The Bloedel Conservatory will be saved, says Vision Vancouver park board commissioner Aaron Jasper.

“I can’t say who’s going to take it over, but I can say it looks like we’re going to keep the Bloedel,” said Jasper during a phone interview Thursday morning.

Due to a major shortfall in its 2010 operating budget, the Vision Vancouver-dominated park board voted last November to cut services and close some facilities, including the 40-year-old conservatory and the Stanley Park petting zoo. The park board had been forced to subsidize the conservatory by about $250,000 annually because of declining attendance at the site. The loss of visitors was due largely to lengthy renovations, as well as years-long road closures caused by the construction of the Canada Line

Upon hearing the conservatory could close, residents, as well as visitors from around the world, loudly expressed their disapproval. In response, the park board considered leasing the conservatory to a private operator. One of the favourites from the beginning was a joint proposal from Friends of the Bloedel and VanDusen Botanical Garden. Friends of the Bloedel is a group of 300 members formed in reaction to the decision to close the conservatory.

Jasper wouldn’t confirm a rumour the joint partnership won the bid. “Definitely the VanDusen proposal is one of the top contenders,” said Jasper. “Actually, it’s one of the top two, but I can’t confirm who won the bid.”

Jasper also wouldn’t identify the second operator under consideration.

John Coupar, president and founding member of Friends of the Bloedel, told the Courier the group hasn’t been notified of a decision, but added it was asked to present a business plan in addition to the expression of interest initially required. He added partnering with VanDusen gave the group validity. “It’s been a lot of work,” he said.

The winning bid will be announced July 20 at a public meeting of the park board’s services and budgets committee. The meeting takes place at the park board office, 2099 Beach Ave., at 6:30 p.m. A final vote on the issue is expected in September.

In other park board news, Jasper called Green Party commissioner Stuart Mackinnon’s request for a public plebiscite on keeping whales and dolphins in captivity as part of the 2011 municipal election an irresponsible and reckless move.

Mackinnon says the death of the Vancouver Aquarium’s baby beluga last month inspired him to bring the motion forward. He wants the aquarium to phase out its cetacean exhibits, which are located on land leased by the park board.

Jasper says such a move could put the park board at risk of a lawsuit because of its legal contract with the aquarium. In 2006, the previous NPA-majority park board extended the aquarium’s licence for 20 years. As part of that amendment, the board will review its bylaw relating to captive cetaceans in 2015. At the same time, the NPA commissioners on the board quashed a promise by the previous COPE-dominated board to hold a plebiscite on the issue.

Mackinnon’s motion will be heard at the July 19 park board meeting.

sthomas@vancourier.com