Officials from a landless tribe of Pomo Indians said Monday they will create a $2 million-a-year community trust if they get approval for a Las Vegas-style casino near Oakland International Airport.

The announcement came as Oakland City Council members prepared to vote this afternoon on a resolution to ban legalized gambling in the city.

"We're committed to serving and supporting the Oakland community," said Daniel Beltran, chairman of the Lower Lake Rancheria Koi Nation, which has proposed the 252,000-square-foot gaming complex at Swan Way and Pardee Drive.

Beltram said the trust would provide money from the project's 2,000 slot machines for community groups serving children, seniors, health care, land preservation efforts and other Oakland-area projects.

The money would be part of the nearly $20 million the tribe, based largely in Sonoma County, has said it will guarantee Oakland each year during the 20-year gaming compact it hopes to negotiate with the state.

To illustrate their support, the tribe turned over the lectern Monday at a news conference to community members who say the casino would be a financial boon for Oakland.

"Go out to Eastmont Mall, seven days a week, and you'll see buses picking up people and taking them elsewhere so they can go to a casino," said Gladys Green, who says she has lived in Oakland nearly 60 years. "With this project, those people can have their fun right here in Oakland and the city as a whole will benefit."

The tribe's community outreach comes amid signs of stiff resistance from local governments. Last month, Alameda County supervisors voted unanimously to oppose the project, citing studies linking gambling to social problems.

Some local officials have expressed interest, including Mayor Jerry Brown and City Councilman Larry Reid, whose district includes the casino site.

Three other council members, however, proposed a resolution opposing it -- and any other "legalized gambling establishment" -- that will be heard at 4 p.m. today.

Council members Jane Brunner, Nancy Nadel and Jean Quan claim in their resolution the project would have negative community impacts and pose a threat to birds and other species on restored marshland at the project site.

Quan said approval could unleash an "onslaught" of similar proposals.

"Powerful forces -- out-of-state developers with millions to spend, ex-Bureau of Indian Affairs officials and Nevada casino interests -- hope to make a major breakthrough in urban gambling facilities here in Oakland," she said.

In a press release Monday, Oakland City Council president Ignacio De La Fuente said he will support the anti-gambling resolution although "the prospect of generating additional revenue for the city is tempting -- especially as we face a $30 million deficit. I believe, however, you cannot put a price on the impact to our communities and to the image of our city."

Beltran said the tribe will push forward even if local governments oppose the casino. The tribe hopes to break ground in 2006 and open in 2007 with 100 gaming tables, up to five restaurants and an 1,000-seat entertainment center.

Dino Beltran, the tribe's secretary/treasurer, said the group was heartened by a letter last month from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that indicated the tribe may have a "restored lands" exemption that requires the state to negotiate gaming compacts with tribes that lost and then regained federal recognition.