SOBOBA INDIAN RESERVATION - If one word were used to describe the year just ending and the one that starts tomorrow for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, that word would be "fruitful."

Story - During 2006, the tribe signed a historic water-rights agreement, canceled its law-enforcement contract with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, broke ground on a new, $11-million clubhouse at The Country Club at Soboba Springs and started construction on a $4.7 million tribal headquarters building.
It also launched a $4 million renovation project at Soboba Casino, awarded a $4.3 million contract to replace the reservation's entire domestic water supply system, built a 120,000-square-foot public-works facility, restored the badly neglected Oaks Resort to its heyday appearance and began planning for its own security force.

The coming year holds many promises.

Tribal officials say they will hire an architect in January to design a hotel that will be built within three years adjacent to the golf course at Lake Park Drive and Soboba Road east of San Jacinto. The band also intends to install gated access to the residential portion of the reservation east of the casino.

"We've come a long way in the last 20 years," tribal Chairman Robert "Bobby" Salgado said. "Not only have we become self-sufficient, we're able to be a good neighbor to our communities and the valley of Hemet and San Jacinto. We've gotten a working network between the communities so we can strive for the same goal -- to make the valley a good place and progressive place to live."
Salgado credited the Creator with giving the Soboba band a prosperous 2006.
"When Man does something it always crumbles," he said. "That's why I've always left things up to a higher power.

"We had things here 20 years ago. The difference is that we own them now. We don't have to depend on hand-me-downs and shopping at the second-hand stores. We don't have to depend on the welfare system. We're able to help others not only in our community but other communities."

Access Road
The tribe's priority for 2007, Salgado said, is getting a second access road into the reservation.

Bridging Esplanade Avenue across the San Jacinto River would be preferable, he said, but other acceptable possibilities include extensions of Hemet Street or Fairview Avenue in Valle Vista.

"The main purpose is for emergencies," Salgado said. "We have a lot of diabetics and people who need to get access. If we come into a disaster situation, the only thing we could do is get people in and out with helicopters."

Tribal Council member Rose Morillo said a second access also is needed so the reservation's 1,017 members can get to and from their homes when the casino hosts major sporting or entertainment events.

Security Force  In another public safety issue, the Soboba band intends to create its own security force next year. Tobin said no decision has been reached yet on whether it will be an armed force.

The tribe is going to set up a gated entry to the reservation in early 2007. A $100,000 bullet-proof guard shack will be constructed on Soboba Road just east of the casino.

"It's mainly to know who's coming onto the reservation and their business," Morillo said. "It's for the residential portion of the reservation."
The new security measures follow the Tribal Council's decision earlier this year to cancel its contract with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for supplemental law-enforcement service. Tribal leaders said they quit the pact because of concerns about the quality of service.

They also blamed many law-enforcement problems on outsiders having access to residential portions of the reservation.

Tribal Administrator Tobin White said the Tribal Council will review proposed capital improvements in early January and try to firm up various projects.
Tribal officials said they should know more about the magnitude of the hotel project after that meeting.

Construction on the new clubhouse at The Country Club at Soboba Springs is under way. When finished, the building will feature 32,000 square feet of dining, banquet and golf amenities. Another 6,000 to 8,000 square feet will be devoted to swimming and tennis facilities.

"The clubhouse will provide a place for dinners, church gatherings, weddings, banquets, Christmas parties, quinceañera," Salgado said. "It can handle parties from 10 to 1,000."

The golf course, while continuing to offer year-round recreation, will host some major tournaments next year. The National Football League Players Association has scheduled a "longest-drive" tournament for March.

Casino Upgrades
White said the casino has been undergoing nearly $4 million worth of refurbishing over the last three months. The work should be completed in three months.

"We're doing everything from A to Z -- new carpeting, walls, new waterfalls," he said.

The reservation will get a new $4.3 million water-distribution system. Nearly 15 miles of 16-inch pipe will be installed to all homes to replace the outdated 8-inch system.

"The project includes 2 million gallons of additional water storage capacity," White said. "We're building two 1-million-gallon tanks in the hills northeast of the casino to replace dilapidated lines and increase the efficiency of delivery. The project will take eight months."

Salgado said the tribe also wants to build stronger ties with Hemet and San Jacinto in 2007 by forming a subcommittee to meet on a regular basis on issues of mutual concern.

"We want to see what we can do to make this a very productive valley," he said.
Reach Steve Fetbrandt at 951-763-3473 or sfetbrandt@PE.com