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Tampa Zoo Chief Regrets Offering Land For Polk Park

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By BAIRD HELGESON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2008

TAMPA - Lowry Park Zoo President Lex Salisbury said he regrets the controversy that ensued after offering land at his private Polk County exotic-animal park for boarding zoo animals.

In recent days, Salisbury has been criticized for a potential conflict of interest after reports that the zoo had built two barns on Safari Wild's property. The buildings were constructed for zoo animals brought there so they could have space to roam.

"I didn't understand the political ramifications," Salisbury said Thursday. "If I had known what I know now, I probably never would have offered this thing up because of all the controversy it's caused."

On Thursday, Mayor Pam Iorio called for more city oversight of the taxpayer-supported zoo, which severed its relationship with Safari Wild in June.

Iorio sent a letter to the zoo critical of the executive committee for agreeing to a lease on Salisbury's land without first checking with the city or other government agencies for unused property.

She suggested the zoo consider the city water department's 400 acres in Thonotosassa.

"The city would be willing to help the zoo by beginning a discussion regarding the possible use of a portion of this acreage by the zoo," the mayor wrote.

Zoo officials have long said they needed nearby acreage to allow zoo animals a break from life on display. Before Iorio sent the letter, executive committee member Bob Merritt said it would cost the zoo about $250,000 to replace the land they leased from Safari Wild.

Iorio's letter included a list of requirements to resolve the city's issues with the zoo's now-voided relationship with Salisbury's animal park:

• She asks the zoo to have no further involvement with Safari Wild.

• All zoo animals still on Safari Wild property must be returned, and she wants the city to approve any future transfers of zoo animals to private property.

• Any zoo money spent on Safari Wild property must be repaid by the attraction.

• She wants the city's representative on the zoo board, Santiago Corrada, to be named to the six-member executive committee.

"The mayor has offered some solid suggestions, many of which are already in motion," Salisbury said in a statement after being informed of the letter. "I look forward to discussing the offer of land with her further."

Salisbury said earlier in the day that he didn't anticipate the perception of a conflict of interest with the relationship between the zoo and his for-profit venture.

He said he did not personally profit from the arrangement and that no zoo resources or staff were used for Safari Wild.

All of the zoo's animals, except five bison, have been removed from Safari Wild and no zoo equipment or trucks remain on the land, Salisbury said.

The zoo does pay Safari Wild a boarding fee of $600 a month for the five bison on the property, said Larry Killmar, the zoo's director of collections.

The zoo's six-member executive committee had approved a memorandum of understanding with Safari Wild that entitled the zoo to a free, 10-acre lease of the land. The zoo wanted the land to give exhibit animals some open land to graze.

The zoo's executive committee severed the relationship after concerns arose about the appearance of a conflict of interest in having a business relationship with the zoo president's private animal park.

On Wednesday, The Tampa Tribune reported that the zoo built a 2,400-square-foot horse barn and a primate building of similar size on the Safari Wild property it leased. The zoo also paid for fencing around 5 acres of property for the zoo's horses.

Several zoo board members, including Corrada, said they were never told the zoo built barns on land owed by Salisbury. They never saw the memorandum of understanding between the zoo and Safari Wild.

Salisbury and Merritt agreed that communication needs to improve with the rest of the board. "We got that message loud and clear," Salisbury said.

Salisbury and St. Petersburg veterinarian Stephen Wehrmann bought 258 acres of land north of Lakeland in 2007 to build Safari Wild. The attraction will feature African-style safari tours in which visitors would see exotic and endangered species. The attraction is not open, delayed by state and county permitting issues that likely will take months to resolve.

The zoo is on city-owned land and this year will receive about $900,000 from the city and Hillsborough County for operations. The county will give an additional $1.8 million for capital improvements. The zoo has a budget of about $18 million.

The zoo's executive committee initiated an independent audit of its dealings with Safari Wild, which should be completed in several weeks. The committee reviewed all transactions with Safari Wild and found nothing improper, Merritt said. "It's not like money was spent by the zoo to benefit Safari Wild."

Merritt, who is overseeing the audit, said he wouldn't release any information about how much money was involved until the audit is finished. He wouldn't give the name of the company conducting the audit, which is the same one that reviews the zoo's annual finances.

Salisbury said his dealings with Safari Wild haven't taken time or focus away from his duties at the zoo.

"I am not about to let the zoo go down," he said. "Safari Wild is a ranch. It's not Busch Gardens. It's not the zoo. It's a weekend project."

Salisbury said the success of the zoo is a testament to his abilities as zoo director.

"I always put the zoo first," said Salisbury, who made $271,000 in 2006, according to the zoo's most recent tax filings. "It is not going to suffer because of this."

Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668 or bhelgeson@tampatrib.com.

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