The fate of local card room gaming hangs in the balance this week as the city considers a plan to relocate the defunct operation within the city.

The Mint Card Room began operating at The Palm Tree Inn in 2000 and remained in play for quite some time.

In May 2007, owner James Podergois ceased the card room operation at that location. He’s now seeking leave to move the card room operation to a new site, 34 E. Garden Ave., in downtown Porterville.

A city staff report indicates Podergois plans to make use of three card tables, for which he holds a license.

City staff members from the community development, building, police and fire departments inspected the proposed site on Aug. 13. From that inspection, a list of conditions and requirements was developed and delivered to Podergois.

The applicant has since complied with all the conditions and requirements, city staff reports.

“The site of the proposed card room appears suitable for such activity,” the city staff report to the City Council states. “The Police Department has completed an investigation of the applicant and reviewed historical data related to his operation of a card room at other locations in the city over several years. There was no information gathered that would serve as grounds for denial of the license.”

Podergois has told city staff members he wants to increase the number of card tables at the new site, according to the city staff report.

However, the state Department of Justice’s Bureau of Gambling Control has said it will not approve such a request if it is contrary to the city ordinance governing gambling within the city, the staff report states.

The issue of card room licenses became a hot-button topic late last year when Podergois sold a state license to the Tule River Tribe for a reported $800,000. Tribal officials said they hoped to rent a small area within the Seafood Cafe on West Olive Avenue, for use as a card room.

The transaction was brokered by City Councilman Felipe Martinez.

Martinez later revealed he was paid by David Gonzales, a business associate of Podergois and part owner of the Brickhouse restaurant and bar, for services he provided in connection with the card room license sale.

Council members will also consider:

-- A request to fund a 10-year plan by the Kings-Tulare Continuum of Care on Homelessness. The group is seeking $5,000 from each of the cities in the two-county region to fund the $50,000 plan’s development. Visalia, Tulare and Hanford have already committed to help finance the effort.

-- A playground barrier for Veterans Park.

-- A report on the city’s 2008 project priorities and setting a date for a meeting to establish priority projects for 2009.
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