09-24-18 Personnel and Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK probably be done after our inspection because that is a very large project, but that is Urgency One (1) and will be part of that$2.2 million bond.New roofs on several buildings and new HVAC and electrical systems are in the queue. We know several of our electrical panels are out of date and need to be updated. We are also looking at newer and safer patron fences throughout the Zoo. Our current standard of patron fence is actually not up to AZA standard. They did comment on it at our last accreditation in 2014. We know if we don't fix that before inspection in June 2018, that will be written up. If there was a comment in the last accreditation and we do not address it before this upcoming accreditation, we know that becomes a citation and violation. She went on, We are also needing new animal containment all throughout the East Barn. That was also a comment on our last accreditation. All of our exterior holding on East Barn right now is actually failing. We have some serious containment issues there. We also need new fencing throughout the Zoo Farm. We need repairs to several buildings. We need new decking for the alligator. We also need repairs to the tiger exhibit. All of these are Urgency One (1) big ticket items. Then $1.5 million of the bond is designated for the final phases of our Zoo entrance. The Zoo entrance is a$3 million capital project and is part of the first (1St) phase of the Zoo's Master Plan. We are leveraging $450,000 of Regional Cities funding and we also raised $1.5 million of private funding that includes a landmark$500,000 gift. That is the largest gift in the Zoo's history. The Zoo's new entrance is designed to accommodate more guests per year and overall improve the flow of entry to the Zoo. Since 2014 when we formed the first (1S) private-public partnership with the City of South Bend and Venues,Parks &Arts,the Society has raised over$3.5 million in funds for new capital projects. She continued, The Zoo entrance project will address several issues. ADA compliant bathrooms and thoroughfares are big ones. We know the ways into our Zoo, right now, are not ADA compliant. Both hills are not ADA compliant. Several of our restrooms were grandfathered into non-compliance. This new building will be completely ADA compliant as well as have a family restroom. A new point of sale system is in the cards as well as our current point of sale system is archaic. There will be improvements to our gift shop as well. There will be twice as much space for education and classes and then a dedicated group and field trip entrance as well. That entrance also has a lot of needs. I will open it up for questions but that is a general overview of the projects for what that$1.5 million plus the $2.2 million will be going toward. Committee Chair White then opened the floor to questions from Committee and Council Members. Committeemember Voorde asked, Why is the accreditation so important? Ms. Dean replied, So the Association for Zoos and Aquariums, or AZA, is important because without that we would lose seventy-five to eighty percent (75% - 80%) of our animal collection. There are 2,800 USDA permitted animal exhibitors in the United States and just over two hundred (200) AZA accredited facilities. Because we are accredited, we are allowed to exhibit the endangered and critically endangered species we have and also participate in those breeding programs. That would all go away. It is also very important in that it shows we have the highest standard and quality of animal care. It is important in terms of our funding and veterinary care as well. Being AZA accredited helps us with USDA accreditation. It also helps on the guest perspective. When you walk into an institution,you want to know that the institution is being held to the highest standard and that it is safe. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1 227 W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 466011 p 574.235.9221 If 574.235.9173 TM574.235.55671www.southbendin.gov 11