# CROW TRIBAL LEGISLATURE > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Acrow_montana%3A78807ab6b5f09c74 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text CROW TRIBAL LEGISLATURE MARCH 28, 2017 SPECIAL SESSION JOINT ACTION RESOLUTION NO. JARI7- 04 Introduced by Darrin Old Coyote, Chairman Crow Tribal Executive Branch JOINT ACTION RESOLUTION OF THE CROW TRIBAL LEGISLATURE AND THE CROW TRIBAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH ENTITLED: "RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CROW TRIBE'S LIMITED WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE CROW IRRIGATION PROJECT RENO SIPHON IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT." WHEREAS, the Crow Tribe is prepared to begin the bid process for the Reno Siphon Improvements Project, Contract C5-2, in order to facilitate the rehabilitation and improvement of the Reno Siphon and Check facilities within the Reno Unit of the Crow Irrigation Project, to facilitate safer and more efficient and reliable delivery of irrigation water to benefit water users within the Crow Irrigation Project; and WHEREAS, Exhibit A in the Supplementary Conditions to the General Conditions of the Construction Contract for construction of the Reno Siphon Improvements Project, attached hereto and incorporated by reference, requires a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for the limited purpose of enforcing the Owner’s obligations under the construction contract; and WHEREAS, the Chairman of the Executive Branch has authority and responsibility pursuant to the “enumerated powers” in Article IV, Section 3(a) of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Crow Tribe of Indians to represent the Crow Tribe in negotiations with Federal, State and local government and other agencies, corporation, associations, or individuals in matters of welfare affecting the Crow Tribe, and in Section 3(k) to “negotiate limited waivers of sovereign immunity when such a waiver is necessary for business purposes in accordance with Article V, Section 2(f) of [the] Constitution;” and WHEREAS, the Legislative Branch has authority and responsibility pursuant to its “powers and duties” in Article V, Section 2(f) of the Constitution to “grant final approval or disapproval of limited waivers of sovereign immunity by the Executive Branch of Government when waivers are necessary for business purposes;” and WHEREAS, the Crow Tribe, the community, and water users within the Crow Irrigation Project will greatly benefit from the rehabilitation and improvement of the Crow Irrigation Project from the Reno Siphon Improvements Project, and the limited waiver of sovereign immunity required by the contracting conditions for the construction contract is necessary for the business purpose of construction of the Reno Siphon Improvements Project; March 28, 2017 Special Session Resolution Approving the Crow Tribe's Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity in Construction Contract for the Crow Irrigation Project Reno Siphon Improvements Project Page | of 6 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CROW TRIBAL LEGISLATURE AND THE CROW TRIBAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH: Section 1. That the limited waiver of sovereign immunity set forth in Exhibit A in the Supplementary Conditions to the General Conditions of the Construction Contracts for the Crow Tribe Water Resources Department (CTWRD) St. Xavier Construction Facility, attached hereto and incorporated by reference, is hereby approved. Section 2. That the approval granted herein is effective on the date of approval of this Resolution. [Remainder of Page Left Blank Intentionally] March 28, 2017 Special Session Resolution Approving the Crow Tribe's Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity in Construction Contract for the Crow Irrigation Project Reno Siphon Improvements Project Page 2 of 6 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that this Joint Action Resolution for the "RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CROW TRIBE'S LIMITED WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE CROW IRRIGATION PROJECT RENO SIPHON IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT " was duly approved by the Crow Tribal Legislature with a vote of _17_ in favor, 0 opposed, and _0_ abstaining, and that a quorum was present on this 28 day of March, 2017. a Senator Eric Birdingrownd Speaker of the House Crow Tribal Legislature ATFXST: yetllltey, $exator Gordon Real Bird, Jt. Secretary Crow Tribal Legislature EXECUTIVE ACTION I hereby X__ approve veto this Joint Action Resolution for the "RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CROW TRIBE'S LIMITED WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE CROW IRRIGATION PROJECT RENO SIPHON IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT " pursuant to the authority vested in the Chairman of the Crow Tribe by Article V, Section 8 and Article IV, Section 3(k) of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Crow Tribe of Indians on this day of , 2017. i. at? AL? Alvin Not Afraid, Jy4Chairmnan Crow Tribal Executive Branch March 28, 2017 Special Session Resolution Approving the Crow Tribe's Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity in Construction Contract for the Crow Irrigation Project Reno Siphon Improvements Project Page 3 of 6 JAR-Resolution Approving the Crow Tribe’s Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity in the Construction Contract for the Crow Irrigation Project Reno Siphon Improvements Project. Bill or Resolution: JAR17-04 Introduced by: Chairman Darrin Old Coyote Date of Vote: 3/28/2017 Number REPRESENTATIVE: Yes No Abstained G. Three Irons B. Rogers F. White Clay P. Hill S. Real Bird V. Nomee T. Yellowtail T. Gros Ventre P. Alden, Jr. E. Deputee P. Spotted Horse, Sr. L. DeCrane J. Demontiney B. Hugs B. Good Luck H. Male Bear, Jr. G. Real Bird, Jr. ye |dK |pe [oe | [pe [Pd [DK [DK [KI [PS > [Pe KO Secretary of the House Eric Birdinground vd Speaker of the House Total: 17 0 0 Not Passed LA L¢ ago Senator Eric ‘Birdingrosind Date r Gordon Real Bird, Jr. Speaker of the House Secretary of the House Crow Tribal Legislative Branch Crow Tribal Legislative Branch Result of Vote: EXHIBIT A DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND LIMITED WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY 1.1. Arbitration. (a) Any Claim or other controversy arising under the Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Construction Industry Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) except as otherwise modified herein, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in a court having jurisdiction thereof as further provided in this Exhibit A. (b) The laws of the Crow Tribe shall be the applicable law, or if not addressed therein, the laws of the State of Montana; provided, that this stipulation does not affect jurisdiction. The arbitrator(s) shall have authority to order specific performance and award appropriate injunctive, declaratory or compensatory monetary relief, including interlocutory orders to mitigate damage or prevent irreparable injury to a party, but shall not have authority to award punitive damages or other noncompensatory damages. (c) The arbitrators’ fees and all other costs of the arbitration shall initially be borne equally by the parties, but ultimate responsibility for payment of such costs shall be borne by the party against whom the award is rendered, except as the arbitrator(s) may otherwise provide in a written decision. (d) |The award of the arbitrator(s) shall be conclusive and binding on the parties with respect to the matters decided, and shall be complied with by the parties. A party may enter an award and institute Judicial Proceedings to enforce the award in accordance with Section 1.2 of this Exhibit A. In such Judicial Proceedings, neither party, without the consent of the other party, shall be entitled to contend that the award should be vacated, modified or corrected. 1.2 Judicial Proceedings. (a) A party may commence court proceedings (“Judicial Proceedings”) only to compel the other party to participate in arbitration proceedings or to enforce an arbitration award. All Judicial Proceedings conducted pursuant to this Exhibit A shall be initially commenced in Crow Tribal Court. Any Judicial Proceedings conducted in Tribal Court shall be conducted in accordance with the substantive law of the Federal Arbitration Act and the procedural law of the Crow Tribal Court, to the extent that such procedural law is not inconsistent with the Federal Arbitration Act and the procedures expressly provided herein. (b) Only in the event that the Crow Tribal Court refuses to compel a party to participate in arbitration proceedings or to enforce an arbitration award as written, or fails to perform said functions within 60 days after commencement of Judicial Proceedings, or such further time as the parties may mutually agree, may either party March 28, 2017 Special Session Resolution Approving the Crow Tribe's Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity in Construction Contract for the Crow Irrigation Project Reno Siphon Improvements Project Page 4 of 6 transfer (“remove”) the Judicial Proceedings from Crow Tribal Court to the United States District Court for the District of Montana, or if it lacks jurisdiction, to the Montana Twenty-Second Judicial District Court for Big Horn County, Montana. (c) If allowed pursuant to subsection (b) above, removal of Judicial Proceedings from Crow Tribal Court may be accomplished by filing a notice of removal in Crow Tribal Court and filing an appropriate application in the appropriate federal or state court (the “Deciding Forum”) in accordance with the procedural rules of that forum. The notice of removal and application need be executed on behalf of only the removing party, and such removal shall not be opposed or contested by the other party. Upon removal, all proceedings in Crow Tribal Court shall be stayed pending final resolution in the Deciding Forum, and all Tribal remedies shall be deemed exhausted. Upon final resolution of the matter, the order or judgment of the Deciding Forum may be entered in Crow Tribal Court. (d) The parties waive any rights to pursue judicial proceedings related to the Agreement in any court except as provided in this Exhibit A. 1.3. Limited Waiver of Owner’s Sovereign Immunity. The Crow Tribe of Indians unequivocally and irrevocably grants a limited waiver of its sovereign immunity from suit for the limited purpose of enforcing the Owner's obligations under the Agreement by means of arbitration proceedings, Judicial Proceedings instituted for the purpose of compelling participation in arbitration proceedings, and Judicial Proceedings for the enforcement of arbitration awards, all in accordance with the provisions of this Exhibit A; provided, however, that: (a) _ this limited waiver shall only extend to the Contractor, its successors and assigns, and no other or third parties; (b) this limited waiver shall not apply to proceedings in any court except the Judicial Proceedings as provided in Section 1.2 of this Exhibit A; (c) this waiver shall extend only for a period of time until all the Owner's obligations are satisfied under the Agreement; and (d) the monetary relief available against the Crow Tribe of Indians pursuant to this waiver shall be limited to amounts that are expressly due and payable pursuant to the Agreement (including the costs of arbitration if so awarded against the Owner pursuant to this Exhibit A), and shall not include any other indirect, consequential, tort, punitive or noncompensatory damages. In no event shall any judgment or other relief awarded pursuant to this limited waiver result in the encumbrance of any Tribal property or assets which are held in trust for the Crow Tribe by the United States of America. March 28, 2017 Special Session Resolution Approving the Crow Tribe's Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity in Construction Contract for the Crow Irrigation Project Reno Siphon Improvements Project Page 5 of 6 Rehabilitation and Improvement of the Crow Irrigation Project Reno Siphon Improvements Project The scope of WORK generally consists of improvements to the Reno Siphon, Check Structure, and Main Canal, comprised of the demolition of the existing Reno Siphon, Check, and Parshall Flume Structures, and replacement with a new Inverted Siphon and Check Structure, as well as cleaning and reshaping of approximately 5,000 feet of the Main Canal, as required by the Contract Documents and General Requirements. The project is located on the Crow Reservation in Big Horn County, Montana approximately nine (9) miles south of Crow Agency, Montana, and is owned, operated, and maintained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The construction work for the project consists generally of earthwork and steel reinforced concrete construction associated with footings, walls, and floor slabs; structure earthwork, including excavation, backfill, and compacted backfill; canal earthwork, including excavation and compacted embankment construction; dewatering activities; concrete demolition and removal associated with the existing Reno Siphon, Check, and Parshall Flume Structures; furnishing and installation of miscellaneous metal (stoplog guides, trash rack, and all other miscellaneous metal); furnishing and installation of reinforced concrete pipe with soil-cement bedding; furnishing material and concrete testing services; and all other associated work. Site work to include furnishing and installation of riprap; furnishing and installation of gravel surfacing; and seeding, fertilizing, and mulching. March 28, 2017 Special Session Resolution Approving the Crow Tribe's Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity in Construction Contract for the Crow Irrigation Project Reno Siphon Improvements Project Page 6 of 6 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Acrow_montana%3A78807ab6b5f09c74. Public record. Not legal advice.