Contacted Thursday, county Councilman Joe Hatch seemed none too enthusiastic about the proposal, while Councilman Michael Jensen was more open but still had many questions.

Anderson said even if the aquarium were on the ballot, "I don't think there is a prayer voters would opt to spend tax dollars" on the aquarium.

Contacted Thursday, Salt Lake County Mayor-elect Peter Corroon said he hasn't formulated an opinion on the aquarium yet, which aquarium attorney David Wolf and the aquarium president joked was the best political news they'd heard in a while.

Meanwhile, RDA staffers will propose terms of the sale, which RDA chairman Eric Jergensen said will include a time frame in which an aquarium has to be built. Wolf has noted no time frame is mentioned in the aquarium's option to purchase the land, but he said Thursday some time frame may be worked out.

The aquarium's location has become a contentious issue of late because city leaders would like to take control of the suddenly hot property two blocks south of the thriving Gateway. There have been numerous development opportunities mentioned for the site, which will rest just south of the city's new intermodal hub, slated for construction in 2007.

The mayor said the block where the aquarium is proposed is definitely not being considered as a site for a new major league soccer stadium but held out when asked if the land could be used as barter material in soccer stadium negotiations.

Last month, city leaders thought they could simply kill the aquarium by ending the RDA's lease for the property. However, they later found out the aquarium had an option to buy the land.

Jergensen said the RDA will negotiate terms of the sale, and if common ground can't be found, "they will probably litigate."

"There is a sense by the board that if the aquarium is not going to be built within a given time frame, we want to get the land back," he said.

At least one private aquarium backer agreed that if the RDA tries to impose many restrictions on the sale, it will end up in court.

Councilman Dale Lambert, who has consistently voted against the aquarium, agreed, noting for once the council did seem to be united with the mayor.

"You've been hearing me for 2 1/2 years, and I haven't changed my mind," Lambert said.

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E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com