Volunteers business groups pitch in to help Save the ZOO

Volunteers, business groups pitch in to help “Save the ZOO”

Santa Rosa Chronicle staff report
August 16, 2007

Business and community volunteers met Tuesday at Holley Navarre Fire Station to strategize solutions to ZOO Northwest Florida’s financial woes.

Possibilities include business and government partnerships, commercial ventures, and increased fundraising efforts.

The facility carries a relatively low debt, say officials. But between debt service payments, storm losses and hurricane recovery, the Zoo’s been unable to push its financial head above water.

Now, authorities are faced with the option of closing, reducing the facility’s scope, or relocating, says Executive Director Doug Kemper.

“We’re currently operating in crisis mode,” he notes. “We’re in imminent danger of having to close, just due to economics.”

The animals are not suffering, he remarks “but our staff is working awfully hard.”

In 2004, the nonprofit Gulf Coast Zoological Society took over ZOO administration. At that time, the Society assumed the zoo’s existing $1.7 million debt, plus a $2.6 million lease/purchase agreement on the land.

Kemper says a $3 million capital influx would allow them to pay down the assumed debt principal, get a financial handle on operations, and put aside reserve funds for a rainy day.

Zoo operating needs have historically fallen $100,000 to $200,000 per year short, but donors have always stepped in to subsidize finances. The Zoo will be about $200,000 short this year, Kemper predicts.

Before the 2004/2005 storm season, he says, the facility was on its way to becoming self-sustaining.

But after Ivan and Dennis, the ZOO collected about $60,000 of approximately $600,000 in insurance claims.

The Society had just completed a Master Plan that included converting to 501c non-profit status, new exhibits and education facilities, when the hurricanes arrived. After Ivan, the park closed down for about six months to make repairs.

Today, the zoo needs a relatively small amount of capital to get its operational head above water, says Kemper. He says $3 million would place the facility on solid footing.

“We’re only a couple of hundred thousand a year short,” he notes.

Officials hope to garner $1 million in donations pledges this year, but raising that money has proven challenging.

While $3 million could place the ZOO on a comfortable operating footing, the facility itself would cost between $20 and $40 million to replace, according to estimates.

“So $4.3 million [the original debt plus mortgage amount] is a bargain,” Kemper observes. “We’re at risk of losing a great asset we have for virtually pennies. It is a steal. Surely our community doesn’t want to pass up this bargain.”

Possible solutions include government and corporate partnerships, such as:

*An upscale retail zone along the facility’s 1,200 road frontage featuring an ‘international’ style bazaar, boutiques, a food court, gardens and trails.

*Revamping the entrance and installing colorful animal shapes on the outside fence to make it more aesthetically appealing. Navarre’s Arts Association has agreed to lend a hand on the project.

*Selling more bricks inscribed with the purchaser’s name for walkway installation.

*A family restaurant in the facility’s Serengeti Room, currently being used to store animal feed.

*Establishing a donations trust.

*Officials hope to form a county-sponsored Zoo Authority to aid in obtaining economic development funding. Such funds are available from state and federal sources designed to bolster employment.

*Navarre Arts Council’s Dennis Boyce is writing a children’s book about The ZOO, the profits of which will go towards facility expenses, he notes.

Santa Rosa county government is currently in a position to provide administrative help, but does not have extra funding available to contribute towards ZOO recovery, says Commission Chair Tom Stewart.

Possible county involvement could include grants application assistance and management counseling.

“I would be tickled pink to sit down at the table and figure out what, as a county, we could do to help without additional tax dollars,” Stewart remarks. “But we don’t have the money right now to bail out anybody, much less the zoo.”

The ZOO contributes 90 jobs to the local economy, 50 of them directly at the facility, according to a UWF Haas Center study. It hosts 30,000 school children per year, including 120 state-funded homeschoolers per week, Kemper notes. Haas credits the facility with adding $6.5 million to the local economy.

Currently, 1,600 members hold annual entry passes, and officials are hoping more area residents and businesses will join. Family memberships cost $40 to $500 and corporate memberships vary according to company size.

The 50-acre Zoo property is located on prime Gulf Breeze real estate. Kemper says, to date, he’s not been contacted by any developers interested in buying it up if the ZOO goes under.

Holley-Navarre Fire Commissioner Lauretta Aiken organized Tuesday’s forum. Aiken says she’s written Governor Charlie Crist for help, but has thus far received no word back.

Upcoming ZOO events:

August 18 & 19: Save the ZOO rummage sale. Gulf Breeze Flea Market. Call 200-2845 or 936-4367 for more information.

August 25: Pancake breakfast, Longhorn Steakhouse, Destin, 8 a.m. to 10. Tickets available at the ZOO, Longhorn Steakhouse.

September 28: Feast with the Beast, 7 p.m. to Midnight, tickets are $80 per person, $120 per couple. Includes gourmet specialties, a ride on the Safari Line Ltd Train thru the 30 acre wildlife preserve, dance under the stars, with live entertainment from the Reunion Band, party and pose for a picture with an exotic "Beast."

October 13: Kidsfest, admission $5 plus a new toy. Entertainment, safety programs, exhibits and family activities.

November 15-18: Festival of Trees, local businesses will decorate trees for the holidays. For more info or to sponsor a tree, contact Darrin Land or Mark Tutin at 444-9532, email DarrinLand@myspayce.us or MarkTuten@myspayce.us.