THANK YOU, EVERYBODY HERE AND
THE MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE AT THIS
HEARING. I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND
SAY THAT THE ASSEMBLY
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
COMMITTEE IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER
JUST A QUICK HOUSEKEEPING
THINGS. I INTRODUCED MYSELF FOR
THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO THE
COMMITTEE. UH MIGUEL SANTIAGO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S I CHAIRED THIS
COMMITTEE, AND I LIKE TO ONCE
AGAIN TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
THANK EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE TODAY
. THE CALLING NUMBER FOR THE
PUBLIC COMMENT IS 87769. THAT
NUMBER AGAIN IS 877692895 IN THE
ACCESS CODE IS 25 01100 25 01100
. THIS NUMBER CAN BE FOUND THE
COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE AND IS ALSO
DISPLAYED ON YOUR SCREENS. FOR
THOSE CALLING IN PLEASE MUTE
YOURSELF WHILE IN THE QUEUE TO
ELIMINATE ANY BACKGROUND NOISE,
YOU WOULD BE PLACED IN THE QUEUE
UNTIL YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. WHEN IS
YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT? PRESS ONE, THEN
ZERO. THEN I MUTE YOURSELF. I
REPEAT IT ONE MORE TIME WHEN
IT'S YOUR WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. PRESS
ONE, THEN ZERO AND A MUTE
YOURSELF IN ORDER TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BE BRIEF AND LIMITING
YOUR COMMENTS TO ONLY YOUR NAME
ORGANIZATION AND YOUR POSITION
ONLY, AND I WILL HAVE TO REMIND
EVERYBODY OF THAT. THE TRIBAL
COMPACTS BEFORE US TODAY WERE
EXECUTED RECENTLY BY THE BETWEEN
GOVERNOR NEWSOM ON BEHALF OF THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. UH AND THE
TRIBE OF LINCOLN VIA RENTERIA.
AND THE MANCHESTER BAND OF POMO
INDIANS AND THE MANCHESTER
RENTERIA, CALIFORNIA AND THE
SHARED BORDER VALLEY RANCH AREA
UPON WHAT INDIANS OF CALIFORNIA
TODAY WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS OF THE
COMPACTS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
AND THE CHAIR OF EACH TRIBE.
THEY NEGOTIATED COMPACTS ARE THE
CULMINATION OF LENGTHY
NEGOTIATION PROCESS, COMPROMISES
AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF
REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE INDIAN
GAMING REGULATORY ACT. EACH
COMPACT AUTHORIZES THE TRIBE TO
OPERATE A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
GAMING DEVICES AND IT DESIGNATED
NUMBER OF GAMING FACILITIES
LOCATED IN ELIGIBLE INDIAN LANDS
, HELD IN TRUST FOR THE TRIBE
AND LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARY
OF THE TRIBE'S RESERVATION.
UNDER EACH COMPACT. THE TRIBE
HAS AGREED TO PAY THE STATE.
IT'S PRO GRACIA SHARE OF REVENUE
. THE STATE SORRY THE STATING
CURSE FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS
DUTIES UNDER THE COMPACT. I AM
PLEASED THAT THESE CONTRACTS
MIRROR MANY OF THE RECENT
COMPACTS AND THAT HAVE BECOME
BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE IN THE
AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS, MEANINGFUL CONSUMER
AND EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS AND
LABOR PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW
WORKERS TO ORGANIZE UNDER
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. ONCE
AFFECTED, THESE COMPACTS WILL BE
IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECTIVE FOR
25 YEARS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE
DATE. I JUST WANT TO REMIND ALL
INTERESTED PARTIES AT NORFOLK
WILL VOTE WILL BE TAKEN A DAY.
UM IT IS ONLY A HEARING ON THIS
COMMITTEE, SO THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS MAY BE BRIEFED ON THE
CONTENTS OF EACH COMPACT AS THEY
AS THEY CANNOT BE AMENDED IN ANY
WAY, SHAPE OR FORM BY THE
LEGISLATURE. SP 77 BY SENATOR
DOT IS THE RATIFICATION BILL FOR
THREE OF THESE COMPACTS AT SOME
POINT SP. I SAID A B. I WANT TO
READ. S¼ SB SP 771 WILL BE TAKEN
UP FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE
ENTIRE ASSEMBLY BODY ON THE
ASSEMBLY FLOOR. I WANT TO THANK
OUR WITNESSES IN ADVANCE FOR
TAKING THE TIME OUT OF THE
BUSINESS SCHEDULES TO BE WITH US
HERE TODAY. WITH NO FURTHER ADO.
LET'S BEGIN TO HEARING THE FIRST
COMPACT. UM IT WOULD BE UP WOULD
BE THE CATTO TRIBE OF LATE,
LATENT VILLE RANCHERIA. AND WE
HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. UH
WHO WILL BE PRESENTING? PLEASE
BEGIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MR CHAIRMAN,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
NATHAN VOCALLY. I'M THE SENIOR
ADVISER FOR TRIBAL NEGOTIATIONS
FOR THE GOVERNOR. THANKS FOR THE
CHANCE TO GO OVER THIS NEW
COMPACT BETWEEN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AND THE CATO TRIBE OF
THE LAKEVILLE RANCHERIA. I'D
LIKE TO BEGIN BY EXTENDING
SPECIAL THANKS TO TRIBAL CHAIR
NORRIS AND THE TRIBAL TEAM
ENGAGED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE
FEDERAL INDIAN GAMING REGULATORY
ACTOR IGRA AUTHORIZES A TRIBE TO
OFFER CLASS OFFER CLASS THREE
GAMING SUBJECT TO A COMPACT
NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE TRIBE AND
THE STATE. COMPACTS GENERALLY
ARE LIMITED TO SUBJECTS DIRECTLY
RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF
GAMING ACTIVITIES. IN CALIFORNIA
VOTERS IN 2000 APPROVED
PROPOSITION ONE, A AMENDING THE
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION TO
PERMIT TRIBE STOP BREAK CLASS
THREE SLOT MACHINES, BANKING AND
PERCENTAGE CARD GAMES AND
LOTTERY GAMES ON TRIBAL LANDS.
PROP ONE A AUTHORIZED THE
GOVERNOR TO NEGOTIATE A TRIBAL
STATE COMPACTS, BUT THEY MUST BE
RATIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
ONCE A COMPACT HAS BEEN RATIFIED
IT SUBMITTED TO THE U. S.
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FOR A 45
DAY REVIEW. THE SECRETARY CAN
APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE IT PROVE A
COMPACT. JUST THE SECRETARY DOES
NOT ACT WITHIN THE 45 DAY PERIOD
THAN THE COMPACT IS DEEMED
APPROVED. TRIBAL GAMING IN
CALIFORNIA IS AN IMPORTANT
SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS THAT PROVIDES JOBS
AND FUNDS, GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES
LIKE EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE.
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SEEKS TO
BALANCE THE INTERESTS OF TRIBES
THE STATE AND IMPACTED
STAKEHOLDERS IN ORDER TO FIND
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TERMS. THIS
IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR
LIMITED GAMING TRIBES, WHICH
FACED PARTICULAR ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES OPERATING SMALL
GAMING FACILITIES. LICCARDO
TRIBE IS LOCATED IN RURAL
MENDOCINO COUNTY, NEAR LEIGHTON
VILLE, AND THE RANCHERIA HAS
ABOUT 200 RESIDENTS. THE TRIBE
WAS OPERATING THE RED FOX CASINO
IN LAYTON VILLE, BUT RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED ITS CLOSURE AFTER MORE
THAN 20 YEARS OF OPERATION. LIKE
MANY SMALLER TRIBES, THE CATO
TRIBE IS LIMITED STAFF AND
RESOURCES TO MEET ITS PRESSING
NEEDS. SO COMPACT NEGOTIATIONS,
AND THIS AGREEMENT REPRESENTS A
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE
TRIBE'S FUTURE. THIS IS THE
SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS AT THE
STATE AND TRIBE REACHED
AGREEMENT ON A NEW COMPACT. THE
GOVERNOR IN TRIBES SIGNED A
COMPACT IN AUGUST 2021 THAT WAS
INTENDED TO REPLACE THE 1999
COMPACT THAT THE TRIBE CURRENTLY
OPERATES UNDER SHORTLY AFTER
THAT COMPACT WAS SIGNED, THE
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
DISAPPROVES SEVERAL COMPACTS AND
THE 2021 COMPACT DID NOT MOVE
FORWARD FOR RATIFICATION.
THERE'S NEW COMPACT IS MODELED
IN PART ON THE CALIFORNIA
COMPACTS THAT INTERIOR APPROVED
LAST YEAR AND EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THE COMPACT TERM IS FOR 25 YEARS
AND INCLUDES FORCE MAJEURE
LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS REDUCED
OPERATIONS OR CLOSURES. FROM
EVENTS OUTSIDE OF THE TRIBES
CONTROL. IF TRIBES GAINED THE
RIGHT TO OPERATE NEW FORMS OF
CLASS THREE GAMING OR LOSE THE
RIGHT TO OPERATE GAMING DEVICES
. THE TRIBE MAY REQUEST AN
AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES. THE COMPACT RECOGNIZES
THE TRIBAL GAMING AGENCY AS THE
PRIMARY REGULATOR FOR THE TRIBES
GAMING OPERATION. THE TRIBE
AGREED TO STANDARD CONTROLS FOR
FAIR PLAY HONESTY AND THE
INTEGRITY OF GAMING OPERATIONS.
THESE INCLUDE FACILITY AND
EMPLOYEE LICENSING, GAMING
DEVICE TESTING AND INSPECTIONS
AND TRIBAL GAMING REGULATIONS
WITH INTERNAL CONTROL STANDARDS.
MINORS UNDER 18 ARE PROHIBITED
FROM GAMING AND THOSE UNDER 21
WILL BE LIMITED FROM BEING
PRESENT IN AREAS WHERE ALCOHOL
IS SERVED, EXCEPT AS ALLOWED
UNDER A CALIFORNIA ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGE CONTROL LICENSE. THE
TRIBE AGREED TO PROVIDE A NON
SMOKING AREA INVESTIGATION
AVAILABLE VENTILATION THAT IS
REASONABLY FEASIBLE FOR NEW OR
SIGNIFICANTLY RENOVATED AREAS OF
A CASINO. BEFORE IT CLOSED THE
RED FOX CASINO THAT COTTO TRIBE
WAS OPERATING LESS THAN 100 SLOT
MACHINES. THIS NEW COMPACT WOULD
ALLOW THE TRIBE TO OPERATE THREE
FACILITIES AND UP TO 1200 GAMING
DEVICES SHOULD THE OPPORTUNITY
ARISE. LICCARDO TRIBE AS A NON
GAMING TRIBE IS ELIGIBLE FOR AN
ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF $1.1
MILLION FROM THE REVENUE SHARING
TRUST FUND. IT'S ALSO ELIGIBLE
FOR GRANTS FROM THE TRIBAL
NATION GRANT FUND. IF THE TRIBE
REOPENS ITS CASINO REMAIN
ELIGIBLE FOR THE R S, T F
DISTRIBUTION AND TRIBAL NATION
GRANT FUND GRANTS AS LONG AS IT
OPERATES LESS THAN 350 SLOT
MACHINES. THE TRIBE OPERATES.
OVER THAT 350 UP TO THE MAXIMUM
OF 1200 SLOT MACHINES WILL NO
LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE $1.1
MILLION DISTRIBUTION, BUT IT
ALSO WOULD PAY NOTHING INTO THE
REVENUE SHARING TRUST FUND. THE
TRIBE COMMITTED TO PAYING INTO
THE SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION FUND,
ITS PRO RATA SHARE OF THE
STATE'S REGULATORY COSTS. AS A
LIMITED GAMING TRIBE. HOWEVER
TAKATO TRIBES PAYMENT OBLIGATION
MAY BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED
ENTIRELY UNDER STATE LAW WHEN
THERE ARE SUFFICIENT FUNDS IN
THE SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION FUND.
THE TRIBE AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
NEGOTIATED A LOCAL MITIGATION
COMPONENT TO THIS COMPACT. THAT
REFLECTS THE ECONOMIC REALITY OF
A SMALL TRIBAL GAMING OPERATION
IN AN AREA WITH A LIMITED
POPULATION. THE TRIBE WAS SET
ASIDE ONE HALF OF 1% OF ITS NET
NGUYEN INTO AN IMPACT MITIGATION
FUND WHEN IT OPERATES 350, OR
MORE SLOT MACHINES. THE TRIBE
WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DISTRIBUTING THAT FUNDING THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY
SERVICES AND SERVICE AGENCIES TO
MITIGATE IMPACTS FROM THE GAMING
FACILITY. THE TRIBE IS NOT
REQUIRED TO SET ASIDE FUNDS WHEN
IT'S A LIMITED GAMING TRIBE OR
TO CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW OR INTER INTO AN
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR
NEW PROJECTS. THE COMPACT
ADDRESSES, HEALTH SAFETY AND
LABOR PROTECTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES
AND VISITORS, THE TRIBE
COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING WATER
AND FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS. AND
ENSURING THAT CASINO EMPLOYEES
RECEIVE AT LEAST EQUIVALENT TO
THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE. THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE TRIBE
NEGOTIATED LOWER INSURANCE
AMOUNTS FOR TORTS AND EMPLOYMENT
DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS BECAUSE OF
THE LIMITED SIZE OF THE TRIBES
GAMING OPERATION. OF THE 2021
COMPACT REQUIRED A $7.7 MILLION
GENERAL LIABILITY POLICY. THIS
NEW COMPACT REQUIRES THE TRIBE
TO CARRY A POLICY OF $2 MILLION
PER OCCURRENCE AND 5 MILLION IN
THE AGGREGATE. THE EMPLOYMENT
PRACTICES. POLICY MUST PROVIDE
AT LEAST $2 MILLION IN COVERAGE
. CLAIMS OF DISCRIMINATION,
HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION.
COMPACT ALSO PROVIDES A TRIBE
GREATER DISCRETION IN
ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR ANY
CLAIMS. BUT INSURERS PROTECTIONS
FOR ALL COVERED CLASSES IN
CALIFORNIA. THERE'S NEW COMPACT
MAINTAINS THE SAME TRIBAL LABOR
RELATIONS ORDINANCE THAT WAS
INCLUDED IN THE 2021 UNRATIFIED
COMPACT. IT TAKES EFFECT WHEN
THE TRIBE EMPLOYEES 250 OR MORE
NON TRIBAL MEMBER EMPLOYEES AT
ITS GAMING RELATED FACILITIES.
THE TRIBAL LABOR RELATIONS
ORDINANCE INCLUDES RECIPROCAL
COMMITMENTS BY THE TRIBE AND
LABOR ORGANIZATION IF THE LABOR
ORGANIZATION AGREES TO THE TERMS
OF THE ORDINANCE. THE SPEEDS
OVER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OR
OTHER ISSUES CAN BE SUBMITTED TO
BINDING ARBITRATION. FINALLY IF
THE TRIBE IN THE STATE HAVE ANY
DISPUTES DURING IMPLEMENTATION,
THE COMPACT PROVIDES FOR A
FORMAL MEET AND CONFER PROCESS
TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES
SHOULD GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATIONS
FAIL TO RESOLVE TO RESOLVE THOSE
DISAGREEMENTS. EITHER PARTY MAY
SEEK RESOLUTION THROUGH
LITIGATION. THE TRIBE AND THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WORK TOGETHER
TO NEGOTIATE THIS COMPACT, WHICH
PROTECTS THE INTERESTS OF THE
TRIBE AND THE STATE. RECOGNIZES
THE CHALLENGES FACING LIMITED
GAMING TRIBES AND IS INTENDED TO
HELP FACILITATE THE TRIBES
ONGOING DEVELOPMENT. I'LL BE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
KIDDING ME. COMMITTEE MAY HAVE
ABOUT THE COMPACT. THANK YOU. IF
THERE'S ANY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
WITH ANY QUESTIONS, WE WOULD
TAKE THEM NOW. HAVING SEEN NONE
. LET ME JUST GO TO PUBLIC
COMMENTS OF ANYBODY IN THE ROOM
WHO IS IN SUPPORT? YOU MAY WALK
UP NOW NAME ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION ONLY. ANYBODY IN
OPPOSITION. MODERATOR WILL GO TO
THE PHONE, SAME THING. NAME
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION ONLY.
YOU FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU
MAY PRESS ONE AND THEN ZERO. MR
CHAIR. WE HAVE NO ONE IN QUÊ.
THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GO ON
TO THE NEXT, UM TO THE NEXT
COMPACT. AND UM, I BELIEVE WE
HAVE A CHAIR HERE, TOO. AH!
CHAIRPERSON TISSUE JONES. AND
WE'LL BE DOING IT VIA, UM VIA
VIA REMOTE, SO I APOLOGIZE ABOUT
THAT. AND, UH, WE BEGIN. THANK
YOU AGAIN. I'D LIKE TO FIRST
THANK TRIBAL CHAIR TISHA JONES
AND HER TEAM FOR THEIR
ENGAGEMENT. NEGOTIATING THIS
COMPACT WITH THE MANCHESTER BAND
OF POMO INDIANS. THE COMPACT IS
SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE
COMPACT WITH THE COTTO TRIBE
THAT I REVIEWED EARLIER. SO
RATHER THAN GOING INTO SIMILAR
DETAIL, ALL HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF
THE KEY TERMS. THE MANCHESTER
BAND IS LOCATED NEAR POINT ARENA
AND MENDOCINO COUNTY. IT
OPERATES APPROXIMATELY 150 SLOT
MACHINES AT THE GARCIA RIVER
CASINO UNDER ITS 1999 COMPACT.
UNDER THIS NEW COMPACT, THE
TRIBE WILL BE OUT WILL REMAIN
ELIGIBLE AS A LIMITED GAMING
TRIBE OPERATING UNDER 350 SLOT
MACHINES. TO RECEIVE $1.1
MILLION ANNUALLY FROM THE
REVENUE SHARING TRUST FUND AND
TO SEEK GRANTS FROM THE TRIBAL
NATION GRANT FUND. THE COMPACT
ENTITLES THE TRIBE TO OPERATE UP
TO 1200 GAMING DEVICES AT THREE
FACILITIES. IT AGREED TO
REIMBURSE THE STATE FOR ITS PRO
RATA SHARE OF THE STATE'S
REGULATORY COSTS, BUT THIS
AMOUNT MAY BE REDUCED OR
ELIMINATED WHEN THERE ARE
SUFFICIENT FUNDS IN THE SDF.
SIMILAR TO THE COTTAGE TRIBES
COMPACT THE MANCHESTER BAND WHEN
OPERATING LESS THAN 350 GAMING
DEVICES, IS NOT OBLIGATED TO
CONTRIBUTE FUNDS TO MITIGATE
IMPACTS ON LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.
THIS REFLECTS THE FACT THAT THE
TRIBES GAMING OPERATION IS SMALL
AND THE TRIBE HAS SIGNIFICANT
FUNDING CHALLENGES TO MEET THE
BASIC NEEDS OF ITS TRIBAL
MEMBERS. PARTICULARLY THOSE
LIVING ON THE TRIBES. RENTERIA
IF THE GAMING OPERATION GROWS TO
OVER 350 GAMING DEVICES, THE
MANCHESTER BAND WILL SET ASIDE
AND DISTRIBUTE ONE HALF OF 1% OF
ITS NET NGUYEN TO LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS AND CHARITABLE
ORGANIZATIONS. TO MITIGATE
IMPACTS FROM ITS GAMING
FACILITY. PATRONS AND VISITORS
TO THE GAMING FACILITY WILL BE
PROTECTED BY HEALTH AND SAFETY
STANDARDS AND THE TRIBAL CARRIER
$5 MILLION POLICY FOR GENERAL
LIABILITY. MINORS UNDER 18 WILL
BE PROHIBITED FROM GAMING AND
ALCOHOLS SALES AND SERVICE WILL
BE SUBJECT TO CALIFORNIA LAW.
GAMING EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO
LICENSING AND BACKGROUND CHECKS
TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF
GAMING. THE TRIBE AGREED TO
ESTABLISH PROCEDURES PROTECTING
EMPLOYEES FROM DISCRIMINATION,
HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION. WILL
CARRY AN EMPLOYMENT LIABILITY
POLICY OF AT LEAST $2 MILLION TO
TRY TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL
CLAIMS. THE TRIBE WILL CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEES A WAGE
EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THAT
REQUIRED UNDER CALIFORNIA
MINIMUM WAGE LAWS. IT ALSO
AGREED TO ADOPT A TRIBAL LABOR
RELATIONS ORDINANCE THAT WOULD
APPLY IF IT HAS OVER 250
EMPLOYEES AT THE CASINO. NOT
COUNTING TRIBAL MEMBERS. THE
ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR BINDING
ARBITRATION, INCLUDING FOR
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING DISPUTES.
THIS COMPACT WITH THE MANCHESTER
BAND IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER THE
TRIBES CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT
OVER ITS 25 YEAR TERM. I'M
GRATEFUL TO THE TRIBE FOR ITS
TIME NEGOTIATING THIS AGREEMENT.
AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN
TISHA JONES. MODERATOR. MAYBE WE
CAN, UM CONNECT. UM CONNECT. TO
OR MAYBE IT'S INTERNALLY HERE.
THE SERGEANT CAN CONNECT US
VIDEO CONFERENCE. OH, I'VE BEEN
ADVISED THAT, UM THAT THERE WILL
NOT BE A PRESENTATION. SO AND IF
I AM, UM AND IT JUST HAPPENED
THE SECOND AGO. SO IF I AM
INACCURATE, THEN THEN I'LL BE
CORRECTED IN REAL TIME, OKAY? SO
IN THE MEANTIME, THEN I'LL JUST
FALL FORWARD OVER TO PUBLIC
COMMENTS THAT THERE'S ANY
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT IN THE ROOM
OR AN OPPOSITION. YOU MAY COME
TO THE TO THE MICROPHONE NAME
ORGANIZATION POSITION ONLY. UH,
MODERATOR. ANYONE ON THE PHONE?
FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU MAY
PRESS ONE THAN ZERO. AND WE HAVE
NO ONE IN Q AT THIS TIME. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO
PROCEED THEN, UH TO THE LAST AND
THIRD AND LAST COMPACT. YOU MAY
BEGIN. THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO
GO OVER THIS COMPACT WITH THE
SHERWOOD VALLEY RANCH AREA,
WHICH IS ALSO LOCATED IN
MENDOCINO COUNTY, NEAR WILLITS.
I WANT TO THANK TRIBAL CHAIR
HAZEL RAMIREZ. PRIOR CHAIR
MELANIE RUFFINEN AND THE TRIBES
NEGOTIATING TEAM FOR WORKING
WITH THE STATE ON A GOVERNMENT
TO GOVERNMENT BASIS TO DEVELOP
THIS AGREEMENT. THE TRIBE AND
STATE PREVIOUSLY REACHED
AGREEMENT ON A NEW COMPACT IN
2021, BUT IT STALLED AFTER THE
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR'S
COMPACT AS APPROVALS THAT YEAR.
THIS NEW COMPACT BUILDS ON THE
2021 COMPACT TERMS, BUT PROVIDES
IMPROVED ECONOMIC TERMS AND
ELIMINATES THE REQUIREMENT FOR
AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OR
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT. AS
FURTHER PRIOR TO COMPACTS I
DISCUSSED THE SHERWOOD VALLEY
RANCH AREA WILL BE ABLE TO
OPERATE UP TO 1200 GAMING
DEVICES AT THREE FACILITIES.
CURRENTLY THE TRIBE OFFERS LESS
THAN 200 SLOT MACHINES AT THE
SHERWOOD VALLEY CASINO. IT WILL
BE ELIGIBLE FOR $1.1 MILLION
ANNUALLY FROM THE REVENUE
SHARING TRUST FUND AND TRIBAL
NATION GRANT FUND GRANTS AS LONG
AS IT OPERATES UNDER 350
DEVICES. IT HAS NO OBLIGATION TO
PAY INTO THE REVENUE SHARING
TRUST FUND BUT WILL CONTRIBUTE
ITS PROGRAM TO SHARE INTO THE
SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION FUND.
UNLESS THAT OBLIGATION IS
REDUCED OR ELIMINATED PURSUANT
TO CALIFORNIA LAW. THE TRIBE
OPERATES 350, OR MORE GAMING
DEVICES WILL SET ASIDE ONE HALF
OF 1% OF ITS NET NGUYEN TO
MITIGATE GAMING FACILITY IMPACTS
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. THE
TRIBAL MAINTAIN A GENERAL
LIABILITY POLICY OF AT LEAST $5
MILLION AND ESTABLISHED TORQUE
CLAIM PROCEDURES TO PROTECT
PATRONS AND VISITORS. IT WILL
PROVIDE A NON SMOKING AREA AND
ENSURE ANY SIGNIFICANT
RENOVATIONS INCLUDE BEST
AVAILABLE VENTILATION THAT IS
REASONABLY FEASIBLE. EMPLOYEES
WILL RECEIVE AT LEAST EQUIVALENT
TO THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE RATE
, AND THOSE CLASSES PROTECTED
UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW WILL BE
ABLE TO BRING CLAIMS UNDER THE
TRIBES PROCEDURES FOR
ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION,
HARASSMENT RETALIATION. THE
TRIBE AGREED TO ADOPT AND
MAINTAIN AND TRIBAL LABOR
RELATIONS ORDINANCE THAT GOVERNS
LABOR ORGANIZATION. IF THE TRIBE
EMPLOYEES MORE THAN 250 NON
TRIBAL MEMBERS AT ITS GAMING
RELATED FACILITIES. THE TRIBE AS
THE PRIMARY GAMING REGULATOR
WILL ENSURE COMPACT STANDARDS
REGARDING EMPLOYEE LICENSING,
GAMING, INTEGRITY AND FAIR
PLAYER MET THROUGH ITS
REGULATIONS, INTERNAL CONTROL
STANDARDS AND INSPECTIONS. IF
OPERATIONS ARE IMPACTED BY
ANOTHER PANDEMIC WILDFIRES OR
OTHER EVENTS OUTSIDE OF THE
TRIBES CONTROL OVER THE 25 YEAR.
LIFE OF THE COMPACT. THE STATE
AGREED TO ADDRESS ANY REDUCED
OPERATIONS THROUGH MEET AND
CONFER PROCESS. LIKE THE OTHER
TRIBES I REVIEWED TODAY.
SHERWOOD VALLEY RANCHER. YEAH
AND IT'S TRIBAL MEMBERS HAVE
NUMEROUS UNMET NEEDS IN THIS
COMPACT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT
DEDICATION OF TRIBAL RESOURCES.
IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE
TRIBES CONTINUED ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
FOR ITS MEMBERS, BUT ALSO THE
RESPECTIVE OF STATE INTERESTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? IGNORE SEEING
NONE. UM ASK ANYBODY IN THE
PUBLIC WHETHER THEY HAVE, UM,
ANY COMMENTS AGAIN, LIMITING IT
TO NAME ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION ONLY IF YOU'RE IN
SUPPORT OR NOT POSITION. YOU MAY
NOT END UP NOW AND SPEAK INTO
THE MICROPHONE. NOT SEEING
ANYBODY MODERATOR IF THERE ARE
ANY UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS NAME
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION ONLY.
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU MAY
PRESS ONE THAN ZERO. AND WE HAVE
NO ONE IN Q AT THIS TIME. UNLESS
THERE'S ANY ENDING, UM, COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I BELIEVE THE HEARING
HAS ENDED. NO, I DON'T SEE ANY
SO I'D LIKE TO CONCLUDE. I'D
LIKE TO CONCLUDE THE GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND
DOING THESE PRESENTATIONS. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.