Recommendations surrounding boating on Crescent Lake were defeated, in a split decision last night.

Council voted on recommendations put forward by the City's Lake Use Committee, which would have allowed boats on the lake with some restrictions. Only five councillors and the mayor were in attendance in yesterday's meeting, resulting in a 3-3 tied vote. Councillors Liz Driedger, Brent Budz, and Melissa Draycott all voted in favour of submitting the recommended proposal to the federal government, as they have jurisdiction over that body of water. Draycott described allowing restricted boat access as a great opportunity for the city.

"I think it's a progressive way for us to look at our community. I feel the lake is a gem, that Island Park is a gem for the community, and that boats could compliment that."

Draycott says she's not entirely surprised by the results of the vote, and while in favour of the recommendation, says she's not too upset either. A large crowd was in attendance for that council meeting, as many awaited the results on Councils decision. Many who had been attending the Council meetings had been speaking against the measure, with several citing a city

Councillor Melissa Draycottsurvey that showed 58 per cent of respondents didn't want to see any motorized watercraft on the body of water.

That survey, and ongoing public reaction were part of the reason Brent Froese says he decided to vote against the recommendation, despite not personally opposing the use of motor boats on the lake.

"When the dust settled and I tabulated my own experience, the feedback I got from people, there was a fairly strong sense that we had asked the public and were given an answer, and we shouldn't really be contradicting that at this point."

Councillor Wayne Wall and Mayor Irvine Ferris also voted against the recommendations. Ferris cited environmental concerns raised by

Mayor Irvine Ferristhe province, as well as the public opposition as some of the reasons for his decision.

With last night's motion being defeated, Council still has their work cut out for them. Under the current federal regulations there are no restrictions for motorized water craft on Crescent Lake, and just what Council will be proposing before the September 15th deadline is still a source of discussion. Council can either submit a request outlining different restrictions, can request the federal government to prohibit all power boats, or they can leave the lake unregulated, as it has been in the past. Ferris feels their proposal to the federal government should prohibit power boats, with the goal of promoting the lake as an active recreation opportunity.

"(The proposal) would not entail the use of motor boats. It would be for kayaks, canoes, paddleboats or those kinds of things, much like active transportation. There are a whole bunch of reasons for that. Certainly I think people in the community have been talking about this."

While Ferris doesn't think the proposal should allow motorized boats, Draycott feels the use of motor boats should still be considered. She's still hoping to see a proposal that would allow restricted use of boats on the lake, to utilize the body of water in the city's centre.

Council will now review the feedback received throughout the process over the next year, before deciding their next steps. Ferris says no matter what they decide to do, they'll bring the recommendation to a public meeting, before voting on it.