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RESOLUTION NO. 13541
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE GRANT APPLICATION
FOR A LOCAL PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION
GRANT FROM THE STATE BOARD OF THE GREAT
OUTDOORS COLORADO FOR THE OLD WORLD MONKEY
EXHIBIT FOR NEW WORLD GROWTH AND LEARNING
PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of Pueblo is requesting $266,439 from Great Outdoors Colorado for
the Pueblo Zoo’s Old World Monkey Exhibit for New World Growth and Learning Project; and
WHEREAS, Great Outdoors Colorado requires that the City Council of the City of Pueblo,
Colorado state its support for the Great Outdoors Colorado grant application for the Pueblo Zoo’s
Old World Monkey Exhibit for New World Growth and Learning Project; and
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1:
The City Council of the City of Pueblo strongly supports the application to Great Outdoors
Colorado for the Pueblo Zoo’s Old World Monkey Exhibit for New World Growth and Learning
Project.
SECTION 2:
The City Council of the City of Pueblo recognizes that the Board of Directors of the Pueblo
Zoological Society has authorized the expenditure of funds including matching funds necessary
to meet the terms and obligations of any Grant awarded.
SECTION 3:
The project site is owned by City of Pueblo and will be owned by City of Pueblo for the
next 25 years.
4:
SECTION
The City Council of the City of Pueblo recognizes that as the recipient of a Great Outdoors
Colorado Local Government grant the project site must provide reasonable public access.
5:
SECTION
The City Council of the City of Pueblo through the Pueblo Zoological Society will continue
to maintain the Old World Monkey Exhibit for New World Growth and Learning Project in a high
quality condition and will appropriate funds for maintenance in its annual budget.
SECTION 6:
The officers and staff of the City are directed and authorized to perform any and all acts
consistent with the intent of this Resolution and to effectuate the transactions described herein.
SECTION 7:
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage.
INTRODUCED: November 14, 2016
BY: Ed Brown
City Clerk’s Office Item #
M-2
BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PROPOSED
RESOLUTION
COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
November 14, 2016
TO: President Stephen G. Nawrocki and Members of City Council
CC: Sam Azad, City Manager
VIA: Gina Dutcher, City Clerk
FROM: Steven Meier, Director of Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE GRANT APPLICATION FOR A
LOCAL PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANT FROM THE
STATE BOARD OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO FOR THE
OLD WORLD MONKEY EXHIBIT FOR NEW WORLD GROWTH AND
LEARNING PROJECT
SUMMARY:
This Resolution will support a grant application for a Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grant
from the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado for the Pueblo Zoo’s De Brazza’s monkey
project titled “Old World Monkey Exhibit for New World Growth and Learning”.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
Resolution No. 12895 approved on February 10, 2014 allocated $250,945 to aid in the design
and construction of the African painted dog and De Brazza’s monkey exhibits, and approved the
revised plan for the improvements authorized by Resolution No. 12134. Resolution No. 12134
approved on May 9, 2011 permitted the construction of public restrooms, food concessions, a
wildlife learning center, and the rhino exhibit.
The Pueblo Zoo is owned by the City of Pueblo and operated by the Pueblo Zoological Society
under a management agreement renewed until December 31, 2018.
BACKGROUND:
In 2010, the Pueblo Zoological Society, in partnership with key stakeholders, began planning a
capital campaign that would transform the southern edge of the city-owned zoo into an African
Village fondly named the Serengeti Safari. With the support of the City of Pueblo, Pueblo County
and numerous individual donors and foundations, the Pueblo Zoo has added a modern
concessions building with restrooms, created a new main loop path and updated viewing areas
for the existing African lion exhibit, and opened a state-of-the-art exhibit for African painted dogs,
as well as a multi-species exhibit for African crested porcupines and meerkats. The final phase of
this campaign is the construction of an adjacent exhibit for De Brazza’s monkeys.
The requested grant of $266,439 from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) will allow for
construction of this exhibit in summer and fall 2017, with a planned opening of spring 2018. Once
completed, the Pueblo Zoological Society anticipates a substantial initial increase in attendance,
as well as long-term growth, which will bolster earned revenue, contributing to sustainability and
less reliance on government funding. If this grant is not awarded, completion of this project will
likely be delayed well into the future, as other funders have already made substantial contributions
to the capital campaign and are unable to make further commitments at this time.
To fulfill the zoo’s mission and to maintain relevancy among other accredited zoos, it is imperative
that the Pueblo Zoo continually provide new experiences and new inspiration for guests. For
years, visitors have requested more primates and updated exhibits. Guests are captivated by the
social behavior of monkeys, and are able to relate to these species in ways they cannot with
reptiles, amphibians, or even other mammals. This connection helps to develop deep empathy
for living creatures, which in turn results in conservation action. Emblematic of many species, the
De Brazza’s monkeys will help to educate visitors about the threats of habitat loss, hunting, and
illegal pet trade.
The Pueblo Zoo is a critical cultural institution, serving more than 100,000 visitors from across the
country and connecting children and families to the natural world in ways no other organization in
our community can. The Pueblo Zoo also serves as an economic driver for the community and
region, employing twenty-six full-time skilled professionals and attracting tourism, resulting in
increased visitor spending in areas such as dining, lodging, and shopping.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Pueblo Zoological Society will provide the $124,088 cash match through carry-over funds from
previous phases of this capital campaign, new individual commitments, and new grants from
private foundations.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
None
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS:
In 2014, the plan to bring dogs and monkeys to Pueblo was identified by the Pueblo Zoological
Society’s Board of Directors, in consultation with zoo staff and zoo consultants with expertise in
master planning and exhibit design. This project was identified because it brought new exhibits to
Pueblo faster than the original Rhino project (envisioned in 2010) would have. When this new
direction was identified, all donors were contacted, and the overwhelming majority voiced their
support.
While the opening of the African painted dog exhibit satisfied the immediate need to open new
exhibits, the excitement and demand for the full completion of the project remains. For years, zoo
visitors have requested updated exhibits and more primates in the Pueblo Zoo’s annual guest
survey. Donors and visitors alike are anxious to see this project completed. Zoo staff must
frequently answer the question, “When will the monkeys finally come?”
The Pueblo Zoo has received Letters of Support for this grant application from Colorado State
University-Extension, Pikes Peak Community College, Pueblo City-County Library District, Blazer
Electric Supply Co., Nature & Raptor Center of Pueblo, Minnequa Rotary, Mountain Park
Environmental Center, Pueblo City Schools, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Sangre de Cristo
Hospice and St. Mary Corwin Medical Center.
ALTERNATIVES:
Council could remove the Resolution from the agenda and no GOCO grant would be sought to
bring this campaign to a close, delaying the completion of the capital campaign and construction
of this exhibit well into the future.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval of the Resolution.
Attachments: GOCO Grant Application and supporting documents for “Old World
Monkey Exhibit for New World Growth and Learning” Project