The Monroe County Legislature has approved a new contract and spending restrictions for the Seneca Park Zoo expansion project.

The nearly $7 million contract is with CambridgeSeven. The architectural design firm will carry out plans for the $121 million zoo expansion, which includes a new tropics exhibit and a main entry plaza project.  

This comes after the previous design that wasn't used cost taxpayers $6 million. Legislator Rachel Barnhart says the former contract included a resolution that allowed the county to pay millions to a design firm without legislative oversight. She introduced an amendment to the new contract that would prevent that from happening again.

"That 2015 resolution allowed for unlimited amendments, as long as there were funds in the capitol budget," said Barnhart. "Tonight's legislation had the exact same clause. Given what has happened, that is not responsible."

The legislature approved her amendment, capping additional contract spending at $1 million.

CambridgeSeven says construction is expected to begin early next year and to be completed in 2028.