SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Council Debates Plan for Ranchland

A bitterly divided City Council clashed anew this week over a proposal to let a former colleague set up a temporary business on historic ranchland bought by the taxpayers two years ago.

Councilman Jeff Vasquez was pitted against Mayor Gil Jones and council members Gary L. Hausdorfer and Collene Campbell as the council--reluctantly but unanimously--agreed Tuesday to have City Atty. Richard K. Denhalter research the legality of offering the former Swanner Ranch rent-free to former Councilman Jerry V. Harris for a commercial, equestrian-oriented business.

“If this is something we are going to do--to give away land we are not using--we need to have a legal definition . . . so it’s fair,” Vasquez said. He and Councilwoman Carolyn Nash charged on Nov. 3 that the council majority was showing favoritism by granting Harris the exclusive right to negotiate a contract with the city to use the land over two other potential bidders.

Although they eventually agreed to have the city attorney look into the matter, Jones and Hausdorfer reacted angrily to Vasquez’s suggestion of a legal review, calling it a personal attack on Harris.

“This is personal and this is a political ploy,” a visibly upset Jones said, adding that no deal has been made and that the city was only in the negotiating stage.

Hausdorfer agreed, adding that the city has consistently let private contractors use public land. He cited the 56-acre Kinoshita Ranch, which is farmed privately but owned by the city.

“I have no problem with legal research, but it sounds rather political,” Hausdorfer said. “The only difference . . . appears to be Jerry Harris is involved.”

Harris, a local stables owner who served for one year as an appointed member of the council, wants to clear part of the 31.3-acre ranch of an abandoned orange grove and use the property--including a historic, two-story farmhouse--for community equestrian events. Because of a lack of funding, a similar city-backed plan for the property probably would not be implemented for at least five years, city officials said.

Harris said his business would give the public immediate access to the land, which was purchased for $6.95 million from the city’s Save Open Space Bond passed by voters in 1990. In lieu of rent, Harris would maintain the property, install an irrigation system and clear the area at no cost to the city.

“I thought we were fortunate to have someone in this community step forward,” Campbell said.

But Vasquez maintained his opposition, arguing that Harris would run a private, for-profit business on the property without paying the city rent. He added that if the city sought proposals for an interim use of the property, the public should have been notified.