Aquarium pitch makes a splash

A reference to a Wendy's extra-value meal may have helped seal the deal for the Living Planet Aquarium.

Aquarium officials told the Salt Lake County Council on Tuesday that for the price of a burger, fries and a drink, county residents could help build a 90,000-square-foot aquarium downtown. That amounts to $5.50 a year on a $200,000 home.

The sales pitch, along with thousands of red Swedish Fish packed into tanks representing the aquarium's attendance since June 2004, persuaded the County Council to think again about putting a $34 million bond on the ballot in November to fund the project.

County insiders said the project was dead in the water, as several other bond initiatives are fighting to get on the ballot. But now the council will mull it over for a month before making a final decision on whether county residents can cast their vote in November for an aquarium.

"It will make it — if given the chance," said Arthur Benjamin, chairman of the aquarium board. "Let the voters decide."

Aquarium officials are in a time crunch to secure funding for a home on the corner of 500 South and 400 West. The Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency owns the land, and if construction on the aquarium doesn't start by June 30, 2008, the agency can use the land for a different project.

To solve that problem, County Council Mark Crockett suggested the agency should consider extending the lease. If not, he said county leaders could just buy that property.

The aquarium recently upgraded to a bigger temporary facility in Sandy, after outgrowing its former location at The Gateway.

But in its quest for a permanent downtown site, the aquarium has some tough competition for county funding. Other contenders include a possible $875 million bond to help build four new TRAX light-rail lines, a $20 million bond to preserve open space and $63.5 million for recreational projects through the Zoo, Arts and Parks tax. The Unified Fire Authority also may ask the council for a bond to build new fire stations.

All in all, it's a tough decision, Councilman Michael Jensen said.

"I'm concerned with having so many things on the ballot this year that voters are going to say no all the way down," Jensen said. "There are priorities of what I will let on the ballot."

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