The Polk County Conservation Board (PCCB) will discuss a staff
recommendation to enter into an agreement with the Blank Park Zoo
Foundation, for potential expansion of the zoo into the Fort Des Moines
County Park, at their monthly meeting Wednesday, May 10. This discussion,
and vote by the PCCB is scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, May 10th @ 6:30pm
Polk County Administration Bldg., Room 120
111 Court Ave
Des Moines, Iowa

I have attached the staff recommendation for an outline of a cooperative
agreement with the zoo.

While expansion of the zoo might be needed, the zoo has access to more than
45 acres of land that it owns already, or is city owned;  all of this land
is undeveloped and underutilized.  They could use their own land first,
rather than taking over the wonderful, natural amenities the county park
already provides.

With Polk County's 30-year growth plan estimating that another 170,000
residents will move to Polk County in that time, with associated development
and urban growth, the preservation of some remaining remants of natural
parks and preserves is a must.  The idea that the PCCB would entertain any
prospect of reinventing the Fort Des Moines County Park into a managed,
controlled, and planned zoo environment without free public access is a
travesty to the mission of the PCCB.

I urge you to attend this meeting if you are concerned about this issue.  If
you wish to speak, please do so, but even your presence at the meeting will
make a definitive statement to the PCCB that citizens care about what plans
occur in relation to this park.

DRAFT PROPOSAL
PLANNING PROCESS-BLANK PARK ZOO EXPANSION
STAKEHOLDERS;

Public Decision-makers:
Polk County Conservation Board "PCCB"
Blank Park Zoo Foundation, Inc. "BPZF"
Polk County Board of Supervisors "PCBS"
City of Des Moines "CDM"
Des Moines Independent School District "DMSC"

Community Organizations:
South Des Moines Neighborhood Associations "SDMNAs"
South Des Moines Chamber of Commerce "SDMCC"
South Side Redevelopment Group "SSRD"

SCENARIO: The BPZF has completed a Planning Process and determined that, if
it is to remain at its present location, work toward self-sufficiency, and
meet its mission to become a world-class zoological park facility, it must
expand. Expansion should incorporate animal habitat displays that preserve
the conservation of species and educate the public about the relationship
between habitat and animal behavior. See BPZF Mission Statement, Exhibit A,
attached. The Ft.D.M. Park ("Park") managed by the PCCB provides an
opportunity for Zoo expansion that will meet these objectives. The BPZF and
PCCB have agreed to explore collaborative use of
the Park.

BACKGROUND: Subsequent to a decision by the PCCB to explore collaborative
use of the Ft. D.M. Park with the BPZF, the PCCB conducted two meetings with
the public on April 18 and April 26, 2006 to identify public sentiment
regarding Zoo Expansion into the Park. Key Findings/Highlights of the
meetings are attached as Exhibit B. The BPZF and PCCB now wish to pursue a
planning process to:

1. Identify common principles for the collaborative use of the Park between
the BPZF and PCCB.
2. Develop a Concept Plan that will resolve how these common principles can
be applied to a collaborative use of the Park and accommodate Zoo Expansion.
3. Reconcile the Concept Plan to a Regional Attractions and Oasis Plan for
the "Ft. D.M. Superblock" area of South Des Moines bounded by Army Post Rd.,
County Line Rd. SW 9 th St and SE 5 th Street.

PROPOSED PROCESS AND SCHEDULE:
Identification of Common Principles. Exhibit C, attached are seven
Guidelines established by the Executive Committee of the BPZF for
collaborative use of the Park. The PCCB will examine these Guidelines and
the Key Findings of its Public Involvement Sessions, and prepare a Proposed
Set of Common Principles for Zoo Expansion into the Park. A Steering
Committee made up of members of the BPZF and PCCB (two members each with one
alternate plus the Directors of the two Boards) shall meet the week of May
8, 2006 to prepare a set of Common Principles for approval of both Boards.

Concept Plan. An Advisory Committee including members of the Steering
Committee as well as representatives of the PCBS, CDM and DMSD (one Board
Member and a staff representative) Shall meet between May 10 and May 31 to
review the land use issues and alternatives that conform to the Common
Principles and accommodate the strategic plans for property owned by the
CDM, DMSD and BPZF exclusive of the Park and existing Zoo Facility as well
as property owned by other public and private landowners in proximity to the
Park. On or before May 31, 2006, the Advisory Committee shall prepare a list
of suggestions for land use issues that could be included in the Concept
Plan for the Park. These issues shall include by shall not be limited to:

1. What areas of the Park are best suited to meet the Zoo Expansion
objectives of the BPZF and what areas of the Park are necessary to retain
the public use benefits of the Park?
2. If Zoo expansion into the Park displaces certain recreational facilities,
what alternatives are available for relocating or replacing these facilities
while serving the constituencies that currently use the Park?
3. If shared use of the Park is proposed, what devices will be necessary to
provide security and mutual enjoyment of those areas of the Park from
intrusions by users from other areas of the Park and neighborhood?
4. What collaborative programming can be incorporated into a shared use of
the Park by the BPZF and PCCB to fulfill their missions for conservation
education?
5. Based on the Public Involvement Sessions, what land use elements should
be incorporated into a shared use of the Park to respond to community needs?

On or before June 9th, 2006, the Advisory Committee shall prepare a draft
Concept Plan for collaborative use of the Park for submittal to the public.
The Advisory Committee shall then conduct one or more public forums to seek
public comment about the Draft Concept Plan with the intent of Adoption of a
Preliminary Concept Plan on or before July 12, 2006.

Preparation of Regional Attractions Plan for "Ft. D.M. Superblock"
Between July14, 2006 and December 31, 2006, the Advisory Committee shall
conduct one or more workshops or charettes with Community Organizations and
the general public for review of the Preliminary Concept Plan and its
relationship to Regional Attractions in a "Superblock" bound by Army Post
Rd., County Line Road, SW 9 th Street and SE 5th Street. Such attractions
include the Blank Park Zoo and Park, the Ft. D.M. Park, the Ft. D.M. Campus
of Army Reserve and historical buildings, the Ft. D.M. Parade Ground, the
Ft. D.M. Officers Museum, public schools, the YMCA and the Blank Park Golf
Course.

After such session(s), the Advisory Committee, with the assistance of a 3-5
member Technical Planning Committee composed of personnel from the Public
Decision-makers shall prepare a draft Regional Attractions and Oasis Plan
incorporating a final Zoo Expansion Concept Plan. Such Regional Attractions
and Oasis Plan shall be developed to capitalize on the synergy between the
historical, recreational and cultural facilities in the Ft. D.M. area as a
major tourist and community attraction in the Des Moines Metropolitan area
while at the same time acknowledging and preserving the existing park
aesthetics and solitude (the "oasis in an urban setting") valued by many in
the public involvement sessions .

Master Plan and 28E Agreement. After the preparation of a Master Plan for
the Zoo Expansion and Ft. D.M. Park by the PCCB and BPZF, a 28E Committee,
using the guiding principles, shall be formed between the two organizations
to prepare a draft 28E Agreement. This agreement would establish the
requirements for BPZF financing of the development of the Zoo Expansion
Project and use of the Park for collaborative programming and for collateral
commitments to implement the Master Plan. .

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