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ORDINANCE NO. 18,613
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3 AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE AN INCREASE IN FEES FOR
4 ADMISSION TO THE LITTLE ROCK ZOO; TO AMEND LITTLE ROCK,
5 ARK., ORDINANCE NO. 17,551 (AUGUST 5, 1997) TO ACCOMPLISH THIS
6 INCREASE; TO AMEND LITTLE ROCK, ARK., REV. CODE § 2 -214 (1988)
7 TO PERMIT THE ZOO BOARD OF GOVERNORS TO ESTABLISH
8 ADMISSION FEES FOR THE LITTLE ROCK ZOO FROM THIS POINT
9 FORWARD; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER
10 PURPOSES.
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12 WHEREAS, the City has not created a new structure for admission fees to the Little Rock
13 Zoo since 1997 as set forth in Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No. 17,551 (August 5, 1997) and,
14 WHEREAS, in Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No. 17,690 (March 17, 1998), the City
15 authorized the issuance of capital improvement revenue bonds pursuant to Amendment 65 of the
16 Arkansas Constitution, the proceeds of which would finance improvements to the Zoo and the
17 Little Rock Department of Parks & Recreation, and provided that the revenues from zoo and parks
18 and recreation activities, among other non -tax revenues, would be used to pay the debt service on
19 the bonds, and
20 WHEREAS, in 1999 the Board of Directors passed Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No. 17,927-
21 X (January 26, 1999), to formally create a separate zoo department within the City that would have
22 a Little Rock Zoo Board of Governors appointed to consult and advise on matters concerning the
23 operation and maintenance of the Little Rock Zoo, and
24 WHEREAS, on November 21, 2001, the Little Rock Zoo Board of Governors reviewed the
25 proposed 2002 budget for the Little Rock Zoo and, after reviewing admission fees at similar zoos in
26 the region, voted to recommend an increase in the gate admissions and membership fees to begin
27 on January 1, 2002, and to further recommend that the practice of free admission days at the Little
28 Rock Zoo be eliminated, and
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Ordinance
Little Rock Zoo Admission Fees
I WHEREAS, the efficient operation of the Little Rock Zoo has been established by such
2 achievements as accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the development
3 of plans for a major new exhibit to be entitled the African Veldt, the filling of various vacancies
4 such as curator, keeper, and veterinary technician, and the emphasis placed on conservation and
5 education programs such as the children's education stage and gazebo, and
6 WHEREAS, of the 23 zoos surveyed, 11 currently charge daily admission fees in excess of
7 seven dollars ($7,00) for adults, and 12 charge four dollars ($4.00) or more for youth, and
8 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
9 CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
10 Section 1. Section 1 of Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No. 17,551 (August 5, 1997), and all
11 previous ordinances or policies that deal with the admission rates, are hereby amended to provide
12 the following admission rates for the Little Rock Zoo:
13 (a) Adults (13 and over) $6.00 per day;
14 (b) Children 4.00 per day;
15 (c) Group discounts 1.00 per person.
16 Section 2. Section i of Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No. 17,067 (December 26,
17 1995), and all previous ordinances or policies that deal with group discounts or free days
18 at the Little Rock Zoo, are hereby amended as consistent with the terms and provision of
19 this ordinance.
20 Section 3. Little Rock, Ark., Rev. Code § 22 -214 (1988) is hereby amended to add
21 the following authority and duties to the Little Rock Zoo Board of Governors:
22 (i) To determine the appropriate rates for admission to the zoo,
23 and to adopt any policies for admission rates deemed
24 appropriate including, but not limited to, discount or group
25 rates, reciprocal zoo membership programs, whether to have
26 special days for free admission, or whether to establish
27 categories of membership fees for the zoo.
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Ordinance
Little Rock Zoo Admission Fees
I Section 4. Before any increase in admission fees, cancellation of special days for
2 free admission, or the establishment of any new category of membership, the Little Rock
3 Zoo Board of Governors shall conduct a survey of similar charges at zoos in surrounding
4 states, or in similarly situated cities, to determine how the increase for the Little Rock Zoo
5 compares.
6 Section 5. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence,
7 clause, phrase, or word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional,
8 such declaration or adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of the ordinance which
9 shall remain in full force and effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or
10 unconstitutional was not originally a part of the ordinance.
11 Section 6. Repealer. All resolutions, bylaws, and other matters inconsistent with this
12 resolution are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
13 Section 7. Emergency. The ability to properly plan for new exhibits at the Little Rock Zoo, to
14 assure that appropriate staffing is always in place, and to provide for the efficient operation and maintenance
15 of the educational and recreational activities at the Little Rock Zoo, is essential to the public health, safety,
16 and welfare; further, it is important for purposes of planning to have a definite start date for fee structures to
17 take effect; therefore, an emergency is declared to exist and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect on
18 January 1, 2002.
19 ADOPTED: December 18, 2001
20 PASSED: APPROVED:
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23 Nancy ood, Q ty Clerk f Ji iley, Mayor
24 APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
25 L� wl �✓h�,�
27 Thomas M. Carpenter, City A orney
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Ordinance
Little Rock Zoo Admission Fees