{"MatterTextId":7316,"MatterTextGuid":"C1B1938A-7B9F-4D6A-950F-D1FA546EC3F5","MatterTextLastModifiedUtc":"2026-10-08T19:38:24.43","MatterTextRowVersion":"AAAAAACxveg=","MatterTextMatterId":7261,"MatterTextVersion":"1","MatterTextPlain":"Title:\n..title\nApprove and authorize the Chairman to execute a three-year Tourist Development Tax Funding agreement with the Central Florida Zoological Society, Inc., in the amount of $350,000 per year for fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029, for a total of $1,050,000 in funding allocation for marketing, advertising, maintenance, enhancements, repairs, and improvements. Countywide (Guilherme Cunha, Economic Development and Tourism Director)\n..end\nDivision:\n..division\nOffice of Economic Development and Tourism - Tourism\n..body\nAuthorized By:\nGui Cunha, Director, Economic Development & Tourism\nContact/Phone Number: \nGui Cunha/407-665-2901\nBackground: \nThe Seminole County Board of County Commissioners has approved funding for the Central Florida Zoological Society, Inc. (“Central Florida Zoo”), for more than 20 years. The Central Florida Zoo is a Florida Not for Profit corporation organized under Chapter 617 of the Florida Statutes and was first established in 1923 as the Sanford Zoo.\nAs one of the most notable attractions in Seminole County, the Central Florida Zoo:\n• Provides annual passes to approximately 7,000 households;\n• Employs more than 100 staff members for guest services, animal care, education, facilities, horticulture, public safety, and administration;\n• Cares for 350 individuals, representing 100 species of inverts, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals; and\n• Is home to a “Kaboom” playground special play area and hosts popular events including Brews Around the Zoo, the Zoo Boo-Bash, and the returning Asian Lantern Festival in partnership with Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc.\nTOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION\nThe Central Florida Zoo presented its annual grant application at the April 16, 2026, Tourist Development Council meeting. The Central Florida Zoo requested $350,000 for fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029. The Tourist Development Council recommended approval for funding up to a total maximum sum of $350,000 for FY2027, $350,000 for FY 2028, and $350,000 for FY 2029, for the annual funding allocations for marketing, advertising, maintenance, enhancements, repairs, and improvements.\nINTENDED USE OF FUNDS\nThe intended use of the proposed funding will be for marketing efforts, including radio, television, print, and digital advertising, as well as accessibility, animal habitat, and facility improvements.\nFUNDING HISTORY\nFY 2025/26\t\t\t $350,000\nFY 2024/25\t\t\t $350,000\nFY2023/24                              $340,000\nFY2022/23                              $325,000\nFY2021/22                              $300,000\nFY2020/21                              $300,000\nFY2019/20                              $390,500\nFY2018/19                              $355,000\nFY2017/18                              $325,000\nFY2016/17                              $325,000\nFY2015/16                              $225,000\nFY2014/15                              $225,000\nFY2013/14                              $225,000\nFY2012/13                              $225,000\nFY2011/12                              $225,000\nFY2010/11                              $225,000\nFY2009/10                              $225,000\nFY2008/09                              $300,000\nFY2007/08                              $300,000\nFY2006/07                              $300,000\nFY2005/06                              $270,000\nFY2004/05                              $270,000\nFY2003/04                              $270,000\n \nThe requested collective total amount of the Agreement is $1,050,000. Of the amount requested, $350,000, is currently budgeted in the FY 2027 Tourism Development budget for advertising, maintenance, enhancements, repairs, and improvements.\n\nRequested Action:\nStaff requests the Board approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a three-year Tourist Development Tax Funding agreement with the Central Florida Zoological Society, Inc., in the amount of $350,000 per year for fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029, for a total of $1,050,000 in funding allocation for marketing, advertising, maintenance, enhancements, repairs, and improvements.\n","MatterTextRtf":"{\\rtf1\\fbidis\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033\\deflangfe1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fswiss\\fprq2\\fcharset0 Arial;}}\n{\\colortbl ;\\red255\\green255\\blue255;\\red0\\green0\\blue0;}\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\ltrpar\\sa160\\sl252\\slmult1\\b\\f0\\fs28 Title:\\fs27\\par\n\\pard\\ltrpar\\sl252\\slmult1\\cf1\\b0\\fs2 ..title\\par\n\\pard\\ltrpar\\sa160\\sl252\\slmult1\\cf0\\fs28 Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a three-year Tourist Development Tax Funding agreement with the Central Florida Zoological Society, Inc., in the amount of $350,000 per year for fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029, for a total of $1,050,000 in funding allocation for marketing, advertising, maintenance, enhancements, repairs, and improvements. Countywide \\b (Guilherme Cunha, Economic Development and Tourism Director)\\b0\\fs27\\par\n\\pard\\ltrpar\\sl252\\slmult1\\cf1\\fs2 ..end\\par\n\\pard\\ltrpar\\sa160\\sl252\\slmult1\\cf0\\b\\fs28 Division:\\par\n\\pard\\ltrpar\\sl252\\slmult1\\cf1\\b0\\fs2 ..division\\par\n\\pard\\ltrpar\\sa160\\sl252\\slmult1\\cf0\\fs28 Office of Economic Development and Tourism - Tourism\\fs27\\par\n\\pard\\ltrpar\\sl252\\slmult1\\cf1\\fs2 ..body\\par\n\\cf2\\b\\fs28 Authorized By:\\par\n\\pard\\ltrpar\\sb120\\sa120\\sl252\\slmult1\\b0 Gui Cunha, Director, Economic Development & Tourism\\fs24\\par\n\\pard\\ltrpar\\sa160\\sl252\\slmult1\\cf0\\b\\fs28 Contact/Phone Number:\\fs27  \\par\n\\b0\\fs28 Gui Cunha/407-665-2901\\fs27\\par\n\\b\\fs28 Background:\\fs27  \\par\n\\b0\\fs28 The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners has approved funding for the Central Florida Zoological Society, Inc. (\\ldblquote Central Florida Zoo\\rdblquote ), for more than 20 years. The Central Florida Zoo is a Florida Not for Profit corporation organized under Chapter 617 of the Florida Statutes and was first established in 1923 as the Sanford Zoo.\\par\nAs one of the most notable attractions in Seminole County, the Central Florida Zoo:\\par\n\\bullet  Provides annual passes to approximately 7,000 households;\\par\n\\bullet  Employs more than 100 staff members for guest services, animal care, education, facilities, horticulture, public safety, and administration;\\par\n\\bullet  Cares for 350 individuals, representing 100 species of inverts, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals; and\\par\n\\bullet  Is home to a \\ldblquote Kaboom\\rdblquote  playground special play area and hosts popular events including Brews Around the Zoo, the Zoo Boo-Bash, and the returning Asian Lantern Festival in partnership with Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc.\\par\nTOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION\\par\nThe Central Florida Zoo presented its annual grant application at the April 16, 2026, Tourist Development Council meeting. The Central Florida Zoo requested $350,000 for fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029. The Tourist Development Council recommended approval for funding up to a total maximum sum of $350,000 for FY2027, $350,000 for FY 2028, and $350,000 for FY 2029, for the annual funding allocations for marketing, advertising, maintenance, enhancements, repairs, and improvements.\\par\nINTENDED USE OF FUNDS\\par\nThe intended use of the proposed funding will be for marketing efforts, including radio, television, print, and digital advertising, as well as accessibility, animal habitat, and facility improvements.\\par\nFUNDING HISTORY\\par\nFY 2025/26\\tab\\tab\\tab  $350,000\\par\nFY 2024/25\\tab\\tab\\tab  $350,000\\par\nFY2023/24                              $340,000\\par\nFY2022/23                              $325,000\\par\nFY2021/22                              $300,000\\par\nFY2020/21                              $300,000\\par\nFY2019/20                              $390,500\\par\nFY2018/19                              $355,000\\par\nFY2017/18                              $325,000\\par\nFY2016/17                              $325,000\\par\nFY2015/16                              $225,000\\par\nFY2014/15                              $225,000\\par\nFY2013/14                              $225,000\\par\nFY2012/13                              $225,000\\par\nFY2011/12                              $225,000\\par\nFY2010/11                              $225,000\\par\nFY2009/10                              $225,000\\par\nFY2008/09                              $300,000\\par\nFY2007/08                              $300,000\\par\nFY2006/07                              $300,000\\par\nFY2005/06                              $270,000\\par\nFY2004/05                              $270,000\\par\nFY2003/04                              $270,000\\par\n \\par\nThe requested collective total amount of the Agreement is $1,050,000. Of the amount requested, $350,000, is currently budgeted in the FY 2027 Tourism Development budget for advertising, maintenance, enhancements, repairs, and improvements.\\par\n\\fs27\\par\n\\b\\fs28 Requested Action:\\fs27\\par\n\\b0\\fs28 Staff requests the Board approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a three-year Tourist Development Tax Funding agreement with the Central Florida Zoological Society, Inc., in the amount of $350,000 per year for fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029, for a total of $1,050,000 in funding allocation for marketing, advertising, maintenance, enhancements, repairs, and improvements.\\fs27\\par\n}\n"}