SEATTLE - Seattle's City Council today approved an agreement between the City and the nonprofit Woodland Park Zoological Society (WPZS) for future operations and management of the zoo. Under the 20-year agreement, the zoo will remain under City ownership and the WPZS will manage it under a contract. The City will continue to provide public funding, including the $2.5 million earmarked for the zoo each year of the Pro Parks Levy.

"We're delighted the Council has passed this agreement," said Zoo Society Board Co-Chair Maggie Walker, "and we thank Mayor Paul Schell and Councilmember Jan Drago, chair of the Finance, Budget & Economic Development Committee, for their leadership. The agreement will help preserve the zoo as a cherished community resource, while enabling us to fulfill our mission of being a national leader in wildlife conservation and education," she added.

"This partnership with the Woodland Park Zoo Society is a major milestone for the City of Seattle," noted Drago. "It represents our commitment to a world-class zoo. I am very pleased with the passage of this agreement."

The agreement brings Seattle in step with other zoos around the country that have moved to nonprofit management. Nationally, about 60 percent of city-owned zoos are run by nonprofit boards or governing bodies. Zoo experts say this model is a better approach, enabling zoos to be operated more in keeping with their mission.

Councilmember Nick Licata, who chairs the Culture, Arts & Park Committee, agreed that this governing approach will be better for Woodland Park Zoo. "This is the beginning of a bright, new future for the zoo, and I think the City of Seattle will benefit greatly," he said. "In negotiating this agreement, the Zoo Society has been very responsive to citizens' suggestions for improving accountability to the public," added Licata.

The WPZS has contributed more than $50 million to the zoo over the past decade to support new exhibits and educational programs. In support of this agreement, in addition to its ongoing annual support for zoo operations, the WPZS is committed to generating another $60 million for ongoing needs for animal exhibits, education programs and support facilities.

The agreement also lays out a series of performance standards and financial audits to ensure sound fiscal management and public accountability, and contains many "safety valves" to ensure both parties meet all contract requirements.

The transition to nonprofit management has been in the works since 1995. The 50-member Zoo Commission II appointed by then-Mayor Norm Rice was charged with crafting recommendations on the future of zoo funding and operations. The Commission, after concluding that the dual-management system is cumbersome and duplicative, recommended unified management by the WPZS under a contract with the City. Mayor Paul Schell accepted the recommendations and directed City staff to work with the WPZS to develop the agreement.

Mayor Paul Schell added, "I'd like to thank the Zoo Society for its vision and willingness to enter into a partnership that will make Woodland Park Zoo one of the greatest zoos in the world. In a time of constrained public resources, it's especially important to think and act creatively."

To lay the legal groundwork for the agreement, the City secured authority from the State Legislature to enter management contracts for both Woodland Park Zoo and The Seattle Aquarium; included funding for zoo projects and programs in the 2000 Pro Parks Levy; made substantial progress on the zoo's Long-Range Plan and environmental impact statement; and worked through labor issues relating to the transfer of City employees to the WPZS.

To see the City of Seattle/Zoo Society agreement, click on the following link to the Seattle Parks and Recreation Web site:
http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/projects/zoo_management_agreement.htm