UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County's Assembly member said Friday he is authoring a bill to ratify the recently signed gaming compact between the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake and Gov. Jerry Brown.
Assemblyman Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata) said he has authored AB 1020 to ratify the compact in the Legislature.
“I will be amending the bill next week to make it an urgency bill so that once it is ratified the compact can go into effect immediately after it is approved by the Legislature and the tribe can immediately begin construction,” Chesbro said in a statement released by his office Friday.
According to a previous interview with Tribal Chair Sherry Treppa, the Legislature's ratification is the next step that's needed before the compact goes to the US Department of Interior for final approval.
Brown signed the compact – the first of his administration – on March 17, state officials reported.
The 33,000 square foot sprung structure casino will be built outside of Upper Lake on an 11.24-acre parcel next to the county park on Highway 20, and will include 349 machines and a number of amenities, including restaurants, a cocktail lounge and retail shops, as Lake County News has reported.
Chesbro said the tribe's compact is “extremely important,” since it's estimated that the casino will create 145 new jobs for Lake County, which had a February unemployment rate of 19.2 percent, according to the state Employment Development Department.
He said the tribe “has done everything right” in its approach to the casino project.
In particular, he credited Habematolel for working with the Board of Supervisors to address concerns about the casino, entering into a fire and emergency services agreement with the Northshore Fire Protection District and working with Caltrans to complete safety improvements along Highway 20.
Chesbro also lauded the tribe's decision to set aside more than 55 acres of land to assist the county with Middle Creek Restoration Project protection.
Treppa, who leads the 216-member tribe, has credited Chesbro and his staff for their support of the casino effort.
Chesbro also had authored previous legislation to support a 2009 compact the tribe signed with then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Department of Interior denied approval of that compact last summer after it found the document violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
If all approvals move forward in a timely manner, Treppa has estimated that the tribe could break ground on the project in late spring.
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