Zoo Contract

[webmaster]

I met with Richard Zavala, director of the Parks Department, Mike Fouraker, the Manager (CEO) of the Zoo, along with Bill Campbell and Bill Hall, the Presidents of the Berkeley and Park Hill Neighborhood Associations respectively. The meeting was scheduled at the request of Joel Burns, our City Councilman. There were major concerns from Bill Campbell and from me about the process of negotiating a new Zoo Contract without a more open process. And, the timing during the Holidays of the negotiations and decision making, given our history with the Parks Department and the Zoo, exacerbated Mr. Campbell’s and my frustrations. It was clear from our meeting that the issue of any revision to the boundaries of the Zoo is absolutely not on the table. The substantive issues facing the Zoo and the City center around the subsidy by the City of Fort Worth to the Zoo, and bringing the old contract administrative provisions current. We have assurances from Mr. Zavala that he will prepare an Internal Report from the City Manager’s Office to the Park Board indicating the nature and extent of what is on the table within the next two weeks. Many thanks to Joel for arranging this meeting, and clearing up any misunderstanding. We will await the Internal Report, but it was very clear that the issue of any revisions to the boundaries of the Zoo will not be an agenda item nor changed in any way from the original Contract….jeff



Jeff Davis

Chairman of the Board

Republic Title of Texas, Inc.

420 Throckmorton, Suite 750

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Office - 817-806-1301

Cell - 817-999-6154

jeffdavis@republictitle.com