News of the Arroyo
Title: | Council weighs stable options - Horse boarders protest changes |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2005-07-22 |
Summary: | June 22, 2005 - South Pasadena will seek new bids for the management of San Pascual Stables in the Arroyo Seco. After a contentious council meeting, the City Council voted to reopen bidding. |
Author: | Gene Maddaus, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star News |
Content: | Thursday, July 21, 2005 - SOUTH PASADENA -- The city will seek new bids for the management of the San Pascual Stables after finding deficiencies with two competing proposals. The C ity C ouncil chose to reopen the bidding Wednesday night over the vocal protests of dozens of horse boarders who want to see the current operator, Corbell Partnership, retain its lease. The boarders fear that if a new operator is brought in to run the stables, new barns will have to be built, and the construction will disturb the horses. But several council members feel the deal with Corbell, which has been running the stables for 27 years, is unfair to the city. Corbell earns $600,000 to $700,000 in revenues each year, but pays only $20,000 to $30,000 in rent to the city, said Councilman Michael Cacciotti. Corbell also has the right to match any competing offer to manage the stables. \"I don\'t know when that provision was put in for the right of first refusal,\' Cacciotti said. \"That portion is a sweetheart deal.\' The city has been considering a bid from Richard and Marie Knowles, boarders at the stables who have set up a group called the Arroyo Seco Equestrian Center Foundation. The couple proposes to run the stables as a nonprofit organization. But while it appears several councilmen are eager to find alternatives to Corbell, the Knowleses \' proposal has not satisfied them either. The council worries that the Knowleses have offered insufficient guarantees and that the transition and construction period could cause undue disruption to boarders. The council voted 4-0, with Mayor Odom Stamps absent, to seek new bids, which could take about three months. Councilman David Margrave agreed with the majority, though he seemed most inclined to renew the agreement with Corbell. \"I think Corbell\'s going to get it anyway,\' Margrave said. Both the Knowleses and Corbell Partnership are expected to remain in the running for the new lease, but it\'s unclear if a third party will come forward with a new offer. Several boarders shouted down the council members when it became clear that the council would not endorse a renewal of Corbell\'s lease on Wednesday night. Gene Maddaus can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4444, or by e-mail at gene.maddaus@sgvn.com . |
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