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ORDINANCE NO. 17,927 -x
AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE THAT THE PARKS &
RECREATION SYSTEM WILL CONSIST OF A PARKS
& RECREATION
DEPARTMENT
AND A
ZOO
DEPARTMENT;
TO CREATE
THE
ZOO
DEPARTMENT; TO CREATE A ZOO BOARD OF
GOVERNORS; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, the City of Little Rock currently maintains an efficient parks and
recreation system which includes, among other things, parks, open space, athletic fields,
tennis facilities, swimming pools, a zoological museum, fitness centers, golf courses,
senior adult centers, and other facilities,
E
48
15 WHEREAS, the City has maintained its zoological museum as a part of the
16 Department of Parks & Recreation, and
17 WHEREAS, the Board of Directors recognizes and endorses the need for a quality
is zoo that serves as an educational and recreational facility for the benefit of City citizens
19 and visitors, and
20 WHEREAS, the Board also recognizes the need for a facility that protects the zoo
21 collection and grounds, and
22 WHEREAS, the zoo recently lost its U.S. Department of Agriculture exhibitor's
23 license temporarily, and has lost its accreditation from the American Aquarium and
24 Zoological Association, and
25 WHEREAS, as a result of these events the Mayor appointed a task force to study
26 problems at the zoo and to make recommendations for the solution of any problems
27 found to exist, and
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(Assigned duplicate number in error.),
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WHEREAS, this task force believes that a new organizational structure for the
zoo must be in place which is consistent with the covenants contained in bond 49
documents for the recent 1998 Parks & Recreation bond issue, and
WHEREAS, this task force has now decided upon a recommendation for the
Board of Directors,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
Section 1. Statement of Policy. The City of Little Rock shall maintain an
efficient parks and recreation system which, among other things, shall include parks,
open space, athletic fields, tennis facilities, swimming pools, a zoological museum, fitness
centers, golf courses, senior adults centers, and other facilities dedicated to enhancing the
quality of life for the citizens and visitors to the City. The operation of these programs,
and the maintenance of these facilities, shall be assigned to two City departments: A
Parks & Recreation Department, with supervisory authority for the operation and
maintenance of the facilities and programs of the parks and recreation system other than
the zoo; A Zoo Department, with supervisory authority for the operation and
maintenance of the facilities and programs at the Little Rock Zoo.
18 Section 2. Zoo Department. The Zoo Department shall be a separate
19 department of the City with a department head known as the Director of the Zoo who
20 shall be the person immediately responsible for the continued and efficient operation
21 of the facilities, structures, and programs at the Little Rock Zoo.
22 Section 3. Little Rock Zoo Board of Governors. A Little Rock Zoo
23 Board of Governors is created to review, consult and advise the City on matters
24 concerning the operation and maintenance of the Little Rock Zoo. It shall consist of
25 nine members, appointed by the Board of Directors, seven of whom shall serve for
26 staggered terms of three years after the initial cycle of terms. One member of the Board
27 of Governors shall be a sitting member of the Board of Directors and shall serve at the .
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1 pleasure of the Board of Directors. One member shall be the City Manager and shall
2 serve while employed in that position. The initial seven members of the Board of
3 Governors, other than the Board of Directors member and the City Manager, shall draw
4 lots to see which three members shall serve an initial term of three years, which two shall
5 serve an initial term of two years, and which two shall serve an initial term of one year.
6 Except for the Board Member and the City Manager, no person shall be allowed to serve
7 on the Commission for more than two consecutive three year terms, nor in any event,
e more than eight continuous years.
9 Section 4. Authority and Duties of the Commission. The Zoo Board of
10 Governors shall have the following authority and duties:
11 (A) To hold periodic meetings not less than once a month, which
12 are open to the public and for which minutes shall be maintained,
13 to perform the other duties required by this ordinance;
14 (B) To consult with and advise the Director of the Zoo, and to
15 recommend policies and plans for the operation, maintenance, or
16 expansion of zoo facilities and programs to the City;
17 (C) To consider, and if desired to interview, applicants for the
1e position of Zoo Director, whenever there is a vacancy in that
19 position, and to recommend a list of three finalists, in order of
20 preference if so desired, to the City Manager from which a new Zoo
21 Director shall be hired;
22 (D) To appoint members to the Friends of the Zoo, Inc., Board
23 of Directors, a not - for - profit corporation which solicits donations
24 for the sole purpose of making improvements to the Little Rock Zoo
25 and, that has amended its bylaws to permit the Board of Governors
26 to exercise such appointment power;
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17 enumerated in this ordinance to operate and improve the Little
18 Rock Zoo, provided that such authority does not violate or conflict
19 with state law, subject the City or any of its employees to liability,
20 or is contrary to the covenants of any outstanding bond issues.
21 Section 5. Severability. In the event any title, subtitle, section, subsection,
22 subdivision, paragraph, subparagraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this
23 ordinance is declared to adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or
24 adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance which shall remain
25 in full force and effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or
26 unconstitutional was not originally a part of this ordinance.
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I
(E) To consult with and advise the Director of the Zoo annually
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to determine the financial needs for the zoo and to report these
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budget needs for the next year to the City Manager for inclusion in Jr
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the City's budget process, provided that any budget
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recommendation will assure that the City's covenants pursuant to
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any outstanding parks and recreation revenue bond issues are met;
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(F) To authorize the expenditure of monies donated to the City,
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for the use and benefit of the Zoo Department, to the extent
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permitted by the City Manager, provided these expenditures shall
to
be for the operation, maintenance, enhancement of the collection,
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or capital improvements of the Zoo;
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(G) To submit to the City an annual report that addresses the
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state of the operations, facilities, and programs at the Little Rock
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Zoo.
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(H) To have all authority, subordinate to that of the City Board
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of Directors, or the City Manager, which is not specifically
17 enumerated in this ordinance to operate and improve the Little
18 Rock Zoo, provided that such authority does not violate or conflict
19 with state law, subject the City or any of its employees to liability,
20 or is contrary to the covenants of any outstanding bond issues.
21 Section 5. Severability. In the event any title, subtitle, section, subsection,
22 subdivision, paragraph, subparagraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this
23 ordinance is declared to adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or
24 adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance which shall remain
25 in full force and effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or
26 unconstitutional was not originally a part of this ordinance.
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1 Section 6. Repealer. All ordinances, resolutions, or regulations, or any parts
2 of such documents, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are
3 hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency. 52
a Section 7. Emergency. The efficient operation of the Little Rock Zoo, the
5 continuation of a valid exhibitor's permit, as well as the attainment of accreditation, of
6 the Little Rock Zoo, is essential to the public health, safety and welfare. In addition, the
7 efficient operation and management of a zoo facility and programs is essential to the
8 City's ability to meet the covenants contained in the documents supporting the 1998
9 Parks Si Recreation revenue bond issue, and meeting these covenants helps to maintain
10 a positive financial position for the City which is essential to the public health, safety
11 and welfare. It is important that the provisions of this ordinance go into effect quickly
12 so the hiring of a new zoo director can move forward expeditiously and, so fund raising
13 for various zoo facilities and activities can continue unabated. An emergency is therefore
14 declared to exist and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the
15 date of its adoption.
16 PASSED: January 26, 1999
17 ATTEST: APPROVED:
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20 Robbie Hancock, City Clerk Jim Dal, Mayor
21 APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
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23 yS -- (�(� • C
24 Thomas M. Carpenter, Nty Attorney
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