River Rock waits for liquor license decision

Neighbors, county oppose lifting restrictions
The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians continue to wait on word about a petition to change the liquor license for River Rock Casino in Geyserville. The tribe wants to be able to serve alcoholic drinks in the early morning hours, as well as charge for events like concerts and televised fights.
The tribe was originally approved to serve alcohol at casino with limitations on times, areas and types of alcohol that could be served and consumed.
Citing financial losses from competition from the Graton Rancheria Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park, the Dry Creek tribe filed to remove many restrictions on their liquor license.
The tribe’s petition removes restrictions to alcohol sales and consumption allowing for any alcoholic beverage type to be served between the hours of 6 a.m. and 2 a.m.
The tribe charges that the restrictions on River Rock are unique and leave the casino with an “unfair, unjustified and discriminatory competitive disadvantage.”
Tribe Chairman Chris Wright declined to speak to the Tribune directly. The “Petition for Modification and Removal of Certain License Conditions” states: “Unlike the River Rock Casino, the Graton casino, may and does serve alcohol to its patrons during all conventional hours for alcohol service (6 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week) and does so on its casino floor and in several bars and restaurants on the premises, including during ‘Happy Hours.’”
River Rock’s petition strips away limitations such as being able to serve only beer or wine until 5 p.m. Currently the casino may start serving alcoholic beverages at 11 a.m. most days and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Last call is at midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Alcohol cannot be served on the gaming floor under the current rules.
Opposition to the petition comes from neighbors, the county Board of Supervisors and the Alexander Valley School District.
Neighbors part of the Alexander Valley Association (AVA) have filed a letter of objection, dated June 9, 2016, to Dry Creek Rancheria’s petition. The letter says, in part: “The agreed upon conditions are reasonable and necessary in light of the unique location of the casino, which is perched on a hill in the rural Alexander Valley. Nothing about the unique location of the casino has changed, and thus there is no basis for lifting the current conditions.”
The tribe pointed out in the petition that in the years since the original license agreement, it has purchased hundreds of acres of land, adding to the original 75 acre property. A new road was put in to allow safer access to the casino.
However, AVA member Ralph Sceales said the new road only connects the casino to Highway 128 and changes little. “The 14 miles of public roads haven’t changed,” said Sceales.
The school district also sent a letter, dated March 14, to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) in opposition to the proposed changes to the casino liquor license. The letter read in part, “…we are most alarmed that to read that the ABC is considering expanding that hours for sale of alcoholic beverage.” The letter cited concerns of increased traffic and potential for drunk drivers.
The county board of supervisors sent two letters to the ABC opposing the petition. One dated December 17, 2015 and the other dated May 17 of this year. The county letter also references the potential for drunk driving. It also states that removing the restrictions on paid events like music and boxing matches changes the venue from “a gaming venue to a gaming and live entertainment venue.” The county letter charges that the change “… directly encourages alcohol consumption…”
The ABC has made no determination about the petition to alter the liquor license, according to David Fendrick, CEO of River Rock. He stated that the casino is not directly involved with the petition process. “The casino is not involved in negotiating the liquor license, it’s between the ABC and Dry Creek Rancheria,” said Fendrick.
Concerns about drunk drivers coming from the casino were heavily expressed when River Rock was first granted a liquor license in 2008. “We really haven’t seen a rise in DUIs from River Rock since it opened,” said CHP spokesperson, Sgt. Jon Sloat. “When there is any kind of special event at River Rock, they do contract with us to provide extra patrol in the area. They have also been helpful when there have been incidents with providing video.”
Sloat added that the CHP “don’t really have a public opinion regarding (Dry Creek Rancheria’s) plans” to remove restriction the liquor license.
Geyserville Fire Chief Marshal Turbeville echoed Sloat on the drunk driving issue, saying that he was not aware of any increase in DUI related collisions as a result of the casino. However, he added that “We don’t ask people where they are coming from,” when responding to crashes, regardless of whether or not the driver appears intoxicated.