City seeks proposals for equestrian center
Current tenant, Marina Equestrian Association, intends to submit a proposal before Jan. 4 deadline
MARINA >> The city of Marina is soliciting proposals for the lease and operation of the Marina Equestrian Center “that fully maximize the site’s potential as a multi-use recreational facility consistent with city goals and requirements” while current tenants, Marina Equestrian Association, continue their operations there.
The request for proposals to lease the Marina equestrian park and provide recreational facilities and programs to the public was issued in October and will close Jan. 4, 2021, by 5 p.m.
In early August, the city gave the Marina Equestrian Association 60 days to move the horses out of the center during the demolition of the Fort Ord Stockade next to the property out of concern for the horses’ welfare.
The Fort Ord Reuse Authority was obligated to the city of Marina for removal of the buildings and hazardous materials at the 13.4-acre stockade property east of the Marina Equestrian Center in compliance with the Base Reuse Plan.
At a council meeting on Aug. 18, the city was to decide on spending $2 million to demolish the stockade and discuss the verbal order it previously made to the Marina Equestrian Association to move.
But by mid-August, after the nearby River, Carmel and Dolan fires forced other stables to evacuate to the equestrian center, as well as some other Northern California areas affected by wildfires, and extensive public comment
at the mid-August Marina council meeting reinforced the importance of the facility, the 60- day notice to vacate horses was reconsidered.
“The City Council did rescind the notice at that meeting,” said Lindsey Beery, spokesperson for the Marina Equestrian Association.
Since then, the equestrian association has been hard at work proving itself and preparing to send in its own proposal in response to the request for proposals.
“There is no notice for (Marina Equestrian Association) to vacate the equestrian center,” said Marina City Manager Layne Long. “The demolition of the stockade has already begun. You probably won’t see the actual hauling away of debris until January 2021.”
According to city documents, the fixed term of the operating agreement with the Marina Equestrian Association ended on Jan. 31, 2005. Since that time the tenancy has continued as a month-to-month holdover tenancy and accordingly the equestrian association is entitled to not less than 30- days’ prior written notice of termination of the operating agreement.
The equestrian association has been the tenant of the Marina Equestrian Center for about two decades.
“Everything is status quo with ( Marina Equestrian Association), operating the same way they have been for years,” added Long.
Beery said that working under a month-to-month agreement makes it hard to invest in the facility, but she hopes the collaboration with other entities that would offer services under an umbrella Marina Equestrian Association would prove to be what the city and National Park Service
“There is no notice for (Marina Lquestrian Association) to vacate the equestrian center. The demolition of the stockade has already begun. You probably won’t see the actual hauling away of debris until January 2021.”
— Marina City Manager Layne Long
is looking for.
The facility has many historic former military buildings in need of rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, as well as the grounds that can be changed to best suit the programming to be proposed by the selected lessee.
According to the city of Marina, it is issuing the request for proposals for a concession agreement for the Marina Equestrian Center Park that was deeded from the federal government to the city in 1998 under the National Park Service’s Federal Lands to Parks Program. So the proposed uses of the property are expected to be consistent with the Quitclaim Deed and the Program of Utilization.
“City staff and our consultant will be evaluating all responses to the (request for proposals) and will be bringing a recommendation back to the City Council,” said Long. “Depending on what are the responses to the (request for proposals), we expect to be bringing something back to the City Council for consideration in February or March.”