Couple given rights to plan zoo

Sito Negron

Tuesday, March 2, 2004 | 9:45 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council will consider a two-year agreement that gives Edward and Mona Sher exclusive rights to negotiate their zoo proposal while the couple spend up to $2 million studying the idea.

The agenda for the council's meeting on Wednesday includes possible action on a memorandum of understanding that gives the Shers two years to forge a compact with the city to build a self-sustaining zoo in Floyd Lamb Park.

"They're going to spend all this money on a feasibility study," said Councilman Michael Mack, who first brought the zoo proposal to the council in November. "They want some assurances we're not going to shop this thing around."

The proposal is tied into city negotiations with the state over the future of Floyd Lamb Park, which is owned by the state. The city gave the park to the state in 1977, and last session the Legislature passed rules that allow Las Vegas to take it back.

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

Mack and other council members who said they were concerned about the potential cost of taking over the park noted that if successful, a zoo could help pay for maintenance and security costs associated with Floyd Lamb.

Marvin Miller, who is serving as spokesman for the Shers, said the planning is under way. He said consultants with specialties in taxation, marketing, and various other disciplines have been involved in a "charette," a planning process meant to look at a situation from as many angles as possible.

He said the key is the promise by the Shers that taxpayers will not be asked to pay for the zoo.

"If (the study) comes back and there's no proof this kind of venue will make money ... it's not going to happen," Miller said. "We don't want it to be a taxpayer burden or a city burden. ... If this can't be profitable it won't be approved, period."

He said he hoped the study would be completed in May or June.

"Once we have a very accurate and precise and thorough report, then we'll be able to sit down and really let you or anyone else tear it apart, but right now all we're asking for is just give us the time to be able to do that," Miller said.

City Manager Doug Selby said the proposed memorandum of understanding makes sense for both sides.

"It's not like we get a lot of zoo developers coming to us," he said. "And they propose to spend up to $2 million. So in exchange we're saying we will not entertain other proposals."

The next step, after the study is completed, would be for the city and the Shers to enter into a "disposition and development" agreement, which is a detailed accounting of such issues as financing and scheduling.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said even if approved Wednesday, the agreement can be canceled at any time by either side.

"Based on that, nobody should get too excited," he said. The city can vote on it at any time, he said, "and the zoo people can walk away too, or gallop away, or do whatever zoos do."