POMONA : Council Clears Way for Card Clubs, but Suit Clouds Final OK

The City Council cleared the way Monday for card clubs in Pomona by certifying an environmental impact report for the proposed Tradewinds and Champs clubs and by approving a business license for Champs. The vote on a license for Tradewinds was postponed until Feb. 6.

The future of both clubs is still tied up, however, in a lawsuit by a Pomona citizens group that seeks to ban card clubs in the city.

On Dec. 12, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Diane Wayne issued a temporary restraining order that bars the city from finalizing any agreements with the clubs’ developers until after Tuesday, when she will decide whether to extend the order until the case goes to trial, said Ron Vera, the attorney for the citizens group. As a result, Mayor Edward S. Cortez cannot sign the agreement with Champs until next week at the earliest.

The citizens group has also organized a ballot initiative that would bar gambling clubs from the city. On Dec. 12, the county registrar of voters verified that the group had gathered enough signatures to put the initiative up for vote.

The council asked the staff to prepare a report on the legal impacts of the initiative before it is placed on the April ballot, Pomona City Atty. Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman said. He said his interpretation of the law is that the initiative could only bar future card club proposals.

The council also tentatively approved ordinances that would limit the number of card clubs in Pomona to two and create a citizens advisory commission on gaming.

Council member Christina N. Carrizosa, the sole dissenting voice on the vote to approve the environmental impact report, said she is worried about the effect of the clubs on property values.

Emotions ran high at the meeting, as supporters argued that the clubs will bring desperately needed jobs to the city; opponents raised concerns that the environmental impact report did not fully address the potential for problems.

“We think they ignored some impacts they should have looked at, in terms of crime,” said Eric Norris, a senior planner for the neighboring city of Chino Hills. “We think there’s a real possibility of spillover crime, follow-home robberies and burglaries.”