Salt Lake County studying fate of 'Renew the Zoo' plan

Voters will find out next week if they will get a chance to vote on a $65 million bond to revamp Hogle Zoo.

The Salt Lake County Council is scheduled to decide Tuesday whether to put a question on the November ballot asking county residents to pay more property taxes for the $65 million bond.

If approved, county property taxes would jump by about $10 on a $250,000 home over the next 20 years.

Zoo officials want to raise $85 million total for the project, with $20 million coming from private funds.

Last week, after an intense look at the zoo's finances, the county's Debt Review Committee ruled that "the project appears viable," said committee chairman Larry Richardson, the county's treasurer. Richardson presented the committee's findings to the County Council on Tuesday.

Zoo officials want to build a new aquarium complex, a gorilla forest expansion, African savanna and large polar bear exhibits, a renovated penguin enclosure and an "enhanced" south entrance with 400 more parking spots.

The additions are part of the zoo's 30-year master plan to "Renew the Zoo."

The most expensive new exhibit would cost about $15 million. The Arctic Zone would have space for five adult polar bears to swim in an underwater viewing tank, cool off in an ice cave and even dig into the ground. The area could also include bald eagles, seals and snowy owls.

The new exhibits also will feature more endangered animals to help preserve their species. The zoo chose polar bears as a priority because they are slowly dying off. Global warming has decreased sea ice in Arctic regions, leaving less space for polar bears to roam.

Salt Lake City voters already have funded two new exhibits at the zoo. In 2003, Salt Lake voters approved a $10.2 million general-obligation bond for zoo upgrades. Seventy percent of voters approved the bond, which paid for the new Elephant Encounters and Asian Highlands exhibits.

Zoo officials have promised half-price admission once a week to county residents if the bond is approved.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com