Second Amendment to the Lease Agreement between the City of San Diego and the Zoological Society of San Diego for the San Diego Zoo Property
Summary
SCH Number
2026041134
Public Agency
City of San Diego
Document Title
Second Amendment to the Lease Agreement between the City of San Diego and the Zoological Society of San Diego for the San Diego Zoo Property
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/23/2026
Document Description
City of San Diego City Council (City Council) approval of a Second Amendment to the Lease Agreement (Second Amendment) between the City of San Diego (City) and the Zoological Society of San Diego (Society) for the San Diego Zoo property located in Balboa Park and a related waiver of Part V(D)(3) and Part V(D)(5) of Council Policy 700-10 to (1) enable revenue sharing between the Society and the City for paid parking in the Zoo parking lot; (2) extend the lease term; (3) modify the boundaries of the leased premises; and (4) update the insurance and other City compliance requirements.
Under the Second Amendment, the term will be extended for a total term of 99 years and will have a new expiration date of July 23, 2078. The Second Amendment will also modify the leased premises to Include property around the Balboa Park Carousel to be consistent with onsite Improvements and parcel line . boundaries. The Society will continue to maintain and operate the Zoo Parking Lot under the Second Amendment and will continue to be able to charge reasonable parking fees to users of both Balboa Park and the Zoo. The Society will be allowed to charge City residents parking fees commensurate with City Parking rates charged to residents visiting Balboa Park. The Second Amendment will continue to allow the City Council to make a determination that if such fees significantly and adversely affect the parking and traffic situation In Balboa Park, the Society must take whatever action is necessary to reduce such problems, including reducing or eliminating fees. The Second Amendment will also allow the City to use 10 parking spaces on the far north end of the parking lot for City operations at the War Memorial Building. Under the Second Amendment, the Society will make an annual payment to the City beginning this fiscal year {FY 2026) in the amount of $3,000,000, This amount will Increase by 3% in calendar year 2030 and every subsequent year during the term and Is due to the City by April 1 of each year. The City will only receive this annual payment If the City Imposes parking fees within Balboa Park; the City will not be entitled to an annual payment for any year In which the City Council entirely eliminates paid parking in Balboa Park. If the City Council elects not to charge for parking in Balboa Park for five (5) or more days In any calendar year (excluding established City holidays), the Society's minimum payment to the City will be reduced by an equivalent amount. In addition to the annual payment minimum of $3,000,000, the City will receive 50% of Society's net annual parking revenue, if any, effective January 1, 2026. The City's share of the parking revenue will be equal to the Society's gross annual parking revenue minus an amount equal to 50% of the Society's reasonable expenses Incurred (up to a maximum of $700,000 per year) for the operation, administration and day-today maintenance of the Zoo Parking Lot, not including capital expenses. The Second Amendment will also require the Society to make available to San Diego nonprofit corporations, school groups, and children a minimum of the equivalent of $250,000 In complimentary dally admission tickets per calendar year. The Second Amendment will require the Society to pay prevailing wage rates for all construction and maintenance work performed by the Society and the Society's contractors on the property, In compliance with California prevailing wage law (California Government Code sections 1720 through 1861 ), The Second Amendment will also require the Society to comply with the City's current Insurance requirements. Because of the long duration of the Second Amendment and to comply with California Government Code section 37380(b)(1 ), Article IV (Consideration) and Section 7 of Article V (addressing parking) of the Zoo Lease, as amended, will be subject to review every ten years.
Contact Information
Name
Elena Pascual
Agency Name
City of San Diego City Planning Department
Job Title
Senior Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
San Diego
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Citywide
Zip
92101
Other Location Info
2920 Zoo Dr., San Diego, CA 92101
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities)
Reasons for Exemption
The City of San Diego conducted an environmental review that determined that the proposed action to approve the Second Amendment is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), which allows for the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alterations of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The exceptions to the exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 would not apply in that no cumulative impacts were identified, no significant effects on the environment were identified, the project is not adjacent to a scenic highway, no historical resources would be affected by the action, and the project was not identified on a list of hazardous waste sites pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.
County Clerk
San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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