MAYOR Sam Katz made it official yesterday, asking his cabinet to delay rapid transit and set up a task force to study the issue further.

His two-page motion, one of the wordiest city hall has seen in some time, touched off an emotional debate at a meeting of Katz's executive policy committee.

With the motion, Katz made good on a recent promise to spend more than $50 million that had been set aside for rapid transit on other uses instead.

Katz has said he wants to spend $43 million on community clubs and the remaining $7 on new buses.

He also asked councillors to set up a task force to explore rapid transit options such as light rail and to study the long-term cost of a complete system. The task force, which will be made up of councillors appointed by Katz, must report back to EPC next June.

The task force will cost $200,000 money that will come out of $5 million already set aside for rapid transit in this year's capital budget.

Katz's six person executive policy committee voted in favour of his plan, with the only two dissenters being councillors Jenny Gerbasi and Lillian Thomas. Other left leaning councillors, such as Gord Steeves and Mike Pagtakhan, voted with Katz.

One pro-transit activist called the task force "paralysis by analysis," and Kaj Hasselriis of Winnipeggers for Bus Rapid Transit said studying rapid transit for another year is tantamount to killing it.

"How many task forces do we need to have?" wondered Hasselriis. "This is the thing that makes Winnipeggers so frustratd with city hall. Delaying things seems to be the order of business when leadership needs to be shown."

At yesterday's meeting, Katz engaged in a verbal joust with Gerbasi, a rapid transit supporter who called Katz's motion "a travesty."

"This city is about to make one of the worst mistakes it's ever made," said Gerbasi.

The Fort Rouge councillor said all available research and public opinion supports the construction of a rapid transit system. Instead of waiting for a task force to to another study, the city should be lobbying for more money to build the second phase of the system.

Katz said he respected Gerbasi's passion but was convinced he was doing the right thing.

"As much as you feel in your heart the way you do, I think I feel even stronger," said Katz. "I'm not asking you to change your mind. I'm asking you to open it."

Steeves, who chairs both the public works and the environment committee, said councillors must admit to themselves that the public is not fired up about rapid transit. That's because the city has repeatedly downgraded plans, from light rail to magnetically guided buses to regular bus corridors, he said.

"People are not only not excited about the plan, they don't even know what it is. I am certain of that as I am of anything here at city hall."

Going forward without public support and with a divided council would doom rapid transit, said Steeves.

Katz's motion will be debated on the floor of council Wednesday, when it is expected to pass. Only four members of the public — two in favour and two opposed — may address council, and those spots are already filled.

Because the federal and provincial governments chipped in money for rapid transit, they must also agree to redirect that cash to community clubs.

Katz admitted yesterday that it's not likely a new deal can be signed with the other levels of government in time for next week's council meeting.

Both the provincial and federal governments have said they are open to Katz's proposal, but any new deal requires cabinet approval from both levels of government, which will be almost impossible to secure in a week. And the province says it doesn't get serious about negotiations until council passes a motion.

"I can assure you everyone is fully on board," said Katz. "It's not an issue."