Plans to upgrade Two Winds Ranch Equestrian Center in Newbury Park continue to move forward––but not without challenges.

Last week the Thousand Oaks City Council approved transferring ownership of the 20-acre site from the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) to Conejo Open Space Conservation Authority. The council also agreed to move forward on plans to upgrade the facility and pay any taxes on the property. Title had been held by the MRCA to allow the city to avoid having to pay taxes to the county on the property, which is outside city limits.

But the issue of where the money should come from to cover the improvements opened up a discussion that questioned the very existence of the equestrian center.

Minimum estimated cost of the project is nearly $1.4 million, according to a city staff report presented to the council. The report further recommended that $887,000 of that come from the city’s Shapell Development Agreement account.

Councilmember Andy Fox questioned the use of development funds rather than adhering to the original agreement, which calls for another group to provide funding for the upgrades.

Operating Engineers Pension Trust (OE) owns Site I, a piece of land that, like Two Winds, is part of the 326-acre open-space parcel known as Rancho Potrero.

In 2002, the city struck a deal with OE. In exchange for approval to build three homes on Site I, OE would give the city $2.5 million in construction services and cash to offset building costs for a permanent equestrian center.

Fox strongly urged the use of OE funds to pay for the project rather than city money. According to City Attorney Amy Albano, there is a chance the deal with OE may not work out. She recommended the council consider other funding sources. Albano is currently in negotiations with OE on the issue.

Fox expressed frustration with the city spending the money for a facility that he says benefits only about 60 boarders, and he suggested that the center be left as is. But Councilmember Dennis Gillette disagreed, pointing out that hundreds of people use the facility and that it is a community asset. Albano said that the city is obligated to make improvements to the site that originally was supposed to be temporary.

“The idea to do nothing is not a viable choice from the standpoint of compliance with rules we know are applicable to that site,” Albano said.

Gillette also urged the council to consider annexation of the site.

“I will not support spending city money on a facility that is outside of the city,” Gillette said.

Mayor Claudia Bill-de la Peña said the ad hoc committee working on the issue would be giving a report to the council in the fall and that the council “will be pleased with the result.”