CITY SEEKS OPERATOR FOR EQUESTRIAN CENTER.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Daily News Staff Writer

City staffers will now begin the process of looking for an operator for a proposed 25-acre equestrian center on a portion of land that was once part of Broome Ranch.

The Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, a joint board with members from the City Council and the Conejo Recreation and Park District, approved a conceptual plan for the new $1.7 million Rancho Potrero Equestrian Center on Wednesday and directed its staff to go out to bid for an operator.

``This is a fairly significant step because each potential operator has (his or her) own business plan and own style and that sort of thing,'' said Tex Ward, general manager of the recreation and park district.

The permanent facility would include boarding for up to 100 horses, a rental operation with 25 horses, lesson areas for 15 horses and storage and offices, he said.

City staffers hope to bring back to the board at the June 30 meeting the names of bidders to operate the facility, said Mark Towne, city coordinator of the conservation district. Once that is done, the site-planning process and the environmental impact report can begin.

The estimated cost to build the equestrian center is $1.7 million, and another $650,000 is needed to bring in the infrastructure - roads, water and electricity - to the site, Towne said.

The cost could change once the operator reviews the expenses, or if private capital goes into the project, he said.

Towne said in preliminary interviews with parties interested in either operating or developing the center, six different people indicated they might be willing to contribute anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000 toward the project.

Also the original target date to open the center by July 2000 will be delayed because the city is already six months behind on the project, he said. City staffers should have a better idea of an opening date by June 30, he said.

``Once all the permits are approved and the funding is in place, one could build (the equestrian center) in six months,'' Towne said.

``Obviously we are trying to move forward as quickly as possible,'' said Towne.

Two Winds Ranch, the city's only low-cost equestrian center, located about a mile away, will be allowed to stay open until the permanent facility is up and running, officials said.

The operator of Two Winds Ranch was among those who had expressed an interest in the new facility, Towne said.