Mayor blames opposition, clerk for meeting gaffe

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This article was published 15/2/2012 (2806 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz is blaming opposition politicians and the City Clerk’s department for a Tuesday-morning incident that saw dozens of Winnipeggers visit city hall expecting to address the proposed sale of golf courses – only to be shooed away when the issue was dropped from a committee agenda.

Speaking to reporters this morning, Katz said he was disappointed and upset many citizens took the time to visit city hall, where council’s property and development committee was slated to debate a motion to allow more public consultation about the proposed sale or lease of seven financially troubled golf courses.

The issue was struck from the committee agenda by Couns. Russ Wyatt (Transcona), Grant Nordman (St. Charles) and Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) because Wyatt noted the issue should have come before council’s alternate service delivery committee, which oversees golf services.

Katz said the city clerk should have known that and not allowed a motion by Couns. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge) and John Orlikow (River Heights) to proceed to the committee. But he also accused the two opposition councillors of whipping up public sentiment against the proposed sale or lease of golf courses.

Katz reiterated a January promise to hold public consultations once specific proposals come forward. At least two are expected within the next six weeks, said alternate service delivery chairman Scott Fielding (St. James).

Gerbasi fired back that city clerks told her there was no problem with her motion.

City Clerk Richard Kachur said the motion should not have been heard at the property committee – but conceded delegations could have been heard there, anyway. But that would have created false expectations that the committee had the power to act on delegations, Kachur added.

Gerbasi and Wyatt agreed on one thing – the consultation process, so far, has been mishandled.