SNOHOMISH — Luck just ran out for card rooms in Snohomish.
On a 4-2 vote Tuesday night, the Snohomish City Council decided to ban social card rooms, something that has been legal in town for years.
Public card rooms, sometimes called mini-casinos, are for-profit businesses where blackjack and poker are played. In some cases, the house has a stake; in others, players pay a fee to play against each other.
The Washington State Gambling Commission already tightly regulates card rooms. Cities that opt to allow it have no control over how many come into town.
Although no licensed card rooms operate in town, council members who supported the ban worried many mini-casinos might move in and damage the character of Snohomish. They also worried about the societal consequences of gambling.
“It’s not just one card room, it could be 15 card rooms,” councilwoman Melody Clemans said. “It can’t be restricted.”
Mayor Randy Hamlin and Clemans and other council members Lynn Schilaty and Dean Randall voted for the ban. Council members Karen Guzak and Doug Thorndike wanted to leave the ordinance alone. Councilman R.C. “Swede” Johnson wasn’t present for the vote but had earlier expressed support for allowing card rooms.
Thorndike said he was concerned about how quickly the council moved on the issue “as if it were some clear and present danger.” He views card rooms as more entertainment and economic stimulus than societal threat.
The issue showed up on the City Council agenda in early May after a local man shared his plans with city officials to open an old-time saloon with poker tables.
After a contentious discussion, the council directed city staff to create an ordinance banning public card rooms.
A half-dozen groups, including the Snohomish Senior Center, do have licensed social card games, but these nonprofits won’t be affected by the ban.
As for Coby Dilling, the would-be business owner, he doesn’t plan to give up his dream of opening up an old time saloon. He’s exploring other ways to offer poker games, including running a not-for-profit game or inviting in a promotional game that doesn’t technically count as gambling under state law.
Plus, who knows who might be sitting on the council after the next election, he said.
“It’s disappointing we can’t offer a card game, something that’s been a part of Snohomish’s history with all the saloons,” he said. “I’m not pulling up the tent because of this council.”
The council also had planned to address a request to change the east side of the 400 block of Avenue D from single-family residential to historic business. The issue drew more than 50 people to the meeting, many of whom were concerned doing so would open the floodgates for allowing commercial business in the heart of the historic district.
John Knutsen had planned to expand the Snohomish Eye Care Center at 415 Ave. D.
It suddenly became a nonissue when a representative for Knutsen announced he would withdraw the request.
The applicants “didn’t wish to set up a neighborhood conflict,” said Joshua Scott, a Snohomish architect representing the business owners. “They just wanted to expand the business.”
The council asked city staff to work with the applicants on other options and bring those to the planning commission for review before the issue is brought back to the council.
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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