TWO city councillors grilled Mayor Sam Katz at yesterday's council meeting, cementing their reputation as city hall's unofficial opposition.

During three rounds of questions — there's usually only one — Couns. Jenny Gerbasi and Donald Benham challenged Katz on the controversial Waverley West subdivision, bus rapid transit and a plan to overhaul the sewage system.

The duo, who had been close allies of former mayor Glen Murray, led an unsuccessful charge last month to save rapid transit. Gerbasi served on Murray's cabinet and Benham was his press secretary before being elected in River Heights in June.

Just like the celebrity romance between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez earned them the moniker "Bennifer," city hall insiders have dubbed the two councillors "Jenham" though their relationship is all business. The two are sometimes joined in opposition by Couns. Harvey Smith, Lillian Thomas, and John Angus.

That is a far thinner crop of opponents than Murray faced. At least six councillors would routinely vote against Murray's initiatives.

A question from Benham spawned the testiest exchange of yesterday's council meeting.

The rookie councillor asked Katz about recent reports suggesting Ottawa is unsure whether the mayor still wants $18 million in federal cash to overhaul the sewage system.

"I think you are living in a dream world," Katz shot back. "Everything is going along exactly as it should be."

Katz has never said he has reservations about the sewer upgrade project. But the federal money has been slow in flowing from Ottawa. When city officials inquired about the delay, they were reportedly told that federal officials are confusd about the city's plans after Katz cancelled a similar funding deal for rapid transit.

But Katz told Benham the delay can be blamed in part on Murray.

When the infrastructure deal covering rapid transit and sewage was signed in March, the politicians, including Murray, failed to nail down exactly when the money would arrive, said Katz.

"If it had been done right the first time, you and I would not (be) having this conversation," he told Benham.

Council also passeed its first environmental strategy yesterday after months of delays at city hall. Gerbasi and Benham used it to again condemn Katz's environmental record, pointing to the postponement of rapid transit and possible cutbacks to funding for bike paths and bus improvements.

"A policy document is not worth two cents if there's no action in moving forward with the most important parts of it," said Gerbasi. "Actions speak louder than words."

Gerbasi also grilled Katz about Waverley West, a new suburb in the works for south Winnipeg that some critics fear will add to urban sprawl.

In response to her questiois, Katz said public hearings on Waverley West will likely take place later this year or early in 2005. And, he promised to release any city reports and documents related to the debate ii a timely fashion.