By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Until the city learns more about the potential impact of horse manure on its waste water treatment plant, equestrians won't be welcome at a 50-acre park, long planned by the county.

Councilmember Dennis Gillette said he had a lot of questions that were still unanswered- can the county that can't afford crossing guards in Newbury Park afford to maintain the park? Will the park affect the wildlife corridor; will the Conejo Creek water be polluted? And what about the oak trees and natural vegetation?

The county has about $250,000 grant money to spend on a park in an area off Santa Rosa Road that has been promised for Road that's been promised for decades. The county purchased the parcel in 1968.

A park area with picnic tables are in the county's plans along with other amenities that include horse riding arenas, a circular training pen, a covered 180-seat grandstand with a judge's booth, restrooms and graded, unpaved parking for 30 cars and 40 trucks with horse trailers.

Plans also include a place for a camp host to connect a trailer to utilities and stay rentfree in exchange for a minimum of 20 hours of work a week. A manure collection bin and storage container would be included.

The county has already spent about $300,000 on the project and would like to have it completed, said Ron Van Dyck, deputy director of the county parks department.

The proposed equestrian center would only be used during the day, similar to the one in Thousand Oaks on Waverly Road. A host would live on the site to keep it clean and secure, Van Dyck said.

With a 41 vote, City Council delayed approval of an agreement hammered out between city staff and the county because some council members were concerned about the city-owned Hill Canyon Waste Water Treatment Plant. Councilmember Claudia Bill-de la Peña voted to approve the agreement.

In the unapproved agreement the city and the county decided to share the cost and widen an approximate half mile single-lane Hill Canyon Road to a two-lane road.

The widening of the bridge wasn't addressed, but will be in the future.

A circular turn-around was to be built by the county so horse trailers could exit easily and not be forced to head down the road leading only to the treatment plant, which at this time doesn't share the road with anyone.

The council was concerned about how horse waste would affect the city's $65 million water treatment plant. The plant is the only water treatment facility for the city and the council noted access is needed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The council expressed questions about whether horse trailers could possibly block the way, creating a crisis.

Manure runoff was also brought up by the council with concerns about Conejo Creek's clean waters. The city makes about $1 million a year selling the plant's excess reclaimed water. The city could also possibly be held responsible legally for cleaning up any toxicity caused to the water by the horse manure.

"I'm really concerned about the road and the water quality there after we spent so much money," Mayor Pro Tem Jacqui Irwin said.

City staffers said they were surprised to learn last week, just before the council meeting, that the county was already getting bids for a Phase I project that didn't include some of the items the staff and county had agreed upon but weren't officially approved by Thousand Oaks.

The agreements were approved by the county in April, but city staff didn't bring them before the Thousand Oaks City Council at that time as the county expected, Van Dyck said.

By seeking bids to build the restrooms, parking lot, picnic area, grandstand, judges booths, host trailer and manure bin, it appeared the county had decided to go ahead and build the park and not wait for the city to get on board. In the bid, there was no mention of the widening of the road or the turn-around.

Bill-de la Peña said she was surprised the city staff thought the bid had been sprung on them without warning since the Santa Rosa Equestrian Center had been discussed since 2004, she said.

After the meeting County Supervisor Linda Parks, who attended the council meeting, said she was looking forward to the ribbon cutting for the park and hopes the City Council will attend the barbecue.

The council cannot stop the park from being built, but can block easement access to the equestrian trails necessary for horses to use the facility, she said.