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April 09, 2008
No Services
The City Council’s Internal Affairs Committee comprised of Vice-Mayor Ann Schwab, Councilor Tom Nickell, and Councilor Steve Bertagna made a wise decision to take a pass on the request by the Mechoopda tribe to consider providing public safety services to the proposed casino off of Highway 149.
Some Councilors, based on past public statements, seemed to be open to at least considering providing public safety services.
But in the end, it was clear to the Internal Affairs Committee that the City of Chico had no business providing services miles outside of the City limits in light of demands by city residents for existing services.
It's hard to imagine any City Councilor making a strong case different than the unanimous Internal Affairs Committee.
It helped that City Manager Dave Burkland strongly recommended that the City not pursue discussions with the Mechoopda tribe on this issue, especially in light of the County’s decision to litigate.
Councilor Nickell, a strong opponent of the proposed casino, openly questions why the Mechoopda tribe wants to allow a Las Vegas developer to build a casino on environmentally sensitive aquifer recharge land.
If the City of Chico refuses to provide public safety services to the casino, along with the County’s refusal, I have no idea about the options to provide services.
Either the City of Oroville needs to step up, or a federal ruling mandates that the County must provide services, or the tribe must pay for and train its own public safety personnel.
I’m not sure what other options can be pursued to provide public safety response to the proposed casino.
Today’s Scrabble word is azan, a Muslim call to prayer.
Posted by dan_nt at April 9, 2008 10:28 PM