Council is likely to breathe new life into aquarium

Going against Mayor Rocky Anderson's recommendation, four of seven Salt Lake City Council members say they will vote tonight to extend the The Living Planet Aquarium's contract with the city's Redevelopment Agency.

That vote would continue the aquarium's RDA contract, which has given it free land at 363 S. 500 West, where the aquarium is to be built. Without an extension, the RDA could reclaim the property, leaving the aquarium without a home.

The extension will also give the aquarium several more months to explore federal and county funding options that could rescue the project, which has struggled to raise money from private sources.

Although a majority of City Council members say they won't, they could kill the aquarium contract tonight because the Living Planet didn't reach its March fund-raising milestone, which called for the aquarium to have raised $2.5 million of the $47 million it needs to raise before construction begins in 2007. According to RDA figures, the aquarium raised only $1.8 million by the end of March.

Tonight's expected vote will allow the aquarium to continue trying to raise funds until its next fund-raising milestone in October. By then the aquarium will need to have have raised another $3.1 million.

Councilman Dave Buhler said he was persuaded Wednesday to vote in favor of an extension after he learned the Salt Lake County Council sent a letter to the Salt Lake City Council urging the extension.

"If there's an indication that county might be willing to help out then I think we should give them a chance," Buhler said.

Previously, council members Van Turner, Carlton Christensen and Eric Jergensen had stated they would vote in favor of an extension.

Council members Dale Lambert and Jill Remington Love are ready to sever ties with the aquarium, while Nancy Saxton remains undecided.

"I think it's time to see what else is out there," Love said.

The RDA-owned property where the aquarium is to be built is suddenly some very hot real estate, situated near Pioneer Park and The Gateway. Some city leaders would like to end the aquarium contract and see if another project could be built on the land, possibly housing.