Third District Supervisor Doreen Farr said Monday that she’s hoping to meet this week with Rep. Elton Gallegly to discuss the possibility of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians adding 1,400 acres of ranch land to their reservation through the federal government’s fee-to-trust process.

The process removes land from local jurisdiction and places it under sovereign tribal authority, making it exempt from local and state taxes and local planning and zoning laws.

Farr sent a letter to Gallegly on Thursday after hearing about a recent telephone poll on the controversial issue, stating that she’s “strongly opposed” to Gallegly sponsoring any legislation that would help the tribe take the land into trust. The letter also seeks Gallegly’s help in keeping the county apprised of such proposals and making sure that residents are included in the decision-making process.
“When I didn’t hear from the tribe, I needed to go forward and clarify it with the congressperson,” Farr said.

The agriculturally zoned property in the Santa Ynez Valley was purchased by the Chumash in April last year from Fess Parker Enterprises for about $40 million, prompting rumors and speculation about what the tribe planned to do with the property.

The Chumash met with Gallegly in December, and the congressman said Monday that he told them before he made any decisions, they would have to have the support of county supervisors and local elected officials.
“Since that meeting last year, there have been no follow-up meetings and no follow-up discussions,” Gallegly said.

In a statement Monday, Tribal Chairman Vincent Armenta said that the tribe is developing a proposal that would address many of Farr’s concerns.
“It’s unfortunate that Supervisor Farr didn’t discuss her concerns with our tribal leadership team before sending her letter to Congressman Gallegly,” he said.
“Contrary to what Supervisor Farr suggests in her letter, we are looking forward to working with the county on a government-to-government basis and addressing their concerns regarding our 1,400 acres in Santa Ynez Valley.”
Farr, however, said that since her election she has been very clear about her position on the fee-to-trust issue.

“Residents want to be involved in land use issues of any type,” she said. “One of my big messages was to work with county government through our land use development process. That’s different than a government-to-government process.”

Saying that she’s always ready to talk, Farr said she’s worked with the tribe on a number of issues and is very supportive of the “good work they do for their tribal members and for the community.”

“Because they’re considering a federal legislative issue, they went to the congressperson and not to me,” she said. “I guess I would hope that the tribe, if this is indeed something they’re planning to pursue, would consider working through the county land use process.”

The parcel at the intersection of Highway 154 and Armour Ranch Road is the same piece of land the tribe and Fess Parker sought to annex into the tribal reservation in 2004 for developing luxury homes, a resort hotel, two championship golf courses and an equestrian center.

However, the deal fell apart in late 2005 amid a vehement backlash from residents and a failure to negotiate a final agreement on the project between Parker and the Chumash.

Farr said that fee-to-trust is a valuable tool for the government to use for tribes that are struggling economically and trying to provide fiscal stability because the land they have isn’t good.

But, she said, “I don’t think that’s the case here. They (the Chumash) have been able to provide that level of economic prosperity through the gaming that’s allowed on their property. I wouldn’t think they’d need the fee-to-trust.”
Armenta, however, said that the government of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians plans not only for the current generation of tribal members, but also for future generations.

“Our goal has consistently been to build a solid economic foundation for our children, our grandchildren, our great-grandchildren … and beyond,” he said. “With that goal in mind, the tribe has not yet achieved financial success.”
The ranch property is the latest piece in the Chumash portfolio outside its Santa Ynez reservation.

Other holdings include Hotel Corque, formerly the Royal Scandinavian Inn, and Root 246 restaurant, both in Solvang, two gas stations in Santa Ynez and an employee resource center in Buellton.