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Compton pauses membership in gaming JPA pending state court ruling, avoids $37,500 fee
Summary
Citing unclear party status in a state court action over blackjack-style games, the council voted to pause membership in the California Cities for Self-Reliance JPA and withhold a $37,500 administrative payment until the court rules.
The City Council voted June 23 to pause Compton’s participation in the California Cities for Self‑Reliance Joint Powers Authority and to withhold the next annual administrative payment of $37,500 while staff awaits the outcome of a state court proceeding over blackjack-style gaming rules.
Assistant City Manager Tamara Benz told the council that the JPA had filed a letter to the court but had not formally secured party status and that recent filings (including opposition motions filed June 22) confirmed the city was not a formal party through the JPA’s letter. Benz said pausing membership would avoid an immediate $37,500 payment due July 1 while the city evaluates whether to join an alternate JPA that is party to the lawsuit.
“Come July 1st, our annual administrative costs are $37,500,” Benz said. “In the event that the state rules in favor of the tribes, we would want to remove ourselves temporarily from our current group to determine what the state ruling is.”
Council members asked whether the court outcome could still affect all cities regardless of membership. Staff said a state ruling could have industry‑wide effects on card-room operations and revenue sharing but that withholding payment preserves the city’s options until the legal posture and potential liabilities are clear. The motion to pause membership passed with unanimous council approval.
