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, July 7, 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, Kristin Moala, Courtney  
Cordova, 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.  
7 - TAG EVERS, JEFFREY GUNDERSON, SARAH JUSTUS, ANNE ROSS, JON  
DEAN, ERIN WELSH, and JASMINE BANKS  
Present  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
2026  
MIN-140  
Attachments:  
2026 MIN-140  
A motion was made by JUSTUS, seconded by GUNDERSON, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
C. Action Items  
None  
D. Welcome Jon Dean  
E. Presentations  
1. Interpretative Master Plan-Courtney Cordova (10 min. 5 min. questions)  
Presented by C. Cordova.  
F. Reports to Committee  
1. 2027 Budget Preparations (10 min.)  
Presented by J. Wachter.  
2. HVZ Foundation Update  
Update given by S. Justus.  
3. Operations  
Update given by E. Sherman.  
Update given by E. Petersen.  
Update given by J. Thompson.  
Update given by K. Moala.  
4. Animal Updates  
5. Conservation/Education  
6. Event/Marketing  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
The next Zoo Commission meeting date will be Tuesday, August 4. The  
meeting dates for the next three months are as follows: September 8, October  
6, and November 10.  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
None  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
None  
J. Adjourn  
A motion was made by JUSTUS, seconded by GUNDERSON, that the Zoo  
Commission meeting be adjourned at 9:12am. The motion carried unanimously.  
Respectfully submitted by Amanda Pedersen, pending approval from the Zoo Commission.