Lake Superior Zoo Seeks Financial Help

Zoo asks city for $200,000 subsidy and an extension to repay its line of credit.

Zoo staff say that a $200,000 subsidy would allow them the time to continue shaping their capital campaign continue work on their concept plan, and allows them to work with their new director.

“Now we do not take this request lightly,” said interim CEO Julene Boe.

The Lake Superior Zoo made its case for the subsidy before the committee of the whole meeting Thursday night.

Councilor Howie Hanson said, “The zoo really is the face of West Duluth.”

The zoo said that losing their most popular exhibit Polar Shores to the 2012 flood put them back the most, along with a new concept plan that led to the removal of some animals.

“The society is moving forward to a strong future with the zoo,” said Boe.

Zoo officials said the long term future of the zoo is based on implementing their $15 million concept plan and ten year management plan and that this short term request for funds would allow them to do so.

“Whether this money goes to the society now or whether the city utilizes this money, if the society were not able to continue at this point, the city would have to spend this money regardless,” said Duluth Chief Administrative Officer David Montgomery.

The funds would come from the tourism tax which was created in the 1970’s to help the DECC, the zoo, and Spirit Mountain.

“There should be no problem allocating funds that were dedicated for the zoo,” said councilor Jay Fosle.

The resolution before the council said that members of the zoological society will have to appear before the council with their detailed plans sometime mid-winter.

The city council will discuss the resolution regarding the zoo’s request in their next city council meeting.