Coun. Sharma may hold deciding vote on water park

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This article was published 23/04/2012 (5208 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Old Kildonan Coun. Devi Sharma appears to hold the deciding vote on Winnipeg’s water-park subsidy on Wednesday, as all 14 other councillors have come to a decision about their intentions.

Elmwood-East Kildonan Coun. Thomas Steen said today he’s leaning in favour of voting for a plan to sell Parcel Four, a city-owned surface lot at the southwest corner of Waterfront Drive and William Stephenson Way, for $6 million to Alberta hotel chain Canalta, which itends to build a 250-room hotel, 50,000-square-foot water park and 450-stall parkade on the site. The proposal calls for the city to offer Canalta a $7-million grant in exchange for $700,000 worth of admission credits every year for the next 25 years.

Up until today, Steen and Sharma were the only members of council who had yet to decide on the plan. Sharma said she remains undecided, but Steen said he’s leaning in favour of voting yes because water park’s location at The Forks will be convenient for children in his ward.

Only 15 members of council will vote on the plan because Mayor Sam Katz has recused himself from the vote. Katz is the majority owner of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, which play at Shaw Park, immediately north of Parcel Four.

Seven councillors now plan to vote in favour and against the Canalta proposal. None of them are bound by their intentions and may change their mind on Wednesday.