County approves Indian pact

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

BROOKS, Calif. -- The Yolo County Board of Supervisors has approved an agreement with the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, ending two months of closed-door negotiations over the expansion of the Cache Creek Indian casino.

Yolo County supervisors called the pact "historic," saying it marks the first time a California Indian tribe has agreed to waive its sovereign immunity and settle any disputes regarding the agreement in local state court.

"It is truly historic," Supervisor Dave Rosenberg said. "It will be, I hope, a model for other counties and tribes in the state."

As part of the deal, the tribe will pay the county more than $100 million over the next 18 years for road improvements, shuttle services and other mitigation projects. Tribal leaders also agreed to scale back the casino expansion by about 20 percent and downsize a proposed hotel on tribal lands from 300 to 200 rooms.

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