E. Reports to Committee
Zoo Report: Director Schwetz gave an update. The architecture firm we are using will be
at the zoo the week of September 19th to go over new giraffe exhibit plans. 2023 budget
will be out in October. We did include a new diversity line item to help us start
implementing some of the recommendations from the Keen report. AZA will be doing a
visit sometime this month but we don’t have dates confirmed yet. This visit will look in to
the animal welfare complaints that were reported on early this year. We are inviting the
external judge the County appointed to participate in that visit. Just finished putting up
new bison fencing. We are getting in to our shipping season. We are hoping to get new
bison and a camel this fall. We lost our female red panda last week. We will be looking
for a suitable companion for Bandit as soon as we can work with the Species Survival
Plan coordinator. Discussion ensued.
2022
RPT-316
Attachments:
2022 RPT-316
Lisa MacKinnon gave a summary of the report. The Keen survey process took almost
one full year. Keen is a 28-person national equity consulting firm. The objective was to
evaluate racial and social equity at Dane County Parks and the Zoo and make
recommendations to become more inclusive.
Keen held discussions with internal stakeholders, created an ad-hoc advisory group, did
comparative research, and surveyed visitors and non-visitors. Survey received over 600
responses. The demographic survey responses mirrored the population of Dane County
very closely.
Keen provided a list of nine recommendations. Full report is 95-pages and is on the
County Board website. Their report affirmed the zoo’s existing intentional equity work. It
was apparent to Keen that zoo staff have already done quite a bit of work on access and
equity.
Discussion ensued.
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates
The next meeting will be held on October 4th at 7:30am.
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 PETERSEN, that the Zoo Commission
be adjourned at 9:12am. The motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by Kristin Moala, pending approval of the Commission.