Second Amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement with Lytton Rancheria

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is asked to approve the Second Amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Lytton Rancheria of California. This amendment modifies the existing 2015 MOA, which governs intergovernmental relations and off-site impact mitigation for the Tribe's trust land development.

Key Changes:

• Housing and Community Development: Allows for the construction of 35 additional townhomes and 70,000 sq. ft. of community buildings adjacent to the completed Phase 1 residential project. This will offset a reduction in planned Phase 2 residential units. The Tribe will conduct environmental analysis for this new development, with the County determining no additional mitigation is needed beyond existing assessments.
• New Trust Parcel: Adds one new 112-acre trust parcel (APN: 066-220-035) to the MOA, requiring any future development on this parcel to be consistent with the County's General Plan and zoning.
• Exemption from Payments: Tribal government and community buildings (including offices, community centers, water/wastewater treatment, and solar arrays) will be exempted from property assessments and annual mitigation payments. This reduces the annual payment from approximately $557,000 to $507,000 for the next five years, saving the Tribe approximately $50,000 annually and reducing administrative assessment time for the County.
• Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA): The amendment includes a commitment to negotiate an agreement, under SB 507, allowing the County to receive credit for tribal housing units toward its RHNA obligation. Permit Sonoma will be authorized to prepare and execute this agreement.

The original MOA, established in 2015 and amended in 2018, included provisions for mitigation payments, fee-to-trust commitments, and a permanent prohibition on gaming in Sonoma County. The County's recommended action is to authorize the Chair to execute the Second Amendment and to delegate authority to the Director of Permit Sonoma for the RHNA agreement.