02-22-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING February 22, 2015 regional reach. This plan allows for increased expansion of our reach and bringing more people into our community. When fully implemented, zoo visitation could exceed 350,000 to 400,000 guests annually. This plan would create not only local construction jobs but also jobs at the zoo. Most importantly the plan enhances guest experiences with unique exhibits, provides new attractions, animal feeding, and interactive opportunities. The zoo thanks the Council for the consideration of this resolution. Josh Sisk, 500 S. Greenlawn, spoke in favor of the resolution. This dedicated tax is not only important for the zoo but for wildlife conservation at a global scale. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and this accreditation partners us with over 230 other zoos across the country. All these zoos work together to save wildlife through breading programs and visitor education. Biologists predict over half of common zoo animals will be extinct in the wild. This is why zoos are so important. State of the art exhibitory will not only provide our animals the best level of care but also allow the zoo to participate more in these breeding programs. This is not just a quality of life issue for the animals at the zoo but for the South Bend community as well. Julian Morris, 2216 Perchman's Tr. South Bend, came to support this resolution for three reasons. First, she is a transplant to this community and has lived in many different places and the Potawatomi Zoo has so much potential to be one of the best zoos in the country. The ratings for the zoo over the past five to ten years have started to rise and this plan can only help those ratings. Second, she is a mother and the zoo provides excellent resources in education and engagement for her children. Third, the master plan helps grow the ability of the zoo to help protect and grow these endangered species populations. Karen Selmer, 1002 S. Ironwood Dr. Mishawaka, is a volunteer for the zoo. She expressed her support for this resolution. During her time as a volunteer she has seen firsthand the personal impact of showing children and adults the beauty and wonder of seeing these animals up close. There is only one place in South Bend where you can get that experience. People from all over the area and the country come to see our zoo and that can only increase with this dedicated tax. Todd Wolfer, 15814 Ashville Ln Granger, spoke in support of the resolution. He moved to the South Bend area in 1992 as a poor college graduate with no connections to the area. There were few things that he could do at that time to get involved and feel a part of this community and going to the zoo was one of them. Now after being married and having kids he has even more connections with the zoo in his life. He takes both of his children regularly to the zoo and those experiences are invaluable. One of the incredible things about this is it is not a major undertaking to pack up the family and go to the zoo. The difference that this zoo makes for the community is immeasurable. As a conservative he generally does not like the idea of more taxes, but he stands here pledging his support for this because it is so important and is targeted to a specific need that benefits the community as a whole. There are a lot of great assets in the community but we only have one zoo. Those from the public wishing to speak in opposition: Jesse Davis, P.O. Box 10205, spoke in opposition to the bill. There is a lot of concern regarding all the trash rates, water rates, sewer rates and all the various taxes that have been brought to bear on this community. Is this going to be a tax that is just going to generate money for this master plan or is it going to be in place forever? It seems every time we have one of these master plans it is the public who ends up paying millions and millions of dollars. Mr. Davis stated as a father and grandfather he has bought family memberships at the zoo and he loves the zoo, but there are a lot of people who cannot even afford to go to the zoo. There are some better ways that they might be able to generate revenue themselves. Jason Banicki Critchlow, 3822 W Ford St., reiterated Mr. Davis' concerns. The City government should live within their means. The zoo knows it can only get this $37 million dollars through this tax and it is not fair to ask everyone to fit the bill for that for one entity. If these species are really going to be extinct in the wild, they are then caged show animals which is why zoos across this country have decreased in popularity no matter what the efforts. If they cannot come up with the money through donations then do what everyone else has to do and make tough decisions. Mr. Banicki Critchlow claims he runs a multimillion dollar business D