Winnipeg water park headed for tight vote

The vote byWinnipeg city councillorsona proposed water park at The Forks could be a squeaker.

WithMayor Sam Katz bowing out of the upcoming vote, the project may not have enough support.

There arefive other councillors on the mayor's cabinet, or executive policy committee (EPC),who gave the proposal a thumbs-up last week, sending it to Wednesday's city council meeting for a final decision.

EPC member Coun. Jeff Browaty missedlast week'svote, but he told CBC News he is leaning towards supporting the water park proposal when council votes on it on Wednesday.

"While I have reservations, my intent is to support it for now," Browaty stated in an email.

"But [I] am prepared to vote it down at [the] downtown committee if the quality of the project doesn't meet an acceptable standard."

Sevenof the city's 15 councillors have already stated they willvote against it.

Among those isCoun. Grant Nordman,who often supports the mayor and development in the city. However, he said he has received a stream of emails from people saying it is not the right location.

The lot eyed for the development is a city-owned parking lotlocated across the street from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Too much contrast, says Nordman

With the rather sombre tone of themuseum, whichwill have a large focus on atrocities suffered by people throughout history, a water park would be too much of a contrast, Nordman said.

"They don't want to come out of there to a party house right across the street. So that made total sense to me," he said.

"I'd love to see the property developed in an appropriate manner."

'I'm taking my time and doing my due diligence, gathering all the facts I need to make the best decision possible.' Coun. Devi Sharma

With seven councillors decidedly against the water park, and the six on the mayor's cabinet in favour, thedecision on whetherit will go ahead rests in the hands of tworookie councillors North Kildonan's Devi Sharma and Elmwood's Thomas Steen.

"It's in Devi and Thomas's hands. They will make the decision," said Nordman.

"If one of them votes against the project, it will be defeated."

Steen told CBC News on Monday that he is leaning toward aYes on thevote.

Sharma saidshe is undecided and needs tothink more about it.

"I'm taking my time and doing my due diligence, gathering all the facts I need to make the best decision possible," Sharma said.

Katz standing aside

There have been questions about what role Katz should play in the politics of the deal, due to conflict-of-interest concerns.

The land where the water park would be built is also located near Shaw Park, the home of the Goldeyes baseball team.

Katz owns the Goldeyes, and the agent for the water park developer is Shindico Realty, whose top brass have been Katz's longtime business partners in the Goldeyes.