Soboba Springs resident Patty Mayne said the council should seek more input from the public before finalizing a city position. Members of the Save Our Communities group earlier this year gave the council binders detailing their concerns. 'I want the tribe to prosper, I want the residents to prosper,' said Miller, but the city also needs to look at 'how it is going to impact residents' lives' and how impacts can be mitigated.
One more public hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Beginning this month, the application package will be reviewed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the tribal representatives told the councilmen. Since August 2009, tribal consultants have been working to finalize an environmental impact. (Big box Wal-Mart stores are in the 200,000 square-foot range!) The proposed 729,500-square-foot complex would include a 300-room hotel. San Jacinto residents are concerned about a HUGE expansion project proposed for their neighborhood by the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians.
