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, September 9, 2025  
8:00 AM  
702 S Randall Avenue  
A. Call To Order  
A motion was made that the Zoo Commission meeting be called to order at  
8:03am. The motion carried unanimously.  
5 -  
Present  
JEFFREY GUNDERSON, SARAH JUSTUS, MICHAEL PETERSEN, JASMINE  
BANKS, and ERIN WELSH  
2 - TAG EVERS, and ANNE ROSS  
Excused  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
2025  
MIN-270  
Attachments: 2025 MIN-270  
A motion was made by GUNDERSON, seconded by PETERSEN, that the Minutes  
be approved. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
C. Action Items  
D. Presentations  
None  
None  
E. Reports to Committee  
Operational updates: Purple Cow success with over a ton of manure a week  
going to compost. On track to launch sales of compost at next year's Party for  
the Planet. Several projects will begin soon including: otter project, Koi pond  
clean/restoration, and seal shade. Artic Fox to be rebid/redesigned.  
Budget updates will be presented at the next commission meeting.  
Animal updates: Capybara winter housing to be in old Giraffe barn and two  
Herons have been relocated to an upper exhibit in the aviary.  
Conservation/Education updates: AZA conference in Tampa coming up next  
week. Education Grant bi-lingual position has been filled and will assist in some  
upcoming events.  
Event/Marketing updates: Hispanic Heritage, Boo at the Zoo with Day of the  
Dead crafts, Dr. Thurber recently attended the Zoo Vet Conference, Governor  
Evers visited for the Teen Program Advocacy Project, Zoo Lights time frame is  
being moved forward two weeks to mitigate declining sales due to weather, Zoo  
Run on 9/28 has phenomenal sales to date, 11/21 is Member Night, and 11/22  
is opening night of Zoo Lights for the general public.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday October 21, 2025 starting at 8am.  
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 WELSH, seconded by GUNDERSON, that the Zoo  
Commission meeting be adjourned at 8:53am. The motion carried unanimously.  
Respectfully submitted by Amanda Pedersen, pending approval from the commission.