Efforts to plan a cultural centre to honour Saskatoon-raised musician and artist Joni Mitchell will remain behind the scenes.

Mayor Don Atchison and several city councillors said Monday it's premature to form a committee to study the feasibility of establishing the centre. At least one group, headed by two fans of the artist, has been planning a centre for the River Landing site, possibly within the same building as a new performance theatre.

Atchison and Coun. Owen Fortosky said they need proof the Mitchell herself endorses the project.

"If I speak against this one, I think I'd be shot," said Fortosky.

"(But) I'd like to see more concrete things to come along. I don't want to embarrass Joni Mitchell (by) doing all this stuff in public and then she says no. That wouldn't be very good."

The Mendel Art Gallery's plans to build a café in Mitchell's honour as part of an aggressive expansion is reason to be cautious with promoting a second Mitchell attraction, said Coun. Elaine Hnatyshyn.

"I don't think both are going to succeed."

The city may be better off to spread around naming honours for its cultural facilities, she said.

The centre's supporters are working on getting Mitchell's approval through her Vancouver agent, Sam Feldman, said Coun. Maurice Neault. Some conditions of approval are already in place, he said, such as Mitchell's preference for the centre to be near the South Saskatchewan River.

"Here we have an individual who has more than excelled, she has made an international name for herself and brought that recognition to Saskatoon," said Coun. Donna Birkmaier, who moved the motion to study the feasibility of a centre. "It behooves the City of Saskatoon to put a name on a place that is hers."