Elk Grove City Council Approves New Zoo at Elk Grove Project on May 8, 2024
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Elk Grove City Council Regular Meeting – May 8, 2024
The Elk Grove City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, from 6:02 p.m. to 11:21 p.m. The meeting included presentations, public comments, consent calendar approvals, a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan, and a major public hearing on the New Zoo at Elk Grove project. The council voted to approve environmental certification, rezoning, project design, and a naming policy deviation for the zoo, and provided direction on financing terms.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7.1–7.12): council meeting minutes; city manager purchases report; RFP report; speed limit ordinance; wireless facility separation requirements; special tax ordinances for Community Facilities District annexations; fireworks violations ordinance; police grant for safety barriers; treasurer’s report; street maintenance district annexation resolution; and a declaration of covenants for Elliott Springs Preserve.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non‑agenda public comments: Lynn Wheat critiqued the city’s history of “Mecca” projects; Alexander Hampton and Armando Murillo urged prevailing wage and healthcare requirements for construction workers; Steve Lee questioned legal costs for the Oak Rose lawsuit; Michael Manoski opposed the zoo on cost, animal welfare, and land‑use grounds; Mike Buchanan requested improvements to Bone Alley for disabled residents.
- Consent item 7.12: Lynn Wheat objected to deferring fencing at Elliott Springs Preserve until December 2025, arguing it prioritizes marketing over habitat protection.
- Consent item 7.4: Michael Bones questioned high speed limits and the zoo’s traffic projections.
- Public hearing on the zoo (item 8.2): Over 40 speakers testified. The vast majority (estimated 91–96% of written comments) expressed support. Supporters included educators, business owners (e.g., Chick‑fil‑A owner Kyle Atwater), zoo staff, veterinary professionals, union representatives, and residents. They cited educational opportunities, economic benefits, conservation, and community identity. Opponents raised concerns about financing risks, bond oversight, animal captivity, and lack of a public vote.
Discussion Items
- Presentation of Awards: The city received an International Slurry Surfacing Association (ISSA) Pavement Preservation & Sustainability Program Award. A proclamation recognized May as Building Safety Month.
- City Manager’s Report: Announced Bike Month, Wagon Walk, community survey, pet food drive, youth commission food drive, and Big Truck Day.
- CDBG 2024‑2025 Action Plan (Item 8.1): Staff reported no public comments and a higher‑than‑expected federal allocation; adjustments will increase the administrative line item and the curb‑ramp project. Approved unanimously.
- New Zoo at Elk Grove Project (Item 8.2): The council received a detailed presentation from staff, design team (SHR Studios), Franklin High School students (3‑D visualization), and the Sacramento Zoological Society. Key points:
- Project scope: 302 million total cost for Phases 1A/1B; $260 million on‑site, $44 million off‑site improvements.
- Financing plan: $62.5 million city pay‑go (discretionary reserves), casino payments, community facility district funds, Measure A funds; $80 million from partners (energy, animal care, $50 million from Zoological Society); $114.5 million debt‑financed (30‑year bonds, ~$7.8 million annual payment). The plan does not use the rainy‑day reserve or Measure E funds.
- Attendance projections: 850,000 annual visitors (63% increase over current zoo), with first‑year spikes; 1.6 million visitors per year cited by a speaker.
- Environmental review: EIR certified; significant unavoidable impacts on vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions, but mitigation measures applied.
- Economic impact: Over five years, $4 million in city sales and lodging taxes; 2,400 construction jobs; $171 million labor income; ongoing 176 indirect/induced jobs.
- Public engagement: 30 community events; over 300 comments received (91–96% supportive).
- Council deliberation: Councilmembers Suen, Brewer, Robles, and Mayor Singh‑Allen expressed support, citing community backing, economic benefits, and risk assessment. Councilmember Spease raised concerns about taxpayer risk and proposed three conditions: (1) bond oversight committee, (2) $50 million cash in hand before on‑site construction, (3) full cost review before bond issuance. After debate, the council voted to approve the first four action items (EIR, SPA, project approvals, naming policy) but did not adopt Spease’s conditions. Staff received direction to work with the Zoological Society on financing terms, emphasizing the need for donor confidence.
Key Outcomes
- Votes:
- Adopt resolution certifying the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the New Zoo at Elk Grove – unanimously approved (5‑0).
- Introduce and waive first reading of ordinance establishing the Zoological Park Special Planning Area (SPA) and rezoning – unanimously approved (5‑0).
- Adopt resolution amending the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan, approving Conditional Use Permit, Tentative Subdivision Map, District Development Plan, Level 1 Design Review, and Art Plan; and finding consistency with the General Plan for CIP listing – unanimously approved (5‑0).
- Adopt resolution providing a compelling reason to deviate from the Naming Policy and create alternative naming process for zoo buildings – unanimously approved (5‑0).
- On financing terms (agenda item 5), the council provided direction to staff to finalize the agreement with the Sacramento Zoological Society; Councilmember Spease’s proposed conditions were not adopted, but a bond oversight committee will be considered as part of the agreement.
- Referrals: The council agreed to bring a presentation on noise ordinance review to a future meeting.
- Next steps: Staff will finalize the financing agreement, pursue SB 739 (construction manager at risk), and return to council with the final agreement and operating agreement.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, everyone. Good evening. If we can get everyone to settle down, that would be great. So we can conduct the business. So we have reconvened from close session. And I would like to make the following disclosure by a five to zero vote. The city council authorized and direct to the city attorney's office to defend the case of Higashi versus the City of Elk Grove Animal Services, as identified by the case number on the City Council meeting agenda. With that, we will adjourn the special meeting at 6.02 p.m. And at this time I would like to call to order the Elk Grove City Council regular meeting. Today is Wednesday, May 8th, 2024. It is 6.02 p.m. Clerk. Thank you, Mayor. This meeting of the Elkrove City Council v cablecast on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel on the Comcast Consolidated Communications and ATT Uverse Cable Systems. The meeting is closed caption and webcast at Metro14Live.gov. Tonight's meeting replays will be on Wednesday, May 15th at 6 p.m. And again on Thursday, May 16th, also at 6 p.m. on Channel 14. Previous meetings can be viewed online at www.elgrove city.org. Whoops. Sorry, my script disappeared on me. Or YouTube.com backwards slash Metro Cable 14. For members of the participating audience who may have personal electronic devices, please place them on silent mode during the meeting or on mute when you are not speaking. So that all present will have time to participate. City Council reserves the right to reasonably limit the total time for public comment on any particular notice agenda item as it may deem necessary. Pursuant to resolution number 210-24, no individual speaker concerning public comment, may address the city council for more than three minutes. If you wish to address the council during the meeting, please complete a blue speaker card, which can be found at the back of the chamber and provide to the deputy city clerk prior to consideration of the agenda item. One last item I'd like to note is that we do have a rather full house this evening, and we would like to be in compliance with our fire marshal. What I would ask of our participants and let you also be aware of is our foyer is currently being air conditioned and uh lightened up a little bit, but there are additional chairs in the foyer, and we also broadcast out the video and the audio out into that area. So please feel free. What I would ask for our participants that are here, if you can keep our uh our pathways of travel open as best as you are able, and for around doorways, if you can please move aside from doorways, whether it's an ingress or egress out of this chamber or also out into the parking lot. And if we by any chance uh unfortunately would have to vacate the premises, please let's all lend a hand to each other and uh slowly make our ways if we're directed to do so. So, but part of it is we do want everyone to have an opportunity to participate. So please find your spaces where you can and uh and also give yourself a break if you're standing to take some seats that are out in the foyer. With that, Mayor, I'll hand it over to you. Uh not that much of a handover. I'll come back and hand it right back to myself for the roll call. And so for the roll call, I'll start with Councilmember Robles. Present. Councilmember Spees. Present. Councilmember Suean here. Vice Mayor Brewer. Here. And Mayor Singh Allen. Here. Thank you. Next up is our land acknowledgement. Assisting is our vice mayor. Thank you, Madam Mayor.
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