Laserfiche WebLink
• o Don Cribb spoke to the committee on the SA Council of the Arts & Culture <br />and the privatizing of the Zoo. <br />• SANTA ANA ZOO MANAGEMENT & ASSESSMENT STUDY <br />o Staff introduced Rick Biddle of Schultz and Williams and provided background <br />on the hiring of the firm on October 2011 to prepare a SA Zoo Management <br />and Assessment Study. <br />o Mr. Biddle (Schultz and Williams) indicated they met with staff, analyzed the <br />zoo operations and are prepared to present management options. <br />¦ Mr. Biddle indicated 238 zoos are accredited by AZA and 76% <br />are managed through private/public partnership. <br />¦ Other zoos are going through the same issues as Santa Ana <br />and his firm is currently doing 4 other zoo studies. <br />¦ Mr. Biddle indicated he found residents and staff were excited <br />about the zoo. The marketing theme of 50 monkeys, the 20 acre <br />zoo size, visitor experience, 230,000 to 250,000 visitations is <br />only limited by available parking. <br />o Mr. Biddle explained three options the city could consider: <br />¦ Option 1: Close the zoo (not recommended as an option) <br />¦ Option 2: Maintain status quo (short term option) <br />¦ Option 3: Private/Public Partnership <br />? Partnership with FOSAZ <br />? Management concept with the Discovery Science Center <br />• ¦ There may be an opportunity to leverage two options. <br />¦ Whatever the City decides, AZA wants to see Santa Ana's Plan. <br />¦ Overall, the city needs leadership for long term success. <br />o Councilmember Sarmiento asked "What's the difference between LA and <br />Dallas Zoo operation?" <br />¦ Mr. Biddle responded LA is still a City managed Zoo and the <br />Dallas Zoo is privately run with an annual subsidy adjustment. <br />o Don Cribb indicated the public has not been included in any conversation <br />related to the zoo operation analysis. <br />o Councilmember Sarmiento indicated: <br />¦ The future of the Zoo needs to be determined at some point. <br />¦ FOSAZ has done a great job, but we need to excel from where <br />we are? <br />¦ There is interest by others (Discovery Science Center) to help <br />market the zoo, but they may not be the only ones. <br />¦ FOSAZ will be consulted in the decision making process. <br />¦ Need to look at this very seriously; SEIU is here to help provide <br />information on the decision process. <br />¦ Need to revitalize the entire 1 st Street corridor and SA Zoo is an <br />anchor in this corridor. <br />o Councilmember Tinajero indicated zoo attendance has been level for several <br />years and went down when the economy changed. Recently we have seen a <br />• slight growth in attendance. <br />PREY Regular Meeting - MINUTES 2 May 21, 2012