Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into a five-year lease agreement with Como Friends for office space at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory’s Main Zoological Building.
Body
WHEREAS, Como Friends, the non-profit partner of Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, wishes to renew their office space lease agreement with the City of Saint Paul, Department of Parks and Recreation at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory’s Main Zoological Building, 1225 Estabrook Drive, Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, Como Friends is the non-profit partner dedicated to supporting, preserving and enhancing Como Park Zoo and Conservatory; and
WHEREAS, since 2001, Como Friends has invested more than $45 million in improvements to Como, including the recent completion of the capital campaign raising $4.9 million for Como Harbor; and
WHEREAS, Como Friends wishes to renew their office space lease agreement with the City of Saint Paul at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory’s Main Zoological Building at the same term of a five-year lease for the sum of $5.00; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul Administrative Code requires that any lease of parkland or recreation facilities which will be for a period of more than one year be approved by the City Council following a hearing before the Parks and Recreation Commission; and
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2021, the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Commission adopted Resolution 21-18 recommending the City Council enter into the lease agreement; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council finds that the granting of a five-year lease agreement for Como Friends at 1225 Estabrook Drive for the sum of $5.00 has a public purpose and authorizes the appropriate City officials to execute the attached agreement.