Audit Report - Press Conference

The findings, conclusions and recommendations set forth herein are preliminary. This report will be released in final form following receipt of management’s written responses. LOWRY PARK ZOO AUDIT 09-01 REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DECEMBER 12, 2008 The findings, conclusions and recommendations set forth herein are preliminary. This report will be released in final form following receipt of management’s written responses. LOWRY PARK ZOO AUDIT 09-01 REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION The City first learned of the Zoo’s CEO’s for-profit venture through media accounts. This obvious conflict of interest, reports of animal transactions between the Zoo CEO and his for-profit venture, as well as expenditures by the Zoo on Safari Wild property led to inquiries by the City. When the Zoo President maintained there was no conflict of interest and failed to acknowledge that the City owned the Zoo animals, the City embarked on this audit. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoological Gardens n/k/a Lowry Park Zoo (Zoo), situated on land owned by the City of Tampa, is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society (Society), under a lease and operation agreement with the City of Tampa. The Society operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization and provides programs in education and conservation to benefit the general public. The lease and operation agreement with the City states that the real property shall ...