>> THE SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ALSO JUST APPROVED A PLAN THAT WOULD ALLOW A NUMBER OF CITY DEPARTMENTS TO SOLICIT PRIVATE DONATIONS. THAT MEANS THE CITY IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO BRINGING PANDAS TO SAN FRANCISCO ZOO. ABC SEVEN NEWS REPORTER LENA HOWLAND IS FOLLOWING THE STORY AND JOINS US LIVE FROM THE NEWSROOM WITH WHY LEADERS SAY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. >> LENA UMMA OFFICIALS SAY THIS WAS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY NEED $25 MILLION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO USE ANY TAXPAYER MONEY. NOW, FUNDRAISING CAN BEGIN, BUT SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THE ZOO IS JUST NOT READY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ANIMALS. ANOTHER BIG STEP FORWARD IN MAYOR LONDON BREEDS PLAN TO BRING PANDAS TO THE SAN FRANCISCO ZOO AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR, LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WITH CHINESE WILDLIFE OFFICIALS, THE CITY JUST CLEARED THE WAY TO ALLOW FUNDRAISING TO BEGIN. >> WE'RE NOT USING TAX DOLLARS. THIS WILL ALL BE FUNDED PRIVATELY. >> SUPERVISOR JOEL ENGARDIO CO-SPONSORED THE RESOLUTION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS TO SOLICIT DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE ENTITIES, EVEN IF THEY DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. SOMETHING THAT USUALLY RAISES ETHICAL CONCERNS. BUT ENGARDIO SAYS IT'S A CRITICAL NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS. >> WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT WE CAN START THE PROCESS TO DO THE PRIVATE FUNDRAISING NECESSARY TO BUILD THE ENCLOSURE, DO THE IMPROVEMENTS, FIX THINGS AT THE ZOO TO MAKE IT A APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR PANDAS. >> BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD A SPOKESPERSON FOR IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP SAID THE ZOO HAS BEEN MISMANAGED FOR YEARS AND WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PANDAS. >> REALLY, THIS PLACE IS NOT SAFE FOR ANIMALS. IT'S NOT SAFE FOR ZOOKEEPERS. IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC. IT'S A FINANCIAL SINKHOLE. >> BEFORE TUESDAY'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WHERE SOMEONE EVEN DRESSED UP IN A PANDA COSTUME, SHE SPENT HER MORNING HAND DELIVERING A PETITION OF 7000 SIGNATURES SIGNED BY PEOPLE OPPOSING THE PLAN. >> THIS PANDA EXHIBIT, IF IT WILL BE BUILT, WILL BE BUILT ON A BASE OF CORRUPTION, SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LONDON BREED, RESPONDING TO THOSE CLAIMS AND ALSO WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING A BEHESTED PAYMENT FORM. >> AND BEFORE WE ACCEPT ANY OF THOSE RESOURCES, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL, OF COURSE, REVIEW ANY OF THE REQUESTS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE. >> SHE HOPES THIS WILL HELP STRENGTHEN TOURIST TIES WITH CHINA WITHOUT HAVING TO USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS. >> PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO SAN FRANCISCO AND THEY WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE FLIGHTS THAT ARE ALSO AFFORDABLE. WITH THE LIMITED NUMBER OF FLIGHTS THAT EXIST, IT MAKES IT A BIT MORE CHALLENGING. SO WE DEFINITELY KNOW THAT THIS PLAYS INTO THAT ROLE. >> THE CITY'S GOAL IS TO RAISE AT LEAST $25 MILLION FOR A NEW ENCLOSURE AND UPGRADES AT THE ZOO. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE CITY AND THE ZOO WILL NOW DEVELOP AND SHARE A FUNDRAISING TIMELINE AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH CHINESE PARTNERS ON THEIR AGREEMENT. THEY'LL ALSO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE SAN DIEGO ZOO'S PANDA RESEARCH TEAM, WHO ARE ALSO EXPECTING TO RECEIVE THEIR
