At the Nov. 18 Chula Vista City Council meeting, Council unanimously approved up to two license additions for Seven Mile Casino with Councilwoman Andrea Cardenas absent. Deputy City Attorney Eric Crockett said this was simple amendment to the Chula Vista Municipal Code to allow the only card gaming room in the city to obtain an additional license.
During the public hearing held on Nov. 14, Council member Jose Preciado said one of the most critical things with this action is continuing to affirm local control over the operations of businesses in the city limits in the recent period and since the transition of gaming into a State regulated entity.
“The city has had to act and support in a way that assists local control,” he said. “We are in the midst of transitioning bringing a huge new sector into our economy and that is with the advent of the Gaylord and other amenities that are evolving in the bayfront. I want to thank Seven Mile Casino for continuing to offer great jobs, great services, great entertainment, and we look forward to seeing how your business will continue to contribute to the advancement of the city of Chula Vista.”
Council member Alonso Gonzalez said he strongly supported the city’s efforts to maximize its ability to be able to fully take advantage of the number of (gaming) tables allotted by the state.
“It has been proven that it can be used as a resource,” he said. “With this specific action, although it sounds like a novel approach combining two city licenses. I want to be sure this is a proven, defensible method to be able to approach this.”
Crockett said Seven Mile Casino already has two licenses and the “game plan” is that they are consolidated with this action, it allows them to ask for a third.
“With a third, it would allow them to get to the table count approved 2019 amendment to the gaming plan, allowing them to go from 19 to 26,” he said. “The number of tables allowed from 1996 licenses was four total, with four licenses available of which they hold two today. They can ask for two more from the city. We put in a restriction, and I do not know why we put it in about limiting one location two licenses, but all we are doing is removing that restriction and allowing a third license, and potentially a fourth license to go through to one location.”
Attorney Carmen Brock, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley has worked with the City Attorney’s Office as outside counsel on this issue.
“We believe that the city is able to consolidate the existing licensing process and redefine it to come into state law and to allow the maximum amount that was granted to this casino previously,” she said. “This is just a rewording of our local statute to align with state law. We believe that to be in the powers of the city by resolution.”
Mayor John McCann said this was originally approved in 1996, and again in 2019, it was about local control.
“We approved the 26 tables, and we should be consistent with that,” he said. The Stone family and Seven Mile Casino have been very good business partners. They have been great community partners to our community. And we need to make sure that we also give them the ability. They essentially own that block where the old El Torito was. They have great visions to redevelop that area. As we have Gaylord underway, we want to make sure that the entire bayfront can be revitalized. By adding an additional license or two gives them that revenue to enable them to be able to move forward and help finance that redevelopment. I am obviously very supportive of that.”
