Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Council hears pitch for world-class zoo

Las Vegas officials will negotiate a possible takeover of Floyd Lamb State Park from the state, and at the same time will discuss backing a revenue bond to build a zoo on a portion of the parkland.

Both decisions came during Wednesday's City Council meeting, where the state parks director told the city it was time to negotiate, rather than just discuss, the future of the park.

At the same time, the council heard some specifics from zoo supporters about why Floyd Lamb Park would be a good location for "a world-class zoo" and why the proposal makes financial sense.

George Chanos, a lawyer representing Jim and Mona Sher, said the couple already have deposited $1 million into a bank account meant to be used for "soft costs" -- like planning -- that are associated with the proposal.

The City Council instructed staff members to discuss the proposal with the Shers, possibly leading to a nonbinding letter describing the city's intent to further negotiate or to secure a revenue bond. A revenue bond allows money to be borrowed based on how much a given project is estimated to make.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said he was concerned about whether the city would be putting its "full faith and credit" on the line with the bond -- making it legally liable for financial problems.

While Chanos and a city staff member told him the city could back the bond without that level of liability, Goodman remained unconvinced, although he did not oppose the proposal outright.

Chanos painted a vibrant picture for the council, talking about the zoo as a recreational and cultural resource that would link with schools and conservation efforts around the world. The project would include cooperation with the Bowmanville Zoo, a privately owned property near Toronto, which rents animals for use in television and film.

Chanos described the Shers as owners of real estate and media interests. Jim Sher spoke briefly during the meeting, describing the potential for such educational elements as real-time satellite feeds from expeditions around the world to a theater at the zoo.

"We are animal lovers, and we feel animals are not getting a fair shake around the world," he said, explaining in part why he and his wife were so passionate about the project. At a previous council meeting, the couple also had expressed a desire to give something to the community of Las Vegas, where they have lived for 10 years.

Also at that previous meeting, one of the couple's supporters said they were looking for about 200 acres, and gave as a comparison the San Diego Zoo, which operates on about 150 acres. Chanos said the initial estimates were that the project would need $100 million.

The city would do nothing but help secure the bond, Chanos said. It would lose no money and own the zoo. The Shers' group would operate the zoo, and negotiate with the city over how to split the profits.

Also, Chanos said, they would take care to preserve Tule Springs, and the historic sites at the core of the park.

The idea of making money appeared to be most attractive to council members, who saw a successful zoo as a way to pay for the rest of Floyd Lamb Park.

"Without the zoo, the city can't afford the park," said Ward 3 Councilman Gary Reese.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald said if the city simply acquires Floyd Lamb Park as is, "I don't see what's in it for (the city)."

The vote to pursue the zoo idea, and to negotiate with the state about taking over the park, was 6-1, with Ward 3 Councilman Lawrence Weekly opposing. He said city projects are on a list of priorities, and he wondered what would be pushed down the list to accommodate work needed at Floyd Lamb.

The park is surrounded on three sides by the city, and eventually will be within the municipal boundaries. The 2003 Legislature made provisions for turning it over to the city, but cost -- estimated at $500,000 for maintenance in the first year alone -- appears to be the sticking point.

Other issues include whether the city could develop part of it, how it would be affected by the municipal Northwest Open Spaces plan, which could take a year to complete, and how it could affect flood control and other infrastructure in the area. Also of importance are covenants that limit the use of the park to "passive recreation," which generally means hiking and nature-gazing.

About 2,000 acres are in the area the council is considering -- 600 acres of the state-owned park and 1,300 adjacent acres owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management. While only passive recreation would be allowed on the 600 state acres, federal rules regarding the other 1,300 acres could allow for ballfields and other urban park amenities, city officials said.

The city gave the park to the state in 1977. The state Legislature this year passed three bills -- two in the Senate and one in the Assembly -- that would allow the city to take it back.

The city tried to negotiate for 50 to 75 acres of the park for flood control, but the state declined, preferring instead to make a deal for the whole park.

archive