$20M budget approved for Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City engineering and public works employees will help the Oklahoma City Zoo manage large-scale construction projects for the next two years.

The Oklahoma City Council approved a memorandum of understanding Tuesday between the city and the zoo’s governing body, the Oklahoma City Zoological Trust.

Hiring city employees for project management will be an extra expense, but it will pay off in the long run, Executive Director Dwight Scott said. They’ll help keep projects on time and on target.

Public works employees are experts in "large construction projects,” Scott said. "We’re animal experts. They’re construction experts.”

The city engineer and the public works department will help management three large projects:

→Oklahoma Trails opened in March 2007, though warranty issues are still being hammered out. Project cost: $10 million.

→Children’s Zoo is under construction, which is expected to wrap up in January. Project cost: $8 million.

→Expedition Asia is still in the design stages, but construction is expected to finish in January 2011. Project cost: $23 million.

The city clerk’s office will provide free help with project services.