MURRIETA -- A simple request at the front counter last month about how to set up a card room in town sent Murrieta city employees scrambling when they realized the city did not have a policy on gambling-related businesses.

City officials said the request last month was a first for Murrieta, a city known more for its family values, churches and schools.

Last week, the City Council imposed a 45-day moratorium that put a temporary stop to any applications for a card room or gaming facility. The council is planning a July 6 public hearing to extend the moratorium for another 10 months until a formal policy can be created, Murrieta Planning Manager Jim Mackenzie said Thursday.

The card room question came up in an over-the-counter request to one of the city's planners, Mackenzie said. Someone asked where they could locate this type of business in the city, but he didn't know any more about the request because the person who made the inquiry did not fill out a formal application.

"Our research and consultation with the city attorney showed what I felt was a lack of policy on that type of use," Mackenzie said.

Council members say they don't want a card room in the city.

"Personally, I'm not in favor of a card room. I don't think it fits with what Murrieta stands for," Councilman Doug McAllister said Thursday.

"This is a family community, and a card room and the elements associated with such uses are not what I'd like to see in our city. There are plenty of opportunities (for the developer) elsewhere," McAllister said.

Councilman Warnie Enochs said if the city has to allow a card room, he would want very tough rules.

"I think we need to have a strict ordinance in place for these businesses to ensure that we don't have the problems, or a perception of the problems, that go along with card rooms," Enochs said Thursday.

State law allows cities or counties to decide for themselves if they want to allow card rooms, which allow a limited selection of games to be played, most notably poker and blackjack. Other forms of gambling are limited to casinos on Indian tribal lands.

Lake Elsinore is the only city in Southwest County with a card room that isn't on Indian land. In San Diego County, Oceanside also has a card room.

Murrieta found itself without a policy because it adopted county rules and regulations when it incorporated in 1991 and the county rules do not address card rooms, City Attorney John Harper said. Lake Elsinore has substantial rules for gaming and card rooms, he said.

According to Murrieta's development code, card rooms are allowed in specific commercial areas, but officials say that does not mean Murrieta has to allow them.

The interim moratorium puts any card room permit applications on hold until a policy can be put in place, he said. So far, however, the council has not given any direction on what type of policy it wants, Harper said, adding he believes the request is a first for the city.

Contact staff writer Laura Mitchell at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or lmitchell@californian.com.