Senate committee says ‘yes' to city-tribe agreement

SACRAMENTO — In an unanimous vote Wednesday, the Senate Local Government Committee ratified the Joint Powers Agreement between the Tule River Tribal Council and the City of Porterville.

AB 1884, authored by Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia, empowers the two entities to work together as a separate government concerning a 120-acre land development project juxtaposed to the Porterville airport.

Ryan Garfield, Tribal Council vice chairman, and Rodney Martin, Tule River tribal administrator, represented the tribe in Sacramento. Porterville Community Development Director Brad Dunlap and Deputy City Manager John Lollis represented the city.

Martin said he was on “cloud nine” because of the results.

“I’m really happy about these blowout votes,” Martin said, “especially considering that they’re bipartisan. That means we have support from both sides, and that’s in our favor when [the bill] finally reaches the governor’s desk.”

Lollis said he and Martin are in agreement on the importance of the bipartisan support.

“I thought it was exciting to see that, especially in light of the other pieces of legislation,” Lollis said. “I think there were 20 or so different local government pieces of legislature, and the committee seemed to be split on every one of them. Plus, there was just a single question that came from chairwoman Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod. She wanted to know what Maze thought the governor’s response will be. Maze said, ‘We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.’ ”

The bill now heads to the full Senate floor as early as next week, and then to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his signature.

Martin made it clear that the “well-crafted” bill in no way relieves the tribe of its power as a sovereign nation or affects eminent domain.

“The tribe won’t give up its sovereignty nor will the city give up its jurisdiction,” Martin said. “It’s well-written, precise policy regarding the development of the zone around the airport.”

Included in the bill is a provision for establishing of a separate entity, Porterville Area Development Authority.

“The board will be made up of two people from the tribe, two from the city and one chosen by the four,” Martin said. “I feel great about the vote.

The bill is so specific [the Senate committee] was surprised by the details — how, what, where and when of it all.”

-- Contact Anita Stackhouse-Hite at 784-5000, Ext. 1043, or astackhouse-hite@portervillerecorder.com.