184.606.  Powers of district — city to convey existing public zoo to district, conditions — right to charge fees, when — authority to employ staff. — 1.  Each metropolitan zoo district may own, hold, control, lease, acquire by donation, gift or bequest, purchase, contract, lease, sell, any and all rights in land, buildings, improvements, furnishings, displays, exhibits and programs and any and all other real, personal or mixed property, or to contract with other persons to provide for any and all services for the purposes of the district.

  2.  All buildings, property and facilities of existing public zoos in the city or owned by the city shall become the property of and vest in the district, except that the city may at its option by filing notice with the district within ninety days after the voters have given approval of the district that it will deed the property subject to certain conditions or contract with the district for conveyance of such property subject to terms and conditions that the city deems appropriate.  Any obligations, duties, rights, privileges of whatever description pertaining to or relating to the maintenance, operation, construction, design, or affairs of any such existing zoo shall be assumed by the respective district, including the right to continue to charge fees if such fees were approved by the voters.

  3.  The district may employ and appoint personnel as the district board deems appropriate and necessary to carry out the functions of the district.  All employees of a publicly owned and operated zoological park shall upon the establishment of a district become employees of the district and such appointees' and employees' seniority, pension, salaries, wages and fringe benefits shall be equal to or better than that existing at the time of the establishment of the district insofar as may be possible.