Tour of the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano Eastern Open Space JULY 2016
Text of Measure Y
Health & Safety Issues
One of four horse washing stations (left) next to Federally & State protected Riparian Habitat. Behind horse washing stations (right), note drainage and portable toilet next to Riparian Habitat.
Drainage of gray water from trailers at numerous locations throughout property
What appears to be a makeshift toilet; a bucket in a cardboard box with a curtain on the front, but no roof (right) (Above) Mattress stored outside wooden shed. Note electrical cords under mattress, on top of dry leaves.
Hoses connected to RV draining to unknown location
More gray water and hose draining from trailer
Potential Fire Hazards
Electrical wires and extension cords on dry brush, leaves and in trees were seen throughout the Park
Electrical wires on dry brush, next to hillside covered with dry brush
Red arrows indicate electrical cords on or near dry leaves, trees and landscape fabric
Long-term Tenancies / Subletting
Per Blenheim s Management Agreement:
SJC residents are prohibited from camping overnight on the Open Space, while trailers appear to provide long-term housing. Red arrow indicates what appears to be ancillary housing next to trailer.
Note gas can and propane tank next to BBQ on card table.
Trailers and RVS were parked throughout the Open Space, including at Reata Park where overnight camping is prohibited as it is a Mountain Lion Corridor.
More signs of long-term housing
Hazardous Waste
Per the Management Agreement with Blenheim Facilities Management:
Gasoline and chemicals stored outside what appears to be long-term RV tenant
During the tour, we were told that trailer and RV owners are allowed to rent space for $300 per month, per space. Trailers and RVs with expired registration tags, including the one from Oregon (left), and other previously noted conditions indicate long-term tenancies.
Other Prohibited Uses
Per the Management Agreement; (EXHIBIT D - RULES AND REGULATIONS) 8. No storage or dumping of anything upon the Property except in accordance with the written consent or written agreement executed by the City.
Per the Open Space Purchase & Sale Agreement: 15.1 Restrictions on Use of Real Property, Parcels 7 and 8 (i) [buyer shall not] permit, authorize or allow any person or entity to (i) provide, engage in or facilitate any Telecommunications Services from or upon the Property or (ii) build or operate any Telecommunications Facilities from or upon the Property... including but not limited to, antennas, towers, broadcasting and receiving devices, conduits, junction boxes, wires, cables, fiber optics, and any other necessary or appropriate enclosures and connections, and (cc) power generation serving the improvements, equipment and facilities described in subparts (aa) and (bb) of this definition.
Satellite dishes and antenna towers were seen on or near RVs and trailers throughout the open space. Red arrow indicates antenna tower (center) and satellite dish (right)
Electrical / Junction Boxes
Preferential Access
- As Riding Park Property Manager, Blenheim Facilities Management is contracted by the city to manage the publicly owned 70-acre Riding Park. - The Management Contract was not put out to bid despite city requirement that Professional Services Agreements (management contracts) over $125,000/year must be put out to bid. Why? - The property manager works simultaneously as VP of Marketing for Blenheim Equisports, an equestrian events company owned by the same family. Thus, Blenheim Facilities Management rents fields to themselves. Blenheim Equisports owns the dates for equestrian events and reserves the lion s share of event dates for themselves. - In addition, San Juan sports teams are supposed to be given priority for field rentals, but Blenheim sets the fees, and charges four times more than what the city charges for other city-owned fields. As a result, most soccer and sports groups cannot afford to rent fields at the Riding Park. - Soccer groups have been charged up to $8 per vehicle for parking at the Riding Park, while parking for equestrian events is free.
Why is Blenheim Equisports allowed to maintain their offices at our open space?
Revenue Considerations
Attempts are being made to convince the public that the Riding Park drives revenue to SJC businesses. However, the Ranch has plans to build up to 5 million sf of retail and commercial space, including upscale shopping and dining. It is unknown whether this will include hotels. This will directly compete with our downtown SJC merchants.
Sendero Gateway outside of SJC The first phase of the Ranch retail/commercial plan is currently under construction directly across the street from our open space. From Sendero Gateway marketing material: 100,000sf neighborhood retail center now under construction! Anchored by Gelson's and Rite Aid Located at the NEC of Antonio Parkway & Ortega Highway, just East of San Juan Capistrano Part of The Ranch s new village community, Sendero, consisting of more than 1,200 residential units & over 14,000 total units planned *** NOTE: 89% of equestrians competing at the Riding Park are from out of town
Rows of vendors at equestrian events sell everything from food to clothing and insurance. This also competes with downtown SJC merchants. The impacts on SJC businesses from the Ranch retail and vendors is unknown as it was not factored in to the recent Economic Development study.
ISSUES - Preferential access is given to property manager s events - Code / contract violations: Health & Safety / Environmental Violations Prohibited Uses Illegal Lodging/Tenancies Commercial Storage - Failure to put Management contract out to bid* *SJC Municipal Code, Sec. 3-4.304. Competitive bidding
If lease is renewed, the following conditions should be required in the management contract: 1a. All code and contract violations must be immediately cleaned up/fixed and maintained. b. Blenheim must agree to pay for construction and operation of recycled water line (current contract requires them to provide their own water), or make a substantial contribution to construction of recycled water line. City can work out payment arrangement. c. No overnight occupancy except during multi-day events, and then limited to 4 nights. Overnight event attendees must pay the city an occupancy tax to be set by the council.
d. Property Manager to provide calendar with event dates in advance of each year, including necessary maintenance days. e. Fees and scheduling for field rentals to be established by city staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission, and approved by the City Council. f. City staff to work with Parks and Recreation Commission to establish all non-priority (non-blenheim event) dates, fees and access.
2. Do not renew Blenheim s management contract due to poor management, numerous code/contract violations and limited access by SJC residents to their Open Space. Instead, put contract out to bid to find new management, with the goal of opening up access to SJC residents, SJC recreational equestrians and SJC sports groups, as promised to them by the Measure Y Open Space bond.
3. Sell the property and use the proceeds to purchase open space IN the city of San Juan as originally promised by Measure Y.