1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: April 22, 2025
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Courtney Padgett, Assistant City Manager
By: Cathryn LaBrado, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT: Approval of Letter of Support for the Petition of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Tribe to the U.S. Department of Interiors – Indian Affairs for Federal Acknowledgment
RECOMMENDATION
Forgo the customary second step report and a pprove a letter of support signed by all Council Members for the Petition of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Tribe to the U.S. Department of Interiors – Indian Affairs for Federal Acknowledgment.
BACKGROUND
At the March 11, 2025 City Council meeting, Mayor Perez requested a first step report on acknowledging the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and providing support for their petition for federal recognition status.
DISCUSSION
The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (FTBMI or Tribe) is a native sovereign nation and state recognized tribe of northern Los Angeles County with ancestry tracing to Antelope, San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Simi Valleys. Headquartered in San Fernando, the FTBMI adopted by -laws in 1953 and has since adopted a Tribal constitution. Their tribal government includes the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, Council of the Elders, Youth Council, and Tribal Administration. The Tribe oversees Pukuu Cultural Community Services, a non -profit that operates numerous programs to strengthen Indian identity, promote self -sufficiency, and nurture healthy family interactions. Additionally, the Tribe oversees the Tataviam Land Conserva ncy, a non- profit organization focused on protecting the traditional territory of the Fernandeño Tataviam people through protective land management, cooperative agreements, and innovative cultural an educational programming.
2 The United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is responsible for reviewing applications by tribal governments for Federal Acknowledgement and making the appropriate determination. The FTBMI is currently petitioning for Federal Acknowledgement, which according to the BIA, would establish a government -to- government relationship with the United States, and recognize the Tribe as possessing certain inherent rights of self -government (i.e., tribal sovereignty) , and entitle them to receive certain federal benefits, services, and protections because of their special relationship with the U.S. Tribal sovereignty ensures that any decisions about the tribes with regard to their property and citizens are made with their participation and consent.
The City acknowledges the FTBMI and collaborates regularly with the Tribe on proposed developments, with the intent to protect tribal cultural resources during project development. With this acknowledgement, the City is committed to supporting the Tribe in their efforts to gain recognition from the federal government. Other agencies who have supported the Tribe’s efforts to secure Federal Acknowledgment and submitted letters of support include Agoura Hills, Glendale, Los Angeles, San Fernando, and Santa Clarita, as well as various members of the California Assembly, California S enate, and U.S.
House of Representatives. An official support record from the FTBMI website is included (Attachment 2).
Potential Council Options
Should Council wish to discuss the item, the following options may be considered:
1. Take no action and note and file the report, or
2. Direct staff to bring back a second step report, and/or
3. In the interest of time, forego the customary second step report and approve a letter signed by all members of the Burbank City Council supporting the Petition of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Tribe to the U.S. Department of Interiors – Indian Affairs for Federal Acknowledgment.
Staff recommends that Council forego the customary second step report and approve a letter signed by all members of the Burbank City Council supporting the Petition of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Tribe to the U.S. Department of Interiors – Indian Affairs for Federal Acknowledgment.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
3 FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends Council approve a letter of support signed by all Council Members for the Petition of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Tribe to the U.S.
Department of Interiors – Indian Affairs for Federal Acknowledgment.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Draft Letter: Support For Petition of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Tribe to the U.S. Department of Interiors – Indian Affairs for Federal Acknowledgment
Attachment 2 – Official Support Record