Report Prepared by: Christopher Jensen, Director, Parks & Community Services
Title
SUBJECT: Acceptance and Appropriation of a Private Donation in the Amount of $200,000 to the Parks and Community Services Department to Fund the Third Zookeeper at Applegate Zoo for Three Consecutive Years
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers accepting and appropriating a private donation of $200,000 to fund a third Zookeeper for three consecutive years.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting the donation of $200,000 to cover the expense for a third Zookeeper for three consecutive years; and,
B. Increasing Donation Revenue in Fund 1018-Parks and Community Services in the amount of $65,085 and appropriating the same for the first year’s funding for Zoo Personnel Expenses; and,
C. Accepting the remainder of $134,915 into a deposit account until the year it is needed to be used; and,
D. Approving to reallocate $65,085 from General Fund transfer for 1018 4010- Zoo Personnel Expenses to Ballfield Maintenance, account 1018 4020- Fields & Facilities Operating Materials & Supplies.
Body
AUTHORITY
Municipal Code Section: Article VI, Sec. 606, Sec. 1105 and Administrative Policy A-49, Donation and Gift Policy.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
This donation aligns with the City Council’s FY 2025/26 Goals and Priorities to increase revenue and decrease expense at Merced Applegate Zoo.
DISCUSSION
In June 2021, the Daniel R. Martin Family Foundation approached Applegate Zoo staff with interest in providing a financial contribution to the facility. The Foundation representative inquired as to the greatest need of the Zoo, and the cost associated.
Zoo staff indicated that greatest need was a third full-time zookeeper. The City accepted the donation and entered into a Cost Sharing Agreement with the Daniel R. Martin Foundation. The donation covered approximately half of the salary and benefits of the third Zookeeper for the past three years while the City was required to match the contribution for the position.
As a result of this initial investment by the Daniel R. Martin Foundation, Merced Applegate Zoo has been able to increase revenues, create a variety of new activities for visitors at the facility, and enhance animal welfare and the overall guest experience.
A private supporter of Merced Applegate Zoo has been following the progress the City has made with the additional position and the resulting impacts and has requested to make a single, one time, donation of $200,000 to the City to continue funding the third fulltime Zookeeper at Merced Applegate Zoo for another three years. The conditions of the donation include that the donor remain anonymous, that the entire donation must all go towards the expense of the third zookeeper, and that any remaining balance after the three-year expense of the Zookeeper must be used at Merced Applegate Zoo.
The Director of Parks & Community Services has met with the donor to discuss the terms and conditions and has found no conflict of interest or any other potential issue with the acceptance of the proposed donation. It is the recommendation of the Department of Parks & Community Services that the City accept the donation and wait until the third year (FY 27/28) to determine how much funding, if any, would remain available to be spent on Merced Applegate Zoo after the expense for the Zookeeper position has been covered.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
This donation would increase City revenues for Merced Applegate Zoo and offset existing and future expenses related to a third Zookeeper. The City will need to accept the funding into two separate accounts. One to cover the salary and benefit expenses for the first year. The Deposit account will hold the remaining balance for year 2 and year 3 of the expenses related to the third Zookeeper position which will be appropriated in the annual budget process.
Parks and Community Services Department is asking to reallocate the General Fund allocation for the third Zookeeper of $65,085 in FY25-26 adopted budget to Field & Facilities Materials and Supplies which will be used purchase the infield laser leveling, grooming and aeration equipment.
This item will require five affirmative votes from Council for approval.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Donation Acceptance Form
2. Administrative Police A-49 - Donation and Gift Policy