16-0301_BLENHEIM FACILITY MANAGEMENT_E1b_Correspondence (2)3/01/2016
E1b
February 29, 2016
Members of the City Council
I am writing to you to urge you to renew the current lease for the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park for a
minimum of 5 years under the terms and conditions that currently stand. This tremendous asset to our
community contributes to the financial, aesthetic and cultural health and identity of our city and allows
countless children and adults to pursue a passion that has the potential to provide access to educational
scholarships as well as career opportunities. The alternatives under consideration are ill conceived, not
in the best interest of the city and are not consistent with the will of the people you were elected to
represent.
From a financial standpoint, San Juan Capistrano is almost completely built out so there is little
contribution to be anticipated from development fees. We have limited retail opportunities within our
city boundaries. Aside from Costco and the car dealerships, there is minimal sales tax revenue to offset
the costs of running the city for the benefit and safety of all residents. With an unprecedented number
of law suits outstanding against the city, every source of revenue is critical to our city's continued
operation and survival. Bleinheim Equisports not only pays for the lease and maintains the facility in
excellent condition but also brings in hundreds of horse show participants who patronize the
restaurants, small businesses and hotels that are the economic engines of our town. The success of
these businesses provides crucial sales tax and property tax revenue that benefit the entire community-
not just those participating in horse shows or members of the horse community.
The Riding Park is the eastern gateway to our city and I fail to believe that there is anyone who doesn't
recognize the tremendous improvement the riding park and the creation of Reata Park have made to
this side of our city. Right now we do not have a single remaining department head at the City offices
that has any history with issues and opportunities taking place within our city boundaries. You have
only to look at the poor condition of our city parks to imagine what this beautiful eastern area would
look like if the city took over even the most basic maintenance responsibilities. The requirements for a
riding facility that is safe for both humans and horses is abundantly clear to professionals who deal with
it on a daily basis and is quite different from the requirements for maintaining a passive park or
playground. Improper maintenance by untrained workers would put horses and riders at risk and the
city in a position of huge liability-further major lawsuits in the making. To suggest that the city could
take over maintenance of this park is frivolous and ill conceived.
Lastly, we pride ourselves on our rich western history and the equestrian legacy that continues today.
Olympic events as well as world class equestrian events have taken place at our riding park bringing
opportunities for horse enthusiasts of all ages, patrons for the small businesses that are the life blood of
our city and a source of community pride for San Juan Capistrano. All of these events are free to the
public.
A business of the size and complexity of Bleinheim Equisports needs to be able to have the security of a
multi-year lease in order to plan for capital expenses and improvements. If this valuable business
partner chooses to go elsewhere due to the uncertainty of their future here, a vital element of our city
character as well as a critical contributor to the financial survival of San Juan Capistrano will be lost. Is
this how you would like to be remembered and the legacy you would like to leave? Please support the
continued operation of the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park with a extension of the current lease for a
minimum of 5 years.
Kind regards,
Ginny Kerr
San Juan Capistrano Resident