Services at the Los Angeles Zoo are not affected by potential changes in contracts. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The Los Angeles City Council was scheduled to consider new contracts on June 18 with two private companies to manage the zoo’s membership, special events, publications and sponsorship programs, but postponed the item without discussion and rescheduled the matter for June 24.

The zoo is seeking to contract with SSA Group for the operation and management of the Membership, Special Events and Publications programs, and the Superlative Group for the operation and management of the Los Angeles Zoo’s Sponsorship Program. If approved by the city, the companies would take over services formerly performed under an operating agreement with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, an independent nonprofit founded in 1963 that for decades has raised funds and managed programs at the zoo. The city of Los Angeles, which owns and operates the zoo, is currently suing GLAZA for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and declaratory relief. The civil lawsuit was filed in December in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Judge Kerry Bensinger held a hearing in the case on June 16 and is expected to issue a ruling in the coming days on whether to grant a preliminary injunction against GLAZA that would enable the zoo to take control of the nonprofit’s approximately $50 million endowment. In court filings by GLAZA, the organization contends it received the money from donors who specifically outlined what the funds were to be used for at the zoo, and therefore the money should be used in accordance with their wishes as opposed to being used under the discretion of the zoo’s administration. Bensinger’s ruling will determine what the organization does next, said a representative of GLAZA, who added that the nonprofit will provide further information once the judge rules.

Last year, the Los Angeles Zoo announced it would hold an open competitive bidding process, per the city charter, for companies to perform services that were long managed by GLAZA. The most recent long-term operating agreement between the city and GLAZA expires on June 30. The zoo issued requests for proposals last September for support services. GLAZA notified the city that it decided not to participate in the RFP process and would not submit proposals to continue providing services to the zoo. GLAZA also canceled the Beastly Ball, a longtime fundraising event held after-hours at the zoo that it produced each June. The city subsequently filed a lawsuit against GLAZA.

The Los Angeles Zoo said in a statement that it is preparing for the transition of services to new companies. No disruption of essential services or animal care is being affected, the statement read.