Afterthoughts to last night's meeting

[Helen Welch]

Honorable Members of the Council,

After last night's meeting, I wanted to offer some additional information that you may find useful.

In 2003, the Orange County Business Journal stated Blenheim Equisports employed about 30 people year-round, including 20 handymen, carpenters and caretakers to maintain the facility. During the horse show season-March through September as many as 100 people worked there.

http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-california-metro-areas/929705-1.html

The settlement of the Smith-Brandes lawsuit ordered their partnership dissolved last year and decided that Brandes alone owned the horse show business.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/brandes-smith-operation-2190794-judge-one

http://newsblaze.com/story/2008100918454100001.pz/topstory.html

Brandes started a new company, Belstarr, which has entered into an agreement to develop a 122 acre show facility in Norco called Silverlakes.  Belstarr's presentation to the city of Norco is the first attachment to this e-mail.  The links below provide more information.

http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_silverlakes05.45b27a2.html

http://www.ci.norco.ca.us/depts/silverlakes/default.asp

The city of Norco had a groundbreaking party for Belstarr/Silverlakes a couple of weeks ago.  Brandes said then that he expects most of the facility to be ready by August 2010. Here is the news story.

http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_W_wsilverlakes12.48c85c4.html

The national governing body for equestrian sport, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), that licenses the shows held in San Juan Capistrano and upon whose board Robert Ridland (president of Blenheim EquiSports and Belstarr) sits, provides geographic protection to show management from competing shows by restricting licensed competitions in a 50 to 250 mile radius. (Second attachment to this message, pages 9 thru 14 describes USEF's mileage rule; California is in zone 10).  The actual mileage restriction depends on show type and rating. If Brandes moves his shows to Silverlakes, San Juan will likely be prevented from having competitive shows on similar dates.  And virtually no other dates are currently available for licensing.

Additionally, I am sure you are already aware that Blenheim Farms, Brandes' property adjacent to the parcels being considered by the city, is for sale.  The value of this property will likely be affected by the City's acquisition.

http://www.dreamhomesmagazine.com/Home.cfm?id=124268

I would like to say again that I believe acquiring the Rancho Mission Viejo property as open space could be a truly great opportunity for our town.  I also think it important in evaluating the public demonstration at last night's meeting that the facts that I have just discussed be considered.

Respectfully,

Helen Welch