The Oregon Zoo Bond Citizens' Oversight Committee, a group of independent citizens charged with reviewing the zoo's $125 million bond program, will meet for the first time Feb. 10.
In November 2008, Metro-area voters passed a $125 million measure aimed at protecting animal health and safety, making the zoo more sustainable in its operations and addressing serious water conservation issues. The measure also called for creation of an independent citizen oversight committee to provide a third-party review of the bond program progress and to monitor spending.
"The community supported the zoo in 2008, despite a tough economy," said Metro Council President David Bragdon, "and a key element of that broad support was the assurance that accountability measures would be in place."
Chairing the citizens' oversight committee will be Sheryl Manning, who has previously chaired the Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission board and served as the commission's acting general manager. She played a leadership role when the Oregon Convention Center construction project was completed on time and on budget. Manning is also experienced in the nongovernmental organization sector.
"With Sheryl's strong leadership, we are confident that sharp eyes will be watching our financial and construction practices," Bragdon said.
The committee will review the implementation of bond-related programs in terms of structure, management, expenditures, personnel and achievement of defined goals. It will also consider and recommend project modifications if inflationary increases cause construction costs to exceed current budget estimates.
Specifically, the committee will help ensure proper oversight of five areas:
- Providing more humane care for animals by updating four outdated and undersized enclosures with larger, more natural and safer spaces.
- Protecting animal health and safety by modernizing the zoo's substandard 45-year-old animal clinic, which was deemed deficient by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
- Increasing access to conservation education by providing more space for summer camps, classes and hands-on learning for kids, adults and families.
- Improving water quality by replacing the 1950s-era sewer system, while reducing pollution by separating sewage from storm water. The zoo will also harvest rain runoff for reuse.
- Conserving and reusing water by installing water-recycling filtration systems, while replacing leaking, worn-out plumbing and irrigation systems. These changes will save 11 million gallons of water annually.
Metro management will continue to make specific project decisions, while the committee will examine at how decision?making occurs and how business is conducted. Questions they will address include the following:
- Are the right business processes and tools in place?
- Are the right people working on the program?
- Is quality control adequate?
- Are the program results on track and on schedule?
- What, if any, improvements are needed to ensure that Metro is maintaining the public's trust and realizing the best possible value for the money?
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington's pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot and Taylor's checkerspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Oregon spotted frogs and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.