MEPS VOWS TO WATCHDOG CITY STABLES

Local Advocates Concerned That No Long Term Commitment is in Council’s Feb 20th Resolution — Contract Allows Trial Program, Only Three Days a Week.

OAKLAND, Calif. (February 22, 2007)—Council took action Tuesday night on Oakland City Stables. They approved the recommendation of the Life Enrichment Committee to extend the Master Plan for the stables, close the RFP (Request for Proposal) process, and made a special arrangement with Tami and Bill MacKerracher, from Amador County, for day use of the arenas to run lessons and inner-city youth programs. Horses will not be stabled.

"MEPS was pleased and encouraged that Council members talked about supporting the stables in the long term, expressed a need for renovation and return to full use, but there was no language in the resolutions that makes this an official action or policy."
—Lise Stampfli Torme, MEPS founder

MEPS, the local non-profit applicant to the RFP process, wishes the MacKerrachers good luck, but wants the public to know that the stable is not saved yet. City Stables is not opened as a stable. The arenas are open for a haul-in program of lessons 3 days a week.

The special arrangement made with the MacKerrachers does not have to meet the requirements of the RFP. To help the MacKerrachers, the city will use $10,000 of city matching funds to do some clean up of the site specifically to remove broken corrals. The city will also pick up the cost of removing trash and manure. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the MacKerrachers is a short-term, 1 year contract with an evaluation in 6 months. The criteria for evaluation were not discussed. After 1 year the program provider may be offered the concessionaire contract or they may not.”We will continue to serve as an advocate for the stables and the area’s riders. We will remain vigilant about threats to City Stable’s future. MEPS invites the public to join them in this effort, to stay connected and in touch.” —Grace Neufeld, MEPS Board Member

MEPS wishes to thank its many supporters, who wrote, phoned and e-mailed council and showed up at council and committee meetings supporting the drive to reopen the stable.

"Without the public demonstrations of concern, there is no doubt that Oakland would have lost this precious resource for good."
—Judi Bank, MEPS President.

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