Vallejo council approves amended MOU with Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians after hours of public comment and new safeguards

The Vallejo City Council on Wednesday voted to approve an amended memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians to provide temporary city services — police, fire and water — for modular tribal offices and a small temporary gaming operation on trust land near Columbus Parkway and I‑80.

Assistant City Manager Gillian Hain told the council the arrangement is limited to temporary services for a maximum of three years and does not approve any larger casino project. "This MOU is only a temporary service provision," Hain said during the presentation, adding staff would monitor service needs every 90 days and reserves the right to renegotiate or terminate the MOU if costs exceed projections.

Why it mattered: The proposed MOU prompted one of the largest public-comment turnouts in recent Vallejo meetings, with dozens of speakers representing tribal leaders, union members, neighborhood residents and other local stakeholders. Supporters emphasized jobs and economic opportunity; opponents — including other regional tribes and their outside counsel — urged caution given ongoing federal review and litigation over the land's gaming eligibility.

What staff told the council: Hain summarized a decade-long sequence of events that culminated in the current MOU proposal, including the Department of the Interior's January 10, 2025 decision putting the land into trust and later litigation and DOI reconsideration. Staff…