REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE BIG BEAR VALLEY RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 17, 2020
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Waiver of Big Bear Alpine Zoo Admission Fees for County Employee Appreciation Days
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District:
1. Find that waiving the admission fee for County of San Bernardino (County) employees and their families for County Employee Appreciation Days at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo (BBAZ) from December 1, 2020 through December 15, 2020 will serve the purpose of promoting employee morale through the County expressing gratitude for the dedicated service provided by its employees.
2. Approve the waiver of admission fees for County employees and their families during County Employee Appreciation Days at BBAZ from December 1, 2020 through December 15, 2020.Re
(Presenter: Trevor Leja, Deputy Director, 386-8811)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Based on an estimated total of 1,000 fee waivers for County employees and their families, at an average cost of $13 per person, the amount of BBAZ admission revenue not realized during County Employee Appreciation Days would be approximately $13,000. However, this loss of revenue would be partially offset by proceeds from concessions and the sale of gift shop merchandise to County employees and their families.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The BBAZ is one of two Alpine zoos in the United States. Its mission is to educate and promote an understanding of alpine forest wildlife to produce harmony between people and nature. For nearly five years, a new zoo with a larger footprint had been under construction. With much anticipation, the new zoo opened to the public on November 5, 2020. The relocation brings state of the art animal exhibits to those animals with a permanent home. The new zoo also expands the rehabilitation capabilities with high quality equipment and resources that will have a positive impact on local wildlife.
The County has periodically held appreciation days as a means of providing employees and their families with an opportunity to come together in an off-work social setting. The benefits of these events include enhanced communication among employees, improved employee morale, and an opportunity for the County to express its gratitude for the dedicated service provided by its employees.
Approval of this item will waive the admission fee at BBAZ from December 1, 2020 through December 15, 2020 as Employee Appreciation Days for San Bernardino County employees and their families. In addition to the previously identified benefits of appreciation days, this fee waiver will also increase public awareness of the new zoo. The BBAZ will remain open to the public during this period.
To prevent the transmission of COVID-19, all County health mandates will be strictly enforced.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 2, 2020; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on November 2, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on November 2, 2020.