respond to inquires about the report before deadline.

Increased road use

Perhaps the biggest complaint among residents in the Capay Valley is the increase in traffic along Highway 16. Saturdays are the busiest day for travel, with more than 13,000 travelers heading to the casino, the report stated, which is a 69 percent increase between 2002 and 2006.

All casino feeder roads meet capacity limits established by the state and county and studies conducted for the 2030 General Plan and by the citizens group, Capay Valley Vision, expect traffic on the roads will exceed capacity by 2013.

In a 2002 Memorandum of Understanding between the tribe and county, YDWN promised to implement a shuttle service to mitigate traffic issues. The tribe agreed to pay the county to construct a park and rides facility for patrons and employees, and make the use of its service mandatory for workers. Neither the service nor the policy has been implemented and only 18 percent of employees currently use public transportation, according to the report.

The influx of casino visitors yielded a doubling of Sheriff's deputies in the area, but the majority of casino related crimes continue to increase. According to the report, between 2002 and 2006 DUI arrests increased 1,050 percent, assaults and weapons arrests increased 2,900 percent and Felony Burglary increased 900 percent.

How the cash is divided

The sheriff's department has received the lion's share of mitigation funding to county department, with $3.46 million since 2002. Despite this majority funding, the county estimates its law enforcement related workload -- comprised of efforts from the Sheriff's Department, District Attorney and Public Defender's office -- is under-funded by about $600,000.

In total, the tribe has paid $32.9 million to the county: $10.6 million has gone to specific departments, $15.5 million to the general fund, $6.4 million to community residents and specified projects along the Highway 16 corridor, and $.4 million to reserves. The department allocations also include $1.2 million for negotiations and arbitration over the tribes proposed 2008 expansion, which was abandoned in October 2009.

The distribution and oversight of those funds for community projects were called into question by the Yolo County grand jury.

The Advisory Committee on Tribal Matters was established by the Board of Supervisors to recommend applications for tribal mitigation. The grand jury found questionable spending and conflicts of interest among its nine members.

At least two of the board members voted on proposals either because they, or their spouse, "held a leadership role in a recipient organization."

The Board of Supervisors also took recommendations that limited funding to residents between Interstate 505 and the casino, precluding mitigation for many other towns along the Highway 16 corridor, including Woodland. The majority, 38 percent, of the funds went to Esparto and the were increasingly used for economic and community development rather than mitigation like road repair.

According to the report, the committee's board minutes reflect that its members, "inaccurately believe ACTM funds are theirs to control ... ignoring other county priorities or other casino-related mitigation needs outside the valley."

County Tribe Coordinator Christopher Lee said, "The county is taking the findings of the grand jury seriously and will respond the them in full and we will have more information at that time."

While YDWN dropped its 2008 expansion, it announced new plans in January to continue with the construction of 52,000-square-foot event center, as well as expansion of the gaming and dining area by about 32,000 square feet, the addition of a 29,000-square-foot warehouse, and an additional 900 parking spaces in a parking garage.

The tribe certainly has the space, after acquiring more than 7,600 acres of new land between 2004 and 2010. Ninety-seven percent of that acreage is land in fee, meaning the tribe owns the land but pays taxes on it and cannot use it to expand gaming operations. However, that land can be converted to land in trust for personal use with approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, without any consent from the county.