Watertown zoo officials outline short- and long-term costs to keep facility open

Nov. 13—WATERTOWN — The city needs to provide $750,000 in annual funding to transform Zoo New York into a vibrant attraction that would bring visitors back over and over again.

During a work session Monday night, the City Council met with Mark D. Irwin, the zoo's interim director, and Philip James, the zoo board's treasurer, to talk about the short- and long-term options for the financially strapped zoo in Thompson Park.

Irwin outlined two other options for the city taking over and running the zoo.

"It would cost the city more to run it," Irwin said, explaining that employee salaries and their benefits would significantly increase compared to what current staff is paid now.

It would cost the city $1.5 million to take over the zoo and run it at the same "bare-bones" level as it is now, Irwin said.

Or it would take $2 million for the city to run the zoo with plans to create a place where more people would visit and then return because it "would be a vibrant zoo with new attractions every year," he said.

No action was taken Monday night.

After a several-month delay, Mayor Jeffrey M. Smith hopes to release the names Tuesday of a "Blue-Ribbon Panel" that could decide the zoo's future.

Zoo officials had asked that the panel be formed back in June before Zoo New York was forced to go to an austerity budget almost three weeks ago.

In recent weeks, the Thompson Park Conservancy, the group that operates the zoo, said the zoo's business model needs to change or the zoo should close.

If the city were to increase funding to the $750,000 amount, the conservancy would operate under a management contract and not under the existing lease arrangement, Irwin said.

The zoo would have a full staff and add a grant writer to seek funding sources, he said.

Under that scenario, the zoo would become a modern facility by industry standards, Irwin said.

And if that were to happen, Irwin believes the zoo would be once again an accredited zoo. The zoo lost that recognition several years ago after years of neglect.

The zoo also would undertake a significant fundraising campaign and put together an endowment, he said.

Zoo officials will soon release the results of a public survey, which is expected to show that people are generally in support of the facility.

After listening to the hourlong presentation, the mayor said that support from residents might wane after learning their property taxes would increase by 10% or 15%.

"A lot of questions need to be answered," Smith said.

However, the public seems to be interested in paying an annual fee of about $30 to get the zoo that they want and no longer have to pay admission, Councilman Cliff G. Olney said.

Councilwoman Sarah V. Compo Pierce suggested that the zoo begin a fundraising campaign now.

"You have the public's attention," she said. "And the public's willingness to help."

Last week, council members agreed to contribute an additional $60,000 to the zoo so it could continue its austerity budget, which includes taking care of the animals with a staff of four zookeepers and a maintenance worker.

They learned on Monday night that the zoo will be able to operate on austerity until May, not just until February as was originally thought.

In February, the state will deliver its annual $66,000 grant, and Jefferson County provides a $59,000 contribution, James said.

Irwin has yet to approach county officials about increasing that $59,000 amount.

Under the austerity budget, the zoo laid off 15 people, two-thirds of the zoo's staff. On Friday, Executive Director Lawrence J. Sorel resigned immediately after heading the zoo for more than five years.

In the past, zoo officials have asked for more financial help from the city and Jefferson County. The city owns the zoo, while the conservancy operates it.

The conservancy would have to turn over the zoo, but the city would have to decide to close it and determine what to do with the animals and the land that it sits on.