Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Henry Vilas Zoo Commission  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Tuesday, August 4, 2026  
8:00 AM  
Hybrid Meeting: Attend in person at 702 S. Randall Ave;  
attend virtually via Zoom.  
A. Call To Order  
Others present: Janine Wachter, Joseph Darcangelo, Amanda Pedersen,  
Eddie Sherman, Jess Thompson, Beth Petersen, and Dr. Mary Thurber.  
A motion was made by ROSS that the Zoo Commission meeting be called to  
order at 8:04AM.  
6 -  
Present  
TAG EVERS, JEFFREY GUNDERSON, SARAH JUSTUS, ANNE ROSS, ERIN  
WELSH, and JASMINE BANKS  
1 - JON DEAN  
Excused  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
2026  
MIN-167  
Attachments: 2026 MIN-167  
A motion was made by JUSTUS, seconded by GUNDERSON, that the minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
C. Action Items  
D. Presentations  
None  
None  
E. Reports to Committee  
1 2027 Budget Preparations  
Update given by J. Wachter.  
2 HVZ Foundation Update  
3 Operations Update  
Update given by S. Justus.  
Update given by E. Sherman.  
4 Animal Programs Update  
Update given by B. Petersen and Dr. Thurber.  
5 Conservation/Eduation Update  
Update given by J. Thompson.  
6 Event/Marketing Update  
Update given by E. Sherman.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
The next Zoo Commission meeting date will be Tuesday, September 8th. The  
meeting dates for the next three months are as follows: October 6th, November  
10th, and December 8th.  
G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
None  
H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
None  
I. Adjourn  
A motion was made by JUSTUS, seconded by EVERS, that the Zoo Commission  
meeting be adjourned at 9:17am. The motion carried unanimously.  
Respectfully submitted by Amanda Pedersen, pending approval from the Zoo Commission.