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, January 7, 2026  
8:00 AM  
702 S Randall Ave  
A. Call To Order  
A motion was made by ROSS that the Zoo Commission meeting be called to  
order at 8:03am. The motion carried unanimously.  
4 -  
Present  
JEFFREY GUNDERSON, SARAH JUSTUS, MICHAEL PETERSEN, and ANNE  
ROSS  
3 - TAG EVERS, JASMINE BANKS, and ERIN WELSH  
Excused  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
2025  
MIN-477  
Attachments: 2025 MIN-477  
A motion was made by JUSTUS, seconded by PETERSEN, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
C. Action Items  
ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT FOR HENRY VILAS ZOO TO SUPPORT THE  
ENHANCEMENT OF NATIVE PLANT AND VEGETABLE GARDENS AT  
BAYVIEW FOUNDATION  
6. 2025  
RES-275  
WELSH and ENGELBERGER  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-275  
2025 RES-275 Fiscal Note  
A motion was made by JUSTUS, seconded by GUNDERSON, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote.  
D. Presentations  
None  
E. Reports to Committee  
Ronda updated the commission. Construction has begun on the new seal  
shade structure. Work should be done by sometime in March. Solar shade  
structure construction should begin in the next few months and it shouldn't take  
long to complete once the work has started. The Zoo just put out a bid for work  
on the new arctic fox exhibit. Work should begin sometime this summer on that  
project. The Zoo combined all current HVAC projects into one large project,  
which is currently in Public Works.  
The education department is currently working on updating all the signage in the  
Tundra Buggy, which should be done by mid-February and the Zoo will officially  
open it on International Polar Bear Day (Feb. 27th).  
Zoo Lights had to be canceled three nights due to weather this year. The Zoo  
made slightly less money than it has in previous years because of that, but  
overall feedback on this year's light show was positive. The Zoo's operations  
team is already looking at ways to improve the guest experience for next year.  
A female camel, Altain, passed away just before the holidays on the same day  
that three baby goats were born. The otter offspring from last year are going to  
separate AZA facilities this year. We are anticipating a female polar bear, Nora,  
coming to the Zoo in early January. We will also be getting a new bearded  
dragon.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
The next Zoo Commission meeting will take place on February 3rd 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 JUSTUS, seconded by GUNDERSON, that the Zoo  
Commission meeting be adjourned at 8:57am. The motion carried unanimously.  
Respectfully submitted by Kristin Moala, pending approval by the Commission.