Proposals for a waterpark on the Welland Recreational Canal hit a patch of rough water during turbulent discussions between city staff and councillors.

At the end of a presentation by Derek Stonier, of Splashtown Niagara, Welland's elected representatives were presented with four options - options they weren't expecting.

They included accepting Stonier's proposal, accepting the previous proposal by Pirate Ship Cove out of Jordan, directing staff to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) for a waterpark, and directing staff to not move forward at all.

"How did we get to this stage with four options tonight?" said Ward 3 Coun. John Chiocchio. "We've had one other presentation and now Derek's. Nothing has been confirmed . we don't know if this is the right place for it.

"I am for it, somehow, somewhere."

Stonier, a Welland resident, proposed the waterpark for the north end of the canal at the community boathouse, the same location proposed by Pirate Ship Cove.

He told council he wanted to lease the boathouse for the business, which would be 100 per cent privately funded and pay increasing percentages of the gross profit back to the city over a five-year period.

Overnight security would be taken care of by him and there would be five lifeguards - he'd hire between six and 10 - on shift every day from the third weekend in June to the second weekend in September.

Dan Degazio, the city's general manager of economic development and recreation and culture, said between the two presentations there wasn't much more information city staff could give to council.

"Both presentations allowed council to ask questions it needed. This was something suggested by council a while back," Degazio said of the waterpark idea.

Chiocchio has long been a proponent of a beach or water feature in the canal in the area of the Lincoln Street docks.

Degazio said council could go with an RFP, but that might delay things, or pick one of the two groups that made a presentation.

Chiocchio is one of the councillors who had concerns over parking at the community boathouse off Thorold Road and is also concerned over noise issues. He wants to make sure it is the right location for a facility.

Ward 2 Coun. David McLeod asked that city staff come back with an RFP for the waterpark, and said it is his preferred way to move forward.

"It's important we assess all proponents on an even scale," said McLeod.

Ward 2 Coun. Leo Van Vliet said it is ludicrous that an RFP was coming forward now and added that should have been when Pirate Cove first came forward.

He said the process wasn't fair, especially with dollar figures being thrown around.

Pirate Cove owners spoke about pricing for use of the park by patrons. They did not mention profits being funnelled back to the city and said they were looking for a two- to three-year lease with the first year being rent-free.

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Chiocchio said he was ready to move forward with one of the proposals, but also said, "This was handled all wrong."

That prompted Degazio to say he had no idea of who either company was in the beginning.

"This probably would have been brought (forward) by staff had we known. The companies contacted councillors and councillors didn't contact city staff until it was too late. I don't know how I could have done this ahead of time," he said of the RFP.

As Degazio was speaking, Chiocchio said Campion was at one of the meetings. Campion, as mayor, is considered a council member.

Voting against the RFP process were Couns. Chiocchio, Van Vliet, Tony DiMarco, Adam Moote and Claudette Richard. The rest of council was in favour. Absent from the meeting was Ward 4 Coun. Bryan Green.

Splashtown Niagara by Dave Johnson on Scribd

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