WOODLAND — The city of Woodland is one step closer to having cardrooms operating in city limits.
After an hour of public comment and 35 minutes of discussion by city councilors Monday night, the council voted 5-1 to overturn the 25-year ban on cardrooms. Councilwoman Merilee McCall voted against the ordinance; Councilman Tom Mattison was absent. The ordinance will be back before the council for a final reading and adoption Oct. 4.
Oak Tree Restaurant owner Belal Alkhatib expressed interest a couple months ago in adding a cardroom to the 50-year-old restaurant near Interstate 5 and asked the council to consider overturning the ban. Alkhatib said his business has struggled with the economic downturn during the last two years and hopes adding a cardroom will increase the restaurant’s revenue.
In February 1985, the Woodland City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting cardrooms within city limits. The city then held a referendum, and 61 percent of voters supported the decision.
However, on Monday night the council learned the public vote is likely void. The city has no record of adopting the right of initiative and referendum, city attorney William Eling said. Therefore, the city had no authority to hold a referendum in 1985, he said. The initiative and referendum process gives voters the right to petition to place proposed legislation on the ballot. It’s also possible the vote was an advisory vote, which is nonbinding, but was mislabeled as a referendum vote, Eling said.
The news made at least one council member more comfortable in overturning the prohibition without sending the issue to voters. Councilman J.J. Burke originally opposed reversing the vote of the people, but since that vote is likely void, he said Monday he was OK with the council taking action.
Burke said he does not want the city to hold an advisory vote on the issue, a sentiment echoed by several council members.
“I think it’s the easy way out for this legislative body to pass every tough decision to the voters,” Councilman Benjamin Fredricks said.
Councilman Aaron Christopherson agreed and said a vote that occurred 25 years ago was outdated.
“I wasn’t even born yet,” he said. “Obviously, there’s been some changes in our voting population.”
McCall, however, urged the council to slow down the process. The city’s current zoning would only allow cardrooms in areas designated highway-commercial, including the Oak Tree. The council discussed adding more zoning restrictions, but that process would take months and numerous public hearings. McCall suggested the council take the time to establish clearer parameters before rushing to allow cardrooms.
“We’re not voting as to whether we’re going to open up a cardroom for the Oak Tree,” she said. “We’re voting as to whether we’re going to open a cardroom for the entire municipality of Woodland.”
Councilwoman Susan Humbyrd and Councilman Al Swindell, however, argued that the city and its residents could benefit from cardrooms, just as the people of La Center have.
“Woodland needs jobs,” Swindell said. “I think that’s the most critical issue of our time.”
About 20 community members, including numerous Oak Tree employees, also expressed their opinions on the issue during the public comment portion of the meeting Monday. Most said they supported overturning the ban. A handful argued gambling would bring crime to the city and asked the council to allow voters to decide.
Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.
