Equestrian Center Adds New Group Fees

The City Council has approved a plan to charge nonprofit groups to use the city’s new equestrian center for their events.

The city’s Community Services Advisory Committee had recommended the move to help offset maintenance costs for the facility, which opened last June at 5301 Chesebro Road.

However, the council postponed a decision on whether Friends of Old Agoura Park, a booster group for the center, should have to pay the fees.

The group, which has held three fund-raisers there, points out that the money it raises goes to the facility, so it makes little sense to charge the group to use it.

“The bottom line is [the city is] getting the money anyway,” said Nona Green, a spokeswoman for the group.

In three benefits for the center, her group has raised $5,700, she said. It plans to hold a barrel racing clinic Aug. 10 and 11, she said, during which it hopes to raise $750.

A community task force organized to help set policy on the facility’s operation will discuss the matter June 20 and report back to the council, city officials said.

Under the plan approved last week by the council, nonprofit groups now will be charged a $100 fee and a $250 refundable cleaning deposit for each four-hour time block for horse shows, clinics and other events.

Smaller groups would be charged $10 per hour for each 1 1/2-hour stretch.

The new regulations limit the amount of time that groups can use the facility, and bar for-profit organizations altogether, to keep it free for more informal use.

Green said she believes the facility should be open to for-profit groups to bring in more revenue.

“It’s not like it’s used that much now,” she said.

She said she would like to see a survey done asking Agoura Hills residents how they would like the facility to be used.