BACKGROUND: The City of Los Angeles has proposed establishing an advisory board for the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. This proposal was first brought to the City Council on September 9, 2002. At that meeting a representative of the City of Los Angeles made a presentation explaining the purpose and composition of the proposed advisory board and asked for Burbank's participation. The Advisory Board will review and advise the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Board of Commissioners on various issues including capital improvements and remodeling at the Equestrian Center, equestrian trails, services offered and events, as well as review and recommend on any proposed non-equestrian events.

The Burbank City Council agreed that Burbank should take advantage of being offered "a seat at the table" but asked that certain modifications be made with regard to the composition of the advisory board and the manner in which appointments are made.

The most recent communication from the City of Los Angeles on this matter, a letter dated November 26, 2002, stated that the changes requested by Burbank have been made. (Letter is attached as Exhibit A.)

The changes include adding an additional representative from the City of Glendale so that there will be a total of 8 representatives on the Board (2 from the City of Burbank, 2 from the City of Glendale, 2 from the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and 2 from the City of Los Angeles), and allowing Burbank to choose it's own representatives.

The letter asked that Burbank appoint two representatives to be inaugural member of the Los Angeles Equestrian Center Advisory Board.

City of Glendale staff will be asking their City Council to solicit applications for advisor board representatives at their Jan 7^th meeting.

ANALYSIS: There was some concern amongst both Burbank and Glendale staff that participation on the Equestrian Center Advisory Board would somehow be viewed as an acceptance of non-equestrian activities at the Equestrian Center, before the environmental review issues are resolved. Staff feels that it is important that Burbank take advantage of the opportunity offered to have a voice in decisions affecting the Equestrian Center inasmuch as there could be impacts on Burbank. At the same time, however, it is important that the City Council make it clear that participation on the Advisory Board should not be interpreted as tacit approval to resume the scheduling of non-equestrian events. It is staff's position that non-equestrian events should not be considered without completing a thorough environmental review and putting in place conditions and mitigation measures to eliminate or reduce potential impacts.

In addition to having the City Clerk solicit applications for advisory board members, staff suggests also that a letter be sent to all residents in the Rancho residential area. This letter will explain the purpose of the advisory board, and make residents aware of the availability of applications for a position on the advisory board and the deadline for submittal. Inasmuch as Los Angeles has asked Burbank to submit the names of our advisory board members as quickly as possible, staff has prepared the attached solicitation letter for City Council's approval (Exhibit B). Staff recommends that the City Council choose 2 representatives to participate on the advisory board and two alternates. The alternates would replace the appointed members in the event that the appointed members could not serve.