HomeMy WebLinkAbout10100RESOLUTION NO. 10100
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $25,000 FROM THE CONTINGENCIES
ACCOUNT IN THE 2004 GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO THE PUEBLO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1.
The transfer of $25,000 to the Pueblo Zoological Society is hereby approved.
SECTION 2.
Said funds shall be transferred from the Contingencies Account in the 2004 General Fund
Budget.
INTRODUCED April 26, 2004
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Michael Occhiato
Councilperson
ATTESTED B'
CITY CLERK
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Background Paper for Proposed
RESOLUTION
AGENDA ITEM # tj
DATE: April 26, 2004
DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
LEE R. EVETT, CITY MANAGER
DAVE GALLI, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
TITLE
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $25,000 FROM THE
CONTINGENCIES ACCOUNT IN THE 2004 GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO THE
PUEBLO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ISSUE
The Pueblo Zoological Society is requesting additional funding from the City for
their 2004 operations (see attached letter from Zoological Society). The Zoo is
requesting an additional $25,000 from the City and a similar amount from Pueblo
County. They will also be seeking funds from School Districts 60 and 70.
RECOMMENDATION
This Resolution is placed on the agenda at the request of Councilman Ortiz.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
$25,000 will be disbursed from the Contingencies Account in the 2004 General
Fund Budget (see attached spreadsheet of balance in Contingencies Account).
03/19/2004 10:43
719 - 561 -8686 PUEBLO ZOOLOGICAL SO PAGE
Pueblo Zoological Society
3455 Nuckolls Avenue
Pueblo, CO 81005 -1234
Phone: (719) 561 -1452
Fax: (719) 561 -8686
Randy Thurston, President
Pueblo City Council
City Hall
1 City Hall Place
Pueblo, CO 81003
Dear President Thurston and Council Members:
02
We thank you for your past financial support and your continued encouragement as we work in
Partnership with the City in the operation and improvement of the Pueblo Zoo.
During 2003, the Society Board, staff, and volunteers worked extremely hard to cope with a 5% cut in
the City allocation to the facility by conducting a grant- funded marketing assessment and a pro Bono
study of the gift shop and snack bar, then instituting many of their recommendations. Fundraising
efforts were stepped up, and many new money- saving measures were undertaken. Last year,
successful marketing efforts resulted in attendance topping 100,000 for the first time in the history of
the Zoo. However, since the facility is already operated on a shoestring budget, supplemented by the
work of many volunteers, we feel the maximum impact of these actions has been reached.
Thus, as we approach the end of the first quarter of 2004, we are very concerned that the 13%
decrease in City funding to the Zoo since 2002, coupled with increased costs (particularly of utilities,
insurance, and maintenance), may seriously jeopardize operation of the facility and its education
programs. Therefore, we find it necessary to come to you at this time to request a one -time allocation
of $25,000 to help us meet a projected budget shortfall of nearly $60,000. We also are seeking funds
from other sources including the County and both local school districts as well as working to
continue to build the Zoo's earned revenues.
In addition to this short-term funding, we would appreciate your working with us to consider future
funding of Zoo operations as well financing growth of the facility and its education programs.
Thank you for consideration of our proposal. If you need any further information or would like for
us to make a presentation at one of your work sessions, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Ll'� .n�'�'
da Stefanie Jonnene McFarland
President Executive Director
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