The equestrian community is facing considerable challenges that need to be addressed.
Thank you for inviting me to the Yorba Linda Country Riders Equestrian Candidate Forum.
I have proudly served this community for the past 4 years. During this time I have kept my promise:
- to improve community communication,
- protect our open space and trail system,
- plan for responsible, community directed development,
- protect our community from increased crime
- support our business community and
- maintain a fiscally responsible City government.
The equestrian community is facing considerable challenges that need to be addressed.
- People are buying equestrian properties and converting them to non-equestrian uses
- As the community has grown up around the trail system, there are areas that are no longer safe to cross
- As portions of the city were developed, trails were included but not always successful in making them equestrian friendly- steep inclines, crossings on blind curves, crossings where there are metal grates, such as casino ridge
- There are portions of the trail system that are not interconnected or do not align as you cross a street
- The equestrian community is threatened as the economy shrinks and household dollars and "new riders" become scarce.
- We do not have an adequate emergency system to handle our larger animals. Many of your members performed heroic feats during our fire emergency to save horses that were in danger. Although their actions are applauded, they placed themselves and the animals they were saving in danger.
I believe we can do something to encourage the equestrian lifestyle in our community and hopefully stem the tide of homeowners purchasing your properties for non-equestrian uses and improve the participation of the community.
- I support and feel we can together do a better job of marketing the equestrian lifestyle and encourage others to participate:
o an equestrian day in the City on
- Bernardo Yorbas Birthday or some other notable individual
- along with a community outreach program
- I cannot change the heavy traffic challenges (for example in the town center) that create a huge risk to your animals and you the rider, but together we can strengthen the trail system by evaluating the entire trail system and continue to correct the crossing challenges.
- I have and will continue to work with the developers for the Murdock and Sage properties so their trails are connected appropriately and at a grade level that is safe for the rider and horse
- I do support the concept of a community stable or equestrian center. If the City has a parcel of land that is viable, I support privately funded facilities with a low cost land lease.
- Our current codes allow for private homeowners to house horses in greater numbers on their properties with a CUP. We can make that process easier to allow for the additional stalls, if the need presents itself.
- I support coordinating efforts with the Equestrian Coalition of Orange County group to formalize a large animal evacuation plan. I do not support the City performing this function because I know you are all sensitive to having the horses counted and the possibility of licensing. I believe this goal can be accomplished- equestrian to equestrian without government intervention.
I understand you are disappointed in the Equestrian Study that spent 70K of your dollars without a positive result. I did not support that study because it focused on one site only and one type of facility only.
I have and will continue to advocate on your behalf to improve safety on the trails, prevent encroachment and support the equestrian lifestyle in the City of Yorba Linda.
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