Supes approve plan with Pala for Hwy 76 work

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Pala Band of Mission Indians which will provide at least $38 million of improvements for State Route 76.

The 5-0 Board of Supervisors vote August 1 approves an agreement in which the tribe will pay $20 million to widen Highway 76 between the Rosemary’s Mountain quarry and the Pala Casino, $13 million for the widening and realignment of Highway 76 between Interstate 15 and Rosemary’s Mountain, and $5 million for improvements to the state highway along the casino frontage. The Pala Band of Mission Indians will also provide fair share contributions to the improvements of the interchange at Interstate 15 and Highway 76.

“It’s a very positive development, and Pala should be congratulated for having negotiated such an agreement with the county,” said Chantal Saipe, the county’s tribal liaison.

The Pala Band of Mission Indians and the State of California entered into a tribal-state gaming compact in September 1999 which allowed the tribe to operate Class III gaming machines on reservation or off-reservation trust lands. A 2004 amendment to the compact requires that prior to any additional casino expansion the tribe must negotiate with the County of San Diego and enter into an agreement to provide mitigation for off-reservation impacts along with provisions to compensate the county for public safety and gambling addition costs.

The Pala tribe desires to expand its casino facilities from 230,795 square feet to 328,853 square feet. The expansion would increase the total number of slot machines in the casino to 2,400. The tribe and the county negotiated an agreement to mitigate the significant off-reservation impacts which might result from the expansion, and the tribe also agreed to mitigate the additional demands on public safety and gambling addition treatment which might be caused by the additional gambling.

“I think what it’s going to do is set a precedent for future agreements,” said Supervisor Bill Horn. “The agreement we’ve made with Pala is a good example of how governments can work together.”

The $20 million for Highway 76 operational improvements between Rosemary’s Mountain and the casino will be paid to the California Department of Transportation for improvements to Highway 76 which will enhance safety and relieve congestion. The improvements may include passing lanes, turnouts, shoulder widening, curve realignment, and intersection improvements. If the improvements cost less than $20 million, the tribe will not be responsible for costs beyond that incurred by CalTrans.

The $13 million for widening State Route 76 between Interstate 15 and Rosemary’s Mountain will be paid to Granite Construction Company, which is financing the widening of the highway as part of the Rosemary’s Mountain quarry project. The work will include both widening and realignment of the highway.

The $5 million for improvements along the casino frontage will cover approximately one mile of the road approaching the project as well as along the frontage. That area will cover from just east of Gomez Bridge to just west of Pala Bridge and may include an additional through lane in each direction, turn lanes, and a second signalized intersection for casino ingress and egress.

The fair share contribution for the I-15/Highway 76 interchange will be part of an agreement with CalTrans and the county.

“Tribal casinos have permanently changed our backcountry,” Horn said. “Highway 76 is one of the most dangerous roads in the state.”

The agreement also calls for the tribe to provide an adequate level of on-site security during all hours of operation. The tribe will also contribute $200,000 annually for Sheriff’s Department services, $6,000 per year to the San Diego District Attorney Tribal Liaison project which works with the tribes to prosecute crime related to casino gaming, and $15,000 annually for the costs of processing the additional criminal prosecution caseload.

The tribe will also provide fire protection and emergency medical services through the Pala Fire Department and coordinate emergency response planning with the county. The tribal government will cooperate in the development of a North County regional emergency response light air unit and will enter into a contract with the county’s Office of Emergency Services for Hazardous Incident Response Team services.

The tribe will also pay the county $150,000 per year for gambling addiction treatment programs and enhance its existing responsible gaming programs to reflect the casino expansion.

Supervisor Dianne Jacob noted that the agreement between Pala and the county is unprecedented by any tribe in San Diego County and hopes that other tribal governments with casinos will take note. “This is a good, solid agreement,” she said.