MOTION-- As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Zoo was forced to close its operations to the
public for a total of 236 days during Fiscal Years 2019-20 and 2020-21 resulting in an
estimated $11 million revenue loss. This subsequently required a $16.8 million General
Fund subsidy to offset revenue shortfalls and support the Zoo's operating budget during
the closure, as ’well as during limited capacity operations.

On April 8, 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened the application
process for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant [SVOG) program which made $16 billion
available through the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues
Act and the American Rescue Plan Act to shuttered venues impacted by the pandemic.
Due to the highly competitive nature of this grant program and small application window,
on May 11, 2021 the Department of the Zoo, with assistance from the Office of the City
Administrative Officer, submitted its application to the SVOG on behalf of the City of Los
Angles. The Zoo was subsequently awarded a maximum grant of $10 million on July 17,
2021 and the funds were received and deposited in the Zoo Enterprise Trust Fund on
August 23, 2021.

Authority is now requested to retroactively accept the $10 million SVOG grant award and
authorize a transfer of the grant funds to the Reserve Fund in order to reimburse the
General Fund for its appropriation to the Zoo in Fiscal Years 2019-20 and 2020-21. The
reimbursement to the General Fund must be completed no later than December 31, 2021 in
order to close out the grant award as required by the SBA.

I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council, subject to the approval of the Mayor:

1. Authorize the General Manager of the Los Angeles Zoo, or designee, to
retroactively apply for the United States Small Business Administration
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant;

2. Authorize the General Manager of the Los Angeles Zoo, or designee, to accept the
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant award in the amount of $10,000,000 from the
United States Small Business Administration, for the qualifying performance
period of March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021 and submit any other
necessary agreements and documents relative to the implementation of this
program, subject to the review and approval of the City Attorney as to form and
legality;

3. Authorize the Controller to set up a grants receivable account and appropriate
$10,000,000 in the Zoo Enterprise Trust Fund No. 40E/87, Appropriation
Account to be determined, for the disbursement of the Shuttered Venue
Operators Grant funding;

4. Transfer $10,000,000 from the Zoo Enterprise Trust Fund No. 40E/87,
Appropriation Account to be determined, to the Reserve Fund, to reimburse
funding provided during the pandemic in 2019-20 and 2020-21; and

5. Authorize the General Manager of the Los Angeles Zoo, or designee, to prepare
Controller instructions and/or make technical adjustments that may be required
to implement the actions approved by the Mayor and Council on this matter,
subject to the approval of the City Administrative Officer and authorize the
Controller to implement these instructions.