Solvang Ponders Expansion of Casino Resolution

The Solvang City Council will discuss at an upcoming meeting whether to adopt a resolution taking a position against expansion of the Chumash Casino Resort.

The item was initiated by member Jim Richardson who cited POLO's recent press release stating that "Santa Ynez Valley voters in five precincts — Ballard, Buellton, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang, “overwhelmingly voted no” on Feb. 5 on four propositions to expand gaming at four tribal casinos in Southern California."

Mr. Richardson said he was “skeptical” of the POLO figures (who would't be,) but through his own research discovered that 61 percent of Solvang voters rejected the propositions. He said the vote means constituents “don’t want to see expansion of gambling in the Valley.”

I sent an email to Mayor Jackson this morning to perhaps add another point of view.
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Ms Jackson,

Please share this with your fellow council members. Thank you.

In regards to your discussions concerning whether or not to adopt a resolution taking a position against expansion of the Chumash Casino Resort I thought I would offer a little input.

POLO was quoted as saying that voters in five precincts — Ballard, Buellton, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang, “overwhelmingly voted no” on Feb. 5 on four propositions.

The estimated population of the valley is about 22,000. Only about half of those are registered voters, and only about half of those actually voted on Feb 5. Of those who did vote, about 2300 voted “YES” and about 3900 voted ‘NO” on the 4 gaming props. The “NO’ votes represent only about 17% of the total population of our valley. The opinion of 17% of the population is hardly an “overwhelming” mandate in my view when considering the entire population.

More specifically in Solvang’s case, the estimated population of Solvang in 2006 was about 5100. The “No” votes on Feb 5th in regards to the Gaming Props total about 1150 or about 20%. of the entire population. Mr Richardson said the vote means constituents “don’t want to see expansion of gambling in the Valley.” A more accurate statement would be that about 1/5 of the people who live in Solvang voted No on the gaming props on Feb 5th.

It was also reported that the four Southern California tribes are no longer required to contribute to the state’s Special Distribution Fund under their new compacts.

This is correct. However the new compacts require a heightened level of cooperation and agreement between tribes and neighboring cities and counties. Specifically, the tribes must negotiate and enter into enforceable written mitigation agreements with the county and any impacted city to fully mitigate the impacts of gaming-related projects on the off-reservation environment and government services. These agreements are to include direct payments to compensate for local government services such as public safety, infrastructure and programs designed to address gambling addiction.

This may be a fair offset to the reduction of SDF dollars and in fact may give the city and county a stronger hand in deciding how much and where gaming generated dollars are allocated to if and when the time ever arises. As you know the Chumash are not currently negotiating for more slots, so unless they ever do this is all moot. Unless however, and this you may want to clarify if a resolution is adopted, the City of Solvang is against any expansion which may include parking structures, larger hotel, etc etc.

Any resolution adopted by the City of Solvang and sent to the Governor and the County is also a strong “message” to the Band of Chumash Indians so it is best to be clear on what exactly the city is against.


Rick Lee
Buellton