The San Jacinto City Council unanimously approved a resolution tonight opposing the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians' proposal to add almost 535 acres of land to the reservation adjacent to the city for a hotel-casino project.

Four council members previously said they opposed the project proposed near residential neighborhoods. But at tonight's meeting, for the first time, Councilman Steve Di Memmo sided with his colleagues. Previously, he said he needed more time to study the issue.

Studies projected additional traffic from the development would impact Lake Park Drive, Soboba Road and potentially other San Jacinto Valley intersections. Traffic "is a problem of such magnitude in this economic environment, as to be an impossible issue to address at this time," he wrote in a statement. The draft environmental impact statement did not propose solutions to the problem, he said at the meeting.

The council action echoed that taken earlier this week by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, who voted against the project in its present form.

Di Memmo, as had county supervisors, urged representatives of local governments and the tribe to meet to address the issues.

Councilman Jim Ayres reiterated a description made by county officials that the environmental document was "severely flawed."

Soboba tribal council member Rose Salgado again invited council representatives to meet with tribal leaders.

The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs is reviewing the tribe's application. The Department of the Interior's assistant secretary of Indian affairs makes the final decision.

Gail Wesson

gwesson@PE.com