Title
[Contract] Thirteenth Amendment to Sacramento Zoological Society Operating Agreement
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FileID
File ID: 2026-01539
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Location
Location: Sacramento Zoo, District 7
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Pass a Motion authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute the Thirteenth Amendment to City Agreement No. 97-021 with the Sacramento Zoological Society related to the potential expansion of the Sacramento Zoo.
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Contact
Contact: Dustin Hollingsworth, Assistant Director, (916) 808-5538, djhollingsworth@cityofsacramento.org; Megan Van Voorhis, Director, (916) 808-5979, mvanvoorhis@cityofsacramento.org; Convention and Cultural Services
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Presenter
Presenter: Dustin Hollingsworth, Assistant Director, 916-808-5538, djhollingsworth@cityofsacramento.org, Convention and Cultural Services; Elizabeth Stallard, Board President, Sacramento Zoological Society
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-97-021-13 Sacramento Zoo Partnership Agreement
3-Zoo MOU Working Group Meeting Summaries
4-090126 City Council Zoo Presentation
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: The Sacramento Zoological Society (Society) operates the Sacramento Zoo pursuant to City Agreement 97-021, executed with the City in 1997. On April 28, 2026, City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Society (Contract No. 2026-0397). The MOU expires on September 1, 2026.
The MOU memorialized the agreed upon terms between the City and Society to explore potential expansion of the Zoo by approximately 5.8 acres, comprised of two adjacent parcels within Land Park. The proposed expansion area includes the 4.4-acre City parcel across Land Park Drive from the Zoo known as the “Pony Ride” area, and the 1.4-acre City parcel adjacent to the northern property line of the Zoo. The MOU reflected the City’s and Society’s commitment to explore the Zoo’s expansion without binding the City to any approval, action or funding at that time, nor did it amend the existing operating agreement.
Executing the proposed Thirteenth Amendment to Agreement 97-021 establishes the terms through which the City and Society may continue to explore and further define a potential expansion of the Zoo. The City will only provide to the Society the use of the property and improvements in the 5.8 acre expansion area, as indicated on Exhibit A-2 of the amendment, pursuant to the following terms:
• The proposed expansion area will not become part of the zoo unless the Society fulfills all related and applicable California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, and not unless the City makes applicable amendments to the 2003 Sacramento Zoo Concept/Vision Plan.
• The City retains all rights to weigh environmental impacts related to the expansion, and if City finds such impacts unacceptable, may halt the expansion or require Society to address the impacts.
• If the expansion moves forward, the Society is required to pursue the agreed-upon improvements consistent with the terms of Zoo Agreement 97-021. Failure by the Society to diligently pursue such improvements after approval shall constitute grounds for the City, in its sole discretion, to withdraw all or portions of the area indicated on Exhibit A-2 from the agreement.
• The Society is required to remove, stabilize or restore any partially completed work if the area indicated in Exhibit A-2 is withdrawn.
The proposed amendment to Zoo Agreement 97-021 establishes the necessary and appropriate actions in connection with the Zoo expansion based on the results derived from activities related to the MOU. Additional details about the activities undertaken within the scope of the MOU are located in the Background section of this report.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The proposed amendment supports the City’s 2040 General Plan Goal YPRO-4.1 to provide a diversity of arts, culture, and learning opportunities, facilities and programs for people of all ages to improve knowledge of Sacramento’s history, enhance quality of life, and enrich community culture, and policies that encourage partnerships with organizations to support cultural educational activities and programming, children’s programming, and reinvestment in City facilities.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: The report concerns administrative activities that will not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review [CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3); 15378(b)(2)].
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Sustainability
Sustainability: Not applicable.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: It is anticipated that expanding the current footprint of the Zoo would serve the community by allowing the Society to make improvements that would positively impact the animals and visitors and enhance the ability of the Society to pursue its mission of inspiring a connection with nature and wildlife through education, recreation, and conservation. The space constraints of the current Zoo location make it exceedingly difficult for the City and Society to adequately plan for future accreditation and economic viability.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: There are no additional costs associated with approval of this amendment. Any future action by City shall be subject to City Council discretion and all applicable legal requirements.
The Society does receive annual operational funding for the Zoo that will not be impacted by the proposed amendment or potential expansion. For FY2026/27 the Society will receive approximately $316,299 from the Community Center Fund (Fund 6010) for the cost of the City positions (2.0 FTE) at the Zoo along with limited services and supplies. Future funding will be based on the adopted budgets for the applicable fiscal years. Society also receives approximately $50,000 annually from Funderland revenue. Funderland revenue is shared equally among the Fairytale Town Fund, the Sacramento Zoo Fund, and the Land Park Improvement Fund, as defined by City Agreement No. 2006-0258 and its amendments, and Resolutions 88-1076 and 89-014.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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Background
Background: The Sacramento Zoo has been in Land Park since 1927. The Sacramento Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation and has operated the Sacramento Zoo through City Agreement No. 97-021 since 1997. The Zoo serves approximately 500,000 visitors annually. The Zoo provides a home to more than 300 animals, diverse botanical life, and several specialized gardens.
In June 2025, the City and Society executed the Twelfth Amendment to extend the term of the Agreement for three years through June 30, 2028, to give the Society and City time to work together to analyze the operational conditions for continued and future operation of the Zoo in Land Park, including issues regarding space constraints. In addition, the City and Society agreed to engage in good faith negotiations with each other concerning the creation of a new partnership agreement for operation of the Zoo.
In September 2025, the Society requested that the City allow the Zoo to expand its operating footprint by approximately 5.8 acres to address space constraints and allow the Zoo to remain in Land Park long-term.
On April 28, 2026, City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Sacramento and Sacramento Zoological Society (Contract No. 2026-0397) to explore the Society’s proposal. The MOU expires on September 1, 2026.
The MOU memorialized the agreed upon terms between the City and Society to explore potential expansion. The proposed expansion area includes the 4.4-acre City parcel across Land Park Drive from the Zoo known as the “Pony Ride” area, and the 1.4-acre City parcel adjacent to the northern property line of the Zoo. The MOU reflected the City’s and Society’s current commitment to explore the Zoo’s expansion without binding the City to any approval, action or funding at that time, nor did it amend the existing operating agreement.
Specific activities intended to be undertaken within the scope of the MOU included:
• Evaluation of implications for the current Parks Master Plan (in reference to the William Land Park - Site Amenities Plan)
• Development of a phasing plan for an expansion area and identify interim opportunities for improvements at the Zoo
• Development of a community engagement strategy to provide opportunities for the public to learn about the proposed expansion and provide feedback, including three working group meetings prior to the expiration of the MOU.
• Explore needed amendments to the Zoo’s operating agreement including:
o Design opportunities for the expansion area as a “contiguous campus” consistent with accreditation requirements and operational needs
o Society’s identification of funding sources for development/improvement
o Impacts to historical features, mature trees, utilities, traffic and parking, and need and timing of environmental documents such as CEQA review.
Activities within the scope of the MOU that have been completed thus far include:
• Determination that the proposed expansion does not trigger amendments to the Parks Plan 2040.
• Determination that any expansion of the Zoo would require the City and Society to comply with all applicable CEQA requirements.
• The Society has modified the proposed expansion area to exclude the Swanston Statue and adjacent gazebos and garden.
• The City and the Society convened a working group that included representatives from the Land Park Community Association, the Upper Land Park Neighbors Association, the South Land Park Neighborhood Association, the Land Park Volunteer Corps and Preservation Sacramento, for the purpose of providing input and suggestions regarding the proposed Zoo expansion. Working group meetings were held on May 28, 2026, June 15, 2026, and July 16, 2026, at the Zoo.
• Society held two community input sessions, hosted an informational webinar, and had informational tables set up at the Zoo during two of their Community Days, with reduced admission costs to the Zoo. In addition, the Zoo had information available and provided a link for feedback on their website.
• Convention and Cultural Services staff presented an informational update regarding the progress of the MOU to the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission at their August 6, 2026, meeting and to the Preservation Commission at their August 19, 2026, meeting. Comments from the Commissions were generally supportive while wanting to ensure consideration for park resources.
Attachment 3 includes the Zoo Working Group Meeting Summaries and additional written statements of concern provided by members of the Working Group.
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