AUG 8 2002 

Anthony Cohen, Esquire 

Clement, Fitzpatrick & Kenworthy 

3333 Mendocino Avenue 

P.O. Box 1494 

Santa Rosa, California 95402 

RE: Approval of Amendment to the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians Tribal Gaming Ordinance 

Dear Mr. Cohen: 

This letter responds to your request to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) for 

the review and approval of the amendment to the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians (Band) 

tribal gaming ordinance submitted on July 8, 2002. The amendment to the ordinance was 

adopted by the Band by Resolution # 04-20-02 on April 22, 2002. This letter constitutes 

approval of your submission under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Such approval 

does not constitute approval of specific games. It is important to note that the gaming 

ordinance is approved for gaming only on Indian lands, as defined in the IGRA, over which the 

Tribe exercises jurisdiction. 

Thank you for submitting the amendment to the tribal gaming ordinance of the Band for 

review and approval. The NIGC staff and I look forward to working with you and the 

Community in implementing the IGRA. If you have questions or require further assistance, 

please contact Ms. Frances Fragua at 2021632-7003. 

Sincerely yours, 

Montie R. Deer 

Chairman 

cc: Tony Jack, Tribal Chair, Big Valley Band.of Pomo Lndians 

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 1441 L St NW, Sulte 9100, Wash~ngton. DC 20005 Tel: 202 632 7003 Fax. 202 632 7066 W.NlGC.GOV 

REGIONAL OFFICES Portland. OR; Sacramento, CA: Phoenix. AZ; St. Paul. MN, Tulsa. OK 
Resolution # 04-20-02 

of the 

General Community Council 

Of The 

Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians 

CLEMENT, FITZPATRICK g 

KENWORTHY 

Amendment to Big Valley Gaming Act of 1994 

Reducing Number of Gaming Commissioners to Three 

WHEREAS: The Big Valley Rancheria (Tribe) is governed pursuant to a Constitution and ByLaws approved by the Secretary of the Interior under the Indian Re-organization Act of 1934 

(IRA); and 

WHEREAS: Under the Tribe's Constitution, the General Community Council, composed of all 

qualified voting members of the Tribe, is the governing body of the Tribe; and 

WHEREAS: The General Community Council has determined that it is in the best interest of 

the Tribe to reduce the number of Commissioners on the Tribal Gaming Commission created 

pursuant to the Big Valley Gaming Act of 1994 ("the Act") from the present five Commissioners 

to three; and 

WHEREAS: the Big Valley Gaming Commission has advised the General Community Council 

that its functions could be performed with three members; and 

WHEREAS: The Big Valley Business Committee concurs in the reduction of the number of 

Commissioners on the Gaming Commission fiom five to three; and 

WHEREAS: The terms of two of the present members of the Big Valley Gaming Commission 

will expire in November of 2002; and 

WHEREAS: the Big Valley Gaming Act of 1994 has been approved by the National Lndian 

Gaming Commission ('NIGC"), and no amendment of the Act is effective until approved by the 

NIGC; and 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, tlmt the General Community Council of the Big Valley Band 

of Pomo Indians hereby amends the Big Valley Gaming Act of 1994 as follows: 

1) The second sentence of Section 4a is replaced in its entirety with the following 

sentence: 

"The Gaming Commission shall be composed of three (3) members of the Tribe, 

all of whom shall be elected by the same process by which offices of the Tribe are 

elected." 

2) Section 4c., entitled "Terms of Office," is replaced in its entirety with the 
following: 

"The Commissioners shall serve for two year staggered terms. In order to reduce 

the number of Gaming Commissioners hm five to three, as provided by the 

Gaming Act amendment of 2002, the two Commission seats the elected terms of 

which expire in 2002, shall terminate upon such expiration. The next regular 

election for Gaming Commissioners after the effective date of the Gaming Act 

amendment of 2002, shall occur in November of 2003. At that election, all three 

Commissioners' seats shall be filled, with the successll candidate who receives 

the least votes elected for a term of one year, and the other two elected for two 

year texms. Thereafter, each Commissioner shall be elected for a term of two 

years. Commissioners may serve for more than one term. 

3) Section k., entitled "Quorum," is replaced in its entirety with the following: 

"Two (2) members of the Gaming Commission shall constitute a quorum. 

4) The second sentence of Section 4h., entitled "Meetings," is replaced in its entirety 

with the following: 

"Additional meetings shall be held as called by the Chairman or by the other two 

(2) Commissioners. 

BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: This Resolution is hereby adopted by the General 

Community Council of the Big Valley Rancheria and shall be submitted by the Tribal Chairman 

to the NICK for approval, to be effective immediately upon its approval by the NIGC, or at such 

earlier date as provided by federal law or regulation. 

The signatures below cem that the above resolution was adopted by the Tribal General 

Community Council at a duly called meeting at which a quorum was established on Af?fi9f&!1& 

2002 by a vote of =or, 9 opposed, and 2 abstaining. 

// mk 4-20- d4 

Anthony ad, chairma6 Date 

kh \ 9-a-02 

Attested to by: Tina Ramos, Secretary Date