City Council recap: Single casino plan detailed, traffic suggestions approved at Council meeting

BARSTOW — The Los Coyotes Band of Indians have decided to go it alone in pursuing a casino in Barstow.

Shane Chapparosa, a spokesman for the tribe, and Tom Shields, a spokesman for developer BarWest, outlined a new plan at Monday’s City Council meeting for one casino in Barstow linked to only one tribe, the Los Coyotes.

“We’re back on top of it,” Chapparosa said of the casino project. “We’re not going to stop this.”

The tribe resubmitted a land-into-trust application to the Department of the Interior and filed an intent to start a new environmental impact statement for the smaller, only 23 acres, casino project off of Lenwood Road. In June, the Department of the Interior announced that they had revived the Los Coyotes’ application.

The land-into-trust process makes the land sovereign and is necessary to allow Indian gaming. A pervious land-into-trust application was denied by the Department of the Interior in January.

Big Lagoon Rancheria, the other tribe involved in Barstow’s dual casino project, has focused their efforts on developing a casino on their reservation in Humbolt County, said Jason Barnett, a spokesman for the tribe.

Council approves traffic signals at problem intersections

The City Council approved recommendations for updated and new traffic signals at three intersections.

A traffic study conducted for the city suggested a traffic signal at Muriel Drive and Rimrock Road, a four-way stop at Muriel Drive and Virginia Way and improvements to crosswalks at Monterey Avenue and Rimrock Road.

Council member Joe Gomez ask the city to complete much of the improvements to the Monterey Avenue and Rimrock Road intersection before classes resume this fall at nearby Crestline School.

Emergency CNG tube trailer approved

Barstow will use a $400,000 grant from the Mojave Air District Air Quality Management District and $125,000 in additional funding to purchase a compressed natural gas tube trailer. The trailer will be used as a backup source of CNG at Barstow’s fueling station on West Main Street.

Desert Manna lease extended for $1

Desert Manna’s lease on their 209 North First Avenue building was extended for another year for only $1 Monday night. The homeless shelter’s lease comes up for review each year.

Harvey House Hullabaloo announced

The Barstow Chamber and the Reenactment Guild of America plan to host living history event next June.

Announced Monday night at the Council meeting, the Harvery House Hullabaloo will showcase the old West history of Barstow, said organizer Linda Ramirez. The event will be in the same spirit as Mojave Trail Days, which will not occur next year.

“This is a historic area,” Ramirez said. “I don’t think people realize that.”

The event will include vendors, reenactments, contests and a trail ride that follows the Old Spanish Trail. Anyone with ideas or wishing to help out can e-mail Ramirez at harveyhousehullabaloo@yahoo.com.

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