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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 15, 2016 TITLE: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR A ZOO MASTER PLAN (STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 2,2E) CITY MAN ER RECOMMENDED ACTION CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: ❑ As Recommended ❑ As Amended ❑ Ordinance on 1" Reading ❑ Ordinance on god Reading ❑ Implementing Resolution ❑ Set Public Hearing For„ CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER Authorize the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency -Zoo Division to issue a Request for Proposals to qualified companies to create a Zoo Master Plan, DISCUSSION The Santa Ana Zoo's Zoo Master Plan is the document used to direct the development of the zoo and its visitor services. The current master plan was adopted by the City Council in 1990. This master plan called for the Zoo to focus on the animal life and culture of Central and South America with an underlying theme of biomes and their relationship to water. Focusing on this unique South American theme helped the Santa Ana Zoo to compliment rather than compete with other local zoos. In 1998 the master plan was amended to include the current children's zoo and the Crean Family Farm. In the 26 years since 1990, the zoo industry has changed dramatically and the Zoo's present master plan is now dated. Instead of only presenting a broad menagerie of animals as was the practice in the past, zoos today are focusing on saving endangered animals from extinction while teaching visitors to conserve the animals and plants in their local communities and wildlands. Many of the animals that were called out in the 1990 Zoo Master Plan are no longer kept in American zoos. In the Zoo's last Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Accreditation Report, the commission noted that the Zoo's facility master plan and strategic business plan are both out of date and should be updated to reflect today's environment. The purpose of this study is to address the needs and opportunities related to future developments and improvements at the Santa Ana Zoo. The objective of the Master Plan is to create a shared vision, an operational roadmap, and a viable business plan for developing and promoting the Zoo as a vibrant conservation education center and valuable community resource with an important and unique animal collection that meets both current and future standards as measured by the community, AZA, and the United States Department of Agriculture. 191-1