ADOPTED - APRIL 14, 2009

Agenda Item No. 18

Introduced by the County Services and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A FUND TRANSFER

TO THE POTTER PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

RESOLUTION #09-093

WHEREAS, the electorate of Ingham County overwhelmingly approved the millage proposal in November of 2006 to fund the operation and improvement of Potter Park and the Potter Park Zoo; and

WHEREAS, the Potter Park Zoological Society is a private, 501c(3) nonprofit, fundraising organization that raises the funds to support the Zoo; and

WHEREAS, in that capacity, the Zoological Society supports: the Education Department, which provides over 500 programs per year that reach almost 25,000 students; the Docent Association, that currently has over 120 volunteers; the Teen Zookeeper Program, enrolling over 100 students each year; the Zookambi summer school program, a program that educates over 400 students per summer; and

WHEREAS, the Zoological Society operates the concession stands, gift shop, and pony rides; and sponsors special events with the help of over 35 seasonal employees; and

WHEREAS, the Zoological Society operates on a $900,000 budget, over $600,000 of this is spent on supporting the Potter Park Zoo through educational programming, special events, operating costs, and capital improvements; and 

WHEREAS, the Potter Park Zoological Society Board of Directors is comprised of 16 enthusiastic community leaders; and

WHEREAS, a member of the Potter Park Zoological Society Board and a member of the Potter Park Zoo Board compose a Public Relations & Marketing sub-committee to raise community awareness and interest in the Potter Park Zoo; and

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners approved the transfer of $40,000 from the proceeds of the Potter Park Zoo Millage to the Potter Park Zoological Society for 2008 marketing purposes; and

WHEREAS, the Potter Park Zoological Society Board has approved within their 2009 Society budget $20,000 for promotion and printing; and

WHEREAS, the Potter Park Zoological Society has agreed to provide, on a monthly basis, invoices detailing spending of all marketing funds; and   

WHEREAS, county staff will, on a monthly basis, include with monthly financial reports a marketing expense report to the Zoo Board; and

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Potter Park Zoo Board (Resolution #02-09) and the Parks & Recreation Commission (Resolution #17-09) recommend that the Board of Commissioners authorize the transfer of $40,000 to be used by the Potter Park Zoological Society for 2009 marketing purposes.

ADOPTED - APRIL 14, 2009

Agenda Item No. 18

RESOLUTION #09-093

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Ingham County Parks & Recreation Commission recommends that the Board of Commissioners authorize a transfer of $40,000 from the proceeds of the Potter Park Zoo Millage to be used by the Potter Park Zoological Society for 2009 marketing purposes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners authorizes the County Attorney to prepare the necessary documents.

COUNTY SERVICES:  Yeas:  Celentino, Koenig, Holman, Copedge, Grebner

  Nays:  None         Absent:  Vickers        Approved 4/7/09

FINANCE:    Yeas:  Grebner, Nolan, Bahar-Cook, Tennis, Davis, Dougan

Nays:  None         Absent:  None           Approved 4/13/2009