Committee continues behested‑payment waiver for panda exhibit to the call of the chair

The Government Audit & Oversight Committee on May 16 continued, to the call of the chair, a behested‑payment waiver that would allow city offices and certain commissions to solicit private donations for a proposed panda exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo.

Chair Supervisor Dean Preston opened Item 3 by introducing Sean Ellsburn, chief of staff to the mayor, who described the mayor’s plan to seek philanthropic dollars—not general fund—if the waiver is approved. Ellsburn proposed amendments, including involving the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) in leadership and fundraising for child programs. "We want to make sure that not a single dollar of general fund go into this proposal," Ellsburn said.

Supervisor Safai urged caution, arguing the city faces about $25 million in budget cuts to youth programs and questioned whether raising funds for a panda enclosure was appropriate while essential services face cuts. "It is truly unconscionable at this moment to prepare for a facility when there's not 100% certainty that we're going to get it," Safai said, and emphasized prioritizing children over pandas. Ellsburn responded that the mayor’s office could amend the resolution to include DCYF and seek philanthropic support for both goals.

Supervisors pressed for details about prospective donors and conflicts of interest. Chair Preston and Deputy City Attorney Anderson noted the ordinance authorizing behested waivers requires a resolution to identify the types or specific interested parties when known and to explain why those parties are "interested parties." Ellsburn said some donors (for example, United Airlines) have already expressed interest but argued a waiver may be needed before donors commit. "We were already approached by United Airlines, who would like to participate," he said.

Committee members also asked whether the San Francisco Zoo is "ready" to receive pandas given recent reporting on the zoo’s staffing and facility concerns. Ellsburn described an ongoing negotiation of a detailed technical agreement with Chinese and U.S. authorities and said the agreement — which the Chinese Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda and U.S. Fish and Wildlife will review — will specify staffing, diet and care standards. He said the technical agreement is expected late summer or early fall and will be publicly posted for federal notice and comment.

A Teamsters Local 856 representative, Corey Hallman, testified that zoo workers had taken votes of no confidence in the executive director and raised concerns about understaffing and animal‑care issues; Hallman said the Zoological Society had hired an outside party to conduct an internal investigation. "Investing additional money into a new exhibit while not addressing the concerns of the current exhibits and staffing conditions won't be addressed," he told the committee.

After public comment and further discussion, Chair Preston moved to continue the item to the call of the chair to allow the mayor's office to prepare a list of prospective donors, clarify the beneficiary (Ellsburn agreed the San Francisco Zoological Society should be named) and consider narrowing which departments or commissioners may participate. The vote to continue passed 2‑1 (Member Connie Chan and Chair Preston yes; Vice Chair Catherine Stephanie no). The committee indicated it expects to reconvene the matter with amendments and donor disclosures before forwarding it to the full Board.