News Briefs

June 21, 2006

Casino vote to be discussed July 17

Petalumans should vote on whether a casino should be allowed south of town, the City Council said Monday, setting a July 17 meeting to craft a specific ballot measure on the issue.

Council members said the public should have a chance to weigh in on the controversial issue of Indian gaming because of the impacts a large casino could have on Petaluma.

However, the council held off on formally scheduling a public vote until a specific ballot question can be crafted.

The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, which operates River Rock Casino near Geyserville, has applied to the federal government to have 277 acres between Highway 101 and the Petaluma River taken into trust.

If approved, such an action would allow a casino, hotel or resort on the land, though the tribe says it only plans to use the site for farming.

If OK'd by the council, the advisory-only casino measure will appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Properties may be dropped from downtown tax plan

After some landlords near the downtown Theatre District questioned their inclusion in a proposed special tax district, the city has revised the boundaries and may do so again.

Three of the 32 properties slated to be included have been dropped from the plan. They include the Bank of Petaluma and Bank of the West sites on Petaluma Boulevard South and a parcel at Second and F streets.

The plan was revised after the City Council said staff should review the justifications for including each property in the assessment area.

Twenty of the remaining 29 parcels are owned by Basin Street Properties, which built the Theatre District.

The city redevelopment agency paid for new streets, sidewalks, utilities and other amenities in the area, and the proposed tax would recover that cost from properties that are now benefiting from the improvements.

At Monday's council meeting, however, the city delayed further action after other property owners said they opposed the formation of the district.

"This is not done," City Manager Mike Bierman said. After possible revisions, the plan will return for public comment on July 17.

Property owners would then vote on the tax, which would range from $4,037 to $23,686 per year depending on the parcel size.

City to increase water hook-up fee in General Plan

New development projects built under an updated Petaluma General Plan will pay higher fees for water connections, the City Council decided Monday.

Developer fees will increase to approximately $13,000 for a single-family house -- a jump of about $10,000.

The increase is needed to deal with a projected crimp in the county's water-supply system, which could cause water shortages in Petaluma in as soon as two years, officials said.

The fees are part of an expanded program that involves the use of recycled water for landscaping, reducing the size of residential lawns and increasing water conservation.

The new charges will not become effective until the General Plan update is adopted, expected this fall.