"I did make mistakes, which I acknowledge tonight," D.J. Baxter said.

The admission came Thursday as the Salt Lake City Council discussed an audit it ordered of the monument.

Baxter was in charge of the project for Anderson, who didn't attend the meeting.

The audit found the mayor's office and the library didn't follow existing policies when it OK'd the monument. Baxter had signed a document indirectly obligating the city to pay for the project, though he didn't have the authority to do so. He also said he should have confirmed that donations were in place to pay for the monument.

A nonprofit was supposed to fund the project. Baxter said he believed that would happen because the foundation had raised more than half of the $994,000 and had pledges for the rest. But the foundation folded, leaving a $340,000 tab.

"It was never my intention to put the city at risk," Baxter said. "I never believed the city would be at risk."

In the end, the mayor's office and organ-donation community raised the money and no taxpayer money was used.

Council members said the audit wasn't meant to be a witch hunt, but to ensure the mistakes weren't repeated.

In other business:

* The council signalled their willingness to increase water rates by 4 percent in July and another 4 percent next year.

The hike will increase the average water rate payer's bill by about $11 a year.

The extra money will pay for water infrastructure. Plus, wetter, cooler seasons and residents' conservation efforts have siphoned money from the water division.

* The council also formally approved building two TRAX stations between the Delta Center and the city's transit hub at 300 South and 600 West. The first station will be built at 125 S. 400 West by the time commuter rail arrives in 2007.

The second station at 525 W. 200 South will open when ridership proves it is needed, but at least by 2010. The project will cost $32 million, with the city paying $8.45 million and Utah Transit Authority paying the rest.