hamilton spectator

Town of Milton Seeks Input on Velodrome

Mike Cluett

In keeping with my committment to hearing from residents on important issues that we face, the Town of Milton is looking for your input on the possible velodrome proposal that is coming up for councils review later this month.

This effort accomplishes two things.  One is to get the all important feedback from residents on the direction of the town and second is to clear up any questions you may have about it.  Its no secret that I have been a supporter of the idea as well as getting more information on the velodromes potential, its costs and the long term impact on the town of Milton.  I am not 100 per cent on board with this until we “get the numbers”.

I was supportive of the project with the caveat that the impact on Milton taxpayers be minimal to zero (with no impact being my goal) from day one.  I beleive that with this project in place, it will kick start the much needed approval for the Milton Education Village / Laurier University campus on the west side of town.  You can search my blog for “velodrome” to see more of what has been discussed.

Please take some time to visit the Town’s website and provide your input today so that council can be presented with the full picture on the January 23rd meeting when the decision is to be made.  We want to hear from you.  Click on my link to the right to contact your town councillor if you would like to send us your comments directly.  My email is mike@mikecluett.ca

NEWS RELEASE

January 10, 2012

Town of Milton seeks community input on Velodrome

The Town of Milton invites the community to provide input on the proposed Velodrome through the Town’s website, www.milton.ca .

In December 2011, Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games announced Milton as the preferred site for the Velodrome. A business plan is scheduled to be presented to Council on January 23, 2012 after which Council will decide whether or not to proceed with the Velodrome and hosting the Pan/Parapan Am Games.

“We are looking forward to learning from members of the Milton community how this major facility can best meet their recreational needs,” said Town of Milton Mayor Gord Krantz.  “I encourage everyone to visit our website to find out more about this proposed facility and what it can mean for the Milton community.”

The Velodrome webpage will include information on location, funding, timelines, as well as plans for the Velodrome after the Pan/Parapan Am Games. Public input and comments are invited to be submitted through the webpage and will be accepted until January 18, 2012.

For more information or to provide input, visit www.milton.ca/en/townhall/velodrome.asp . 

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For further information, please contact:        

Jennifer Reynolds – Director, Community Services – 905-878-7252, ext. 2180

Liliana Busnello – Communications Specialist – 905-878-7252, ext. 2154

City of Hamilton “Dropped The Velodrome Ball”

Mike Cluett

From Margaret Shikmba from the Hamilton Spectator

We dropped the velodrome ball – It’s not just about cycling — it’s about how we see ourselves

 

It’s that time of year again when our thoughts turn to reflection as we think about the events of the last year and wonder: Where did the time go?

Last year at this time there was hope for change and excitement about the future.

Decisions around the Pan Am Games were still to be made. The velodrome appeared as the exciting opportunity that would differentiate Hamilton among the many southern Ontario cities and towns struggling for social-economic survival. Unfortunately it was a vision Hamilton council did not share when it voted to limit our contribution to construction costs at $5 million and not enough to bridge the funding gap.

As one of the many philosophical supporters of the velodrome, I’ve written several times about the importance of the velodrome in establishing Hamilton as a cycling destination — and not just for those who cycle in circles around a track. Our beautiful escarpment landscape, from Niagara Falls through the wine country and along the shores of two great lakes, is ideally suited for distance training and recreational cycling. It’s not just the velodrome, but the velodrome being at the heart of it all. I can see that being a hard sell to a society stuck in their cars.

When I received an email from the Hamilton Velodrome Pledge Drive I put my money where my mouth is and pledged my financial support. Sadly, I was not the one to win the $50-million lottery jackpot this past weekend, but know if I did I’d happily be the Secret Santa for the Hamilton velodrome project.

Recent reports in The Spectator, however, have indicated that there is someone, or some people, in the community who share the velodrome vision. Sources have pointed to a silent investor whose contribution could solve the funding dilemma and serve as an anchor to attract further investment. If only it were true.

When the Pan Am bid was submitted in international competition, Hamilton was the preferred location for the Pan Am velodrome, and indeed, Hamilton seemed the logical location, given our successful history with the 2003 World Road Cycling Championships. It was ours to lose.

What happened? How did we lose so much potential promise? What happened to our vision? Did we even have any to begin with? What do we see when we look around the city we live in? Are we so blinded by our “depression,” by our poor-cousin status, by our socio-economic struggles, to even entertain the thought that a project like the velodrome could be a success here in Hamilton? Who wants to come to Hamilton, people say among themselves. Even people who live here wish they lived someplace else. Maybe they’d rather go to Milton.

Just take a look at their website. Milton bills itself as one of the fastest-growing communities in North America. Vibrant, energetic, colourful, helpful. A velodrome in Milton would be a wonderful addition to their community.

Now take a look at Hamilton’s website. The initial presentation is flat with little imagination. You have to dig a little deeper to find any creativity or colour. Where would you put your money or locate your family? Which community do you think has a stronger self-image, or presents itself more positively? Why does Milton think they can carry it off and we don’t?

This is about more than just the velodrome. Hamilton bills itself as a city of innovators but that may be just wishful thinking. The debacle of the Pan Am Games puts the lie to that claim. What did we end up with? The same old same old.

The velodrome is now Milton’s to lose. I doubt they’ll let it go so easily.

Margaret Shkimba is a freelance writer who lives in Hamilton. She can be reached at menrvasofia@gmail.com or you can “Friend” her on Facebook.

City of Hamilton Was Never Back In It

Mike Cluett

As I stated in this blog  recently and in the Hamilton Spectator last week, the 2015 Pan Am Games committee has chosen Milton as the desired location for the velodrome.  The City of Hamilton couldnt get a deal finalized after being part of the process for a couple of years and didnt get the job done.

MPP Ted McMeekin said recently that Hamilton is “too late to recoup the velodrome.”

Recently Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina made comments that a silent funder had come forward to see if they can get one last chance to get the velodrome back to Hamilton, but that was once again shot down by Mr. McMeekin this week.

The Town of Milton has been chosen as the location of the velodrome pending approval by Milton Town Council.  There is one more report to review and that is slated to be before us by January 23rd at an upcoming meeting.  We have until the 24th to sign a binding agreeement with the Pan Am committee and we are awaiting the receipt of that report.

Here is the artcile from the Milton Canadian Champion/Hamilton Spectator by Matthew Van Dongen

Hamilton too late to recoup velodrome: McMeekin

Hamilton can’t buy its way back into the Pan Am velodrome race with mystery millions, says Liberal cabinet minister Ted McMeekin.

Sources told The Spectator last week a private corporation is willing to make a multimillion-dollar commitment to a permanent indoor cycling oval in Hamilton — even though Pan Am officials recently announced Milton as the facility host.

Milton has until Jan. 24 to sign a binding agreement to help fund the facility, which could cost up to $45 million.

“I guess if it doesn’t work out in Milton, everything is back on the table,” said McMeekin, the Minister of Agriculture and MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale. “But the Pan Am people have been pretty clear Milton has been selected as the (velodrome) site. Clearly, the Pan Am people have moved on.”

Unless Milton backs out, McMeekin said he didn’t know how new mystery funding could help Hamilton’s cause “after the horses have left the barn.”

Hamilton was originally the preferred site for the cycling venue, but lost that status after Pan Am officials rejected the city’s $5 million offer towards building costs. A local fundraising group has continued collecting pledges and lobbying government to build in Hamilton and, in a recent year-end radio interview, Mayor Bob Bratina cited a deep-pocketed “prospective partner” for a local velodrome.

The mayor of Milton figures that effort is too little and too late.

“Where was that interest a few weeks ago? Seems pretty late in the game,” Gordon Krantz said of Hamilton’s behind-the-scenes manoeuvring.

Krantz acknowledged that Milton’s offer could still fall through. His council is set to consider a business plan for the velodrome on Jan. 23 — the day before the Pan Am deadline for finalizing an agreement. The town of close to 90,000 is also waiting for the provincial go-ahead for a satellite university campus that Milton politicians want to pair with the velodrome.

But even if Milton retracts its bid, there’s no guarantee Hamilton will get another crack at the cycling oval. Krantz said Pan Am officials have told him they would consider building a temporary velodrome on Toronto’s port lands if Milton doesn’t commit to a permanent facility.

“I don’t think anyone is enthusiastic about that idea,” he said. “I’m hoping we can make (a permanent indoor facility) happen.”

Milton has its own private benefactor, Mattamy Homes president Peter Gilgan, who has offered $9 million in donations and cash for naming rights.

But the town would have to find at least that much money again to cover the 44 per cent municipal portion of velodrome building costs, estimated by Infrastructure Ontario at between $35 million and $45 million.