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?  
Wednesday, November 20, 2024  
8:00 AM  
In-person meeting at Henry Vilas Zoo  
A. Call To Order  
Others present: Ronda Schwetz, Joseph Darcangelo, Kristin Moala, Amanda Pedersen  
and from CLR, Jeff Sawyer, Nicolette Wojtak, and Mark Beauchamp.  
A motion was made by ROSS that the zoo commission meeting be called to order  
at 8:04AM. The motion carried unanimously.  
7 - TAG EVERS, JEFFREY GUNDERSON, SARAH JUSTUS, MICHAEL  
PETERSEN, ANNE ROSS, JASMINE BANKS, and ERIN WELSH  
Present  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Attachments:  
A motion was made by EVERS, seconded by JUSTUS, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
C. Action Items  
D. Presentations  
Attachments:  
Jeff from CLR presented on Phase 1 of the HEART OF THE ZOO construction project.  
The zoo is currently working on construction documents and expects to have 95%  
construction documents in January 2025. Once we have those documents, the next  
step will be going out to bid. Anticipated construction will go from late 2025 until 2027.  
E. Reports to Committee  
Ronda gave a zoo report. The zoo's guinea fowl were moved into the same exhibit as  
the Somali wild ass. The capybara and Aldabra tortoises were moved into their winter  
homes. We moved some toads into the aviary. We hired the open vet tech position.  
We are at the end of interviews for the lead keeper position. The clerk III  
reclassification goes to the full county board this week. The zoo is heading into event  
season with Brew Lights and a blood drive next week. Zoo Lights starts the week of  
Thanksgiving.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
The next meeting will take place January 7th, 2025 at 8:00AM.  
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 EVERS, seconded by JUSTUS, that the zoo commission  
be adjourned at 9:35AM. The motion carried unanimously.  
Respectfully submitted by Amanda Pedersen, pending approval from the zoo commission.