March 31 letter from Elk Grove City Manager to Sacramento Zoological Society showed zoo relocation project was in a death spiral
The correspondence Elk Grove News acquired through a public records request shows that by March 31, the Sacramento Zoo relocation to E...
The correspondence Elk Grove News acquired through a public records request shows that by March 31, the Sacramento Zoo relocation to Elk Grove was in a death spiral. The only thing left was for the project to slam into the ground.
A March 31 letter (see below) from Elk Grove City Manager Jason Behrmann issued a detailed and pointed response to the Sacramento Zoological Society, addressing what he characterized as "misunderstandings and confusion" about the ambitious and some say delusional Elk Grove-Sacramento Zoo project following leadership changes at the Society.
The letter, responding to Society correspondence from March 4 and March 21, came amid apparent tensions over the scope and timeline of the $302 million Phase 1A/1B zoo development project. The city, surprisingly, was expressing fiscal restraint while the SZS was shooting for the stars.
In his letter. Behrmann pointed to concerns surrounding the mysterious departure of Sacramento Zoo Director Jason Jacobs and other key Society leadership, stating the City was "genuinely surprised" by the Society's recent letters questioning project commitments.
"We are concerned that the departure of the Sacramento Zoo Director Jason Jacobs and other key leadership at the Society has resulted in some misunderstandings and confusion about the project," Behrmann wrote to Society Board President Elizabeth Stallard and Interim Executive Director Robert Churchill.
The City maintains it has "fulfilled all of its commitments and obligations to date" and that the project remains "on target with respect to both schedule and budget."
A central disagreement centered on what facilities are included in the current phase. The Society has reportedly expressed uncertainty about "what's in and what's out" of the project, despite the City's assertions that major components were agreed upon in December 2023.
The Phase 1A/1B project, as defined in the Cost Sharing Agreement, includes core facilities such as the entry complex, animal care center, dining facilities, and habitats for giraffes, rhinos, okapis, geladas, lions, cheetahs, and other species.
Based on wobbly cost estimates, several elements were removed from the original design in December 2023 to meet the $302 million budget, including event pavilion shade structures, permanent classroom structures, and portions of the okapi habitat.
The Society has reportedly requested that all work, including design and fundraising, be paused to obtain construction estimates for only two of five project zones. Behrmann rejected this approach, arguing it would not provide the cost certainty the Society seeks.
"Pausing now to provide an incomplete estimate will not provide either of us with any more assurance than we have now that the project is within budget," Behrmann stated.
The City had plans to award a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contract in summer 2025, which Behrmann argues will provide more accurate cost estimates than the Society's preferred approach.
Another point of contention involves the June 30, 2025 deadline for executing an operating agreement. While the City provided draft terms in February, Behrmann noted they have received "minimal feedback" from the Society, which reportedly wants to delay discussions until funding concerns are resolved.
Funding matters were glossed over during most public meetings, with the SZS publicly expressing confidence in their ability to secure $50 million. The City expressed willingness to adjust the deadline to February 1, 2026, aligning with the completion of design development.
The letter indicates uncertainty about whether the Society would meet its May 1, 2025, financial obligation. However, Behrmann, perhaps on the instructions of Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, who separately wanted to complete the project regardless of taxpayers' cost, offered flexibility on the timing of fundraising milestones, as long as total commitments remain unchanged and funds are available before construction begins.Despite the tensions, Behrmann emphasized the City's continued commitment to the project and requested an in-person meeting to address several key issues:
- Whether the current Phase 1A/1B design meets the Society Board's expectations
- Revising the Cost Sharing Agreement to better align fundraising milestones with design activities
- Resolving disagreements over cost estimation timing
For additional correspondence and background on the dispute that led to the collapse of the zoo relocation, view our June 5 story.
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It is painfully apparent that the Mayor was looking for a legacy project to dress up her political resume, and the Zoological Society were business amateurs who believed they had found Daddy Warbucks in the deep-pocketed City. Together they sashayed down the primrose path with fancy renderings and ambitious dreams.
The reality was really going to hit home when the selected prime contractor worked up the final construction bid amount--and a 30% upward revision to the original $300 million estimate would not have surprised me one bit, At that point, even the best public relations team flown in from New York City would have had a hard time selling the project to the bond underwriters and Mello-Roos tax paying residents!
The City squandered about $4.5 million of our money, but at least this boondoggle was finally put out out the pasture.
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