BL, Rancheria discuss expansion By Matt Kapko Eye Reporter The Arcata Eye September 16, 2003 With plans for expansion well underway at the Blue Lake Casino, the city’s dialogue with the Tribe has once again been thrust into high gear. Recent developments between the city and the Blue Lake Rancheria have caused concerns for City Councilmember Marlene Smith. These concerns and more were discussed at the City Council meeting on Sept. 9. As the city council liaison to the Tribe, Smith is asking that her position and objectives be clarified. She wants a quick turnaround in the dissemination of information she receives and a guideline to follow that will allow for timely actions by the council as a whole. Smith said she is “willing to spend as much time needed to make this happen.” Her comments left the impression that city-Tribe dialogue and subsequent council action hadn’t been as consistently addressed as she thinks they should be. The consensus among the council was to keep the city-Rancheria dialogue as a recurring agenda item. With two of the five councilmembers absent, Smith asked that discussion be delayed regarding the Rancheria’s plans to move Tribal-owned lands into its trust. Tribal Chair Arla Ramsey and Tribal Liaison Bruce Ryan, who attended to discuss the issue, agreed to postpone it until the council’s next meeting. Annexation The council also deferred discussion on the city’s progress in the annexation of adjacent lands. The Planning Commission has taken more than ten months to conduct pre-zoning of the areas being considered for annexation. It held a meeting last night to finalize its pre-zoning maps and zone’s that it is recommending be created. The Tribe is hoping to add its properties to the trust before annexation, because once its properties are within city limits rather than the county, the city will have more leeway in opposing the Rancheria’s plans. The Tribe is strictly opposing the city’s plans for annexation. Ramsey has said the city’s plan would effectively make the Tribe an “island” – leaving no land buffer between the Tribe and city. Julian reiterated the annexation process for review. In areas with fewer than 12 persons, the vote will be in the hands of the property owners and in areas with more than 12 persons, the vote will be up to the residents. The city will be holding public hearings for annexation. At that time, the final process will be determined. If at the public hearing more than 50 percent of the residents protest, annexation will not continue. If fewer than 25 percent of residents protest, the areas will be annexed without an election. And if between 25 and 50 percent of the residents protest, the decision on annexation will go to a vote. These issues will be further discussed at the City Council’s next meeting on Sept. 23. Home