REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 20, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Resolution Supporting the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ Fee-to-Trust Application
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Adopt Resolution supporting the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ request to transfer the Chapman Property (Assessor’s Parcel Number 0493-241-19-0000) in San Bernardino County into a federal trust for non-gaming purposes.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter to support the San Manual Band of Mission Indians’ efforts to place the Chapman Property (Assessor’s Parcel Number 0493-241-19-0000) into a federal trust.
(Presenter: Leia Fletes, Director of Government Relations, 387-4280)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as this item is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (San Manuel) has acquired a variety of properties within its ancestral territory that hold significant cultural and historical importance. Among those properties is the Chapman Property, Assessor’s Parcel Number 0493-241-19-0000, (Property), which San Manuel has owned since 1986. The Property consists of 20 acres of heavily wooded, undeveloped land located outside of Barstow.
As authorized by federal law, San Manuel is seeking to place the Property into a federal trust for non-gaming purposes. If the Property is accepted into federal trust, San Manuel will be able to better protect significant cultural sites and resources, located on the Property, from damage and vandalism under federal laws, including the National Historic Protection Act and the Native America Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
The County Administrative Office is requesting approval of the Recommendations to help strengthen San Manuel's fee-to-trust application by showing local government endorsement and to continue fostering positive community relations between San Manuel and the County. San Manuel’s cultural and economic contributions are a key component to the success of the Southern California region. San Manuel’s economic contributions assist in providing jobs, supporting law enforcement and fire protection agencies, and help address socio-economic challenges by working with many non-profit organizations through philanthropic endeavors.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 1, 2024; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on August 1, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 6, 2024.