K
Kyle Legate
Guest
First, some news from a City Hall meeting held to get public input, followed by a news article in
this morning's Hamilton Spectator.
This past Monday Hamilton City Hall held a public forum on the World Cycling Championships.
While I had the date written on a slip of paper, I forgot to attend this one. There is another
scheduled for March 4, which I have circled in red on a calendar and must not miss. I intend to
grab the mic and address some points being raised in media, and educate the public on the
logistics of the event. All the morons showed up for this meeting, it seems. The usual
car-centric mob was complaining about the restricted access to roads. Some were concerned about
disruption of emergency services and school closures that are planned (a massive overreaction in
my opinion). What got me going was the business owners. One president of a car dealership
(http://autonet.ca/HMP/Home.cfm) that is located right on the course at the Main/Bay
intersection is planning a class action lawsuit against the city over loss of revenue and
failure to consult them over course selection (mostly over his decision that he will have to
send his employees home and close shop for the week). The suit is being spearheaded by Mike
Dubois, please feel free to contact him at [email protected], and let him know that a lawsuit
would be a mistake. Perhaps he should be made aware of all the free advertising he will receive
for being on the course. Also maybe he should be reminded that his business has a back entrance
that will not be affected by the race. Anyway, I digress...only two people at this meeting had
anything positive to say. The meeting on March 4 will have at least one more. If you are within
reach of Hamilton I would urge you to show up at the next meeting and show some positive
support--I think the organizers need it. Here are the details: Tuesday March 4, 7pm at Hamilton
City Hall. I think there's free parking around back.
An article in this morning's edition of the Hamilton Spectator has an ominous feel to it. And
imagine, Hamilton thinks they can handle the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Feh.
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/L
ayout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1045609309592&call_pageid=1020420665036&co l=1014656511815
City balks at cycling bill Threatens to pull plug over costs By Ken Peters The Hamilton
Spectator The 2003 World Cycling Road Race planned for Hamilton this October is in jeopardy
over concerns city taxpayers may have to cover close to $10 million in costs for the event.
Sources say councillors were informed yesterday that the city could be responsible for more
than the $400,000 Hamilton has committed.
Race organizers at this point expect the city to sign on for much more. That number includes a
liability fund of up to $6 million to cover law suits and a possible $3.5 million for police,
emergency crews and road closure costs.
Taxpayers would be forced to pay that bill -- over and above the tax increases they are
already facing.
That bombshell convinced councillors to give city manager Bob Robertson two weeks to present a
signed contract with the Hamilton 2003 race organizers that limits the city's financial
exposure to $400,000 .
And if he doesn't?
Councilor Murray Ferguson said the odds of the world's third-largest sporting event running in
October are "50-50."
"No money, no go," Ferguson said of the possible consequences.
Mayor Bob Wade was tight-lipped when he emerged from the briefing session on the $12.5-million
(total) event.
"Until the city manager comes back with a response to a number of
questions that he has been asked to address, I'm not uncomfortable. On the
other hand, I'm not as comfortable as I might like to be," the mayor added.
The championships are expected to attract a worldwide television audience of 500 million. If
the city says no, the Tim Hortons Road National Championships on June 27-29, which had been
planned as a test run for the worlds, would likely be cancelled.
Wade said cost concerns centre around what the city is expected to cover as outlined in
reports in 2001.
"There have been a series of reports that clearly identify the potential for the city's
contribution but those reports were based on the city's costs being picked up by the cycling
corporation and that's not part of their present budget as we understand it. That's one of the
issues were going to deal with," he said.
Wade said the city's contract with the local organizing committee hasn't been completed
because agreements between the international, Canadian and Hamilton organizing committees were
only finalized at the end of December.
Neil Lumsden, chief operating officer of the Hamilton 2003 world cycling championships,
confirmed the city has some cost concerns.
"What I'm hearing is there are some specific costs that are running more than what they want
to spend," he said, adding the specific costs and who is responsible will be clarified in
the contract.
"That's when the lines in the sand will be clear as far as what everyone's
responsibilities are."
Ferguson said the organizing committee has asked taxpayers for a "significant" increase that
is not their responsibility.
"We said bring back a contract that limits the city's contribution to $400,000," Ferguson
said. "The city's position has been clear from the outset that $400,000 is the maximum
contribution. The backers from the get-go have been the province and the federal government.
Our position is that they are the ones to pick up the tab."
The province is committed to providing $2.25-million with another $1.25-million expected from
the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Heritage Minister Sheila Copps has committed $10-million from
the federal government.
Lumsden said the funding from the senior levels of government remains on track.
Wade said the possibility that city taxpayers may be asked to pick up more costs for the event
is crucial.
this morning's Hamilton Spectator.
This past Monday Hamilton City Hall held a public forum on the World Cycling Championships.
While I had the date written on a slip of paper, I forgot to attend this one. There is another
scheduled for March 4, which I have circled in red on a calendar and must not miss. I intend to
grab the mic and address some points being raised in media, and educate the public on the
logistics of the event. All the morons showed up for this meeting, it seems. The usual
car-centric mob was complaining about the restricted access to roads. Some were concerned about
disruption of emergency services and school closures that are planned (a massive overreaction in
my opinion). What got me going was the business owners. One president of a car dealership
(http://autonet.ca/HMP/Home.cfm) that is located right on the course at the Main/Bay
intersection is planning a class action lawsuit against the city over loss of revenue and
failure to consult them over course selection (mostly over his decision that he will have to
send his employees home and close shop for the week). The suit is being spearheaded by Mike
Dubois, please feel free to contact him at [email protected], and let him know that a lawsuit
would be a mistake. Perhaps he should be made aware of all the free advertising he will receive
for being on the course. Also maybe he should be reminded that his business has a back entrance
that will not be affected by the race. Anyway, I digress...only two people at this meeting had
anything positive to say. The meeting on March 4 will have at least one more. If you are within
reach of Hamilton I would urge you to show up at the next meeting and show some positive
support--I think the organizers need it. Here are the details: Tuesday March 4, 7pm at Hamilton
City Hall. I think there's free parking around back.
An article in this morning's edition of the Hamilton Spectator has an ominous feel to it. And
imagine, Hamilton thinks they can handle the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Feh.
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/L
ayout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1045609309592&call_pageid=1020420665036&co l=1014656511815
City balks at cycling bill Threatens to pull plug over costs By Ken Peters The Hamilton
Spectator The 2003 World Cycling Road Race planned for Hamilton this October is in jeopardy
over concerns city taxpayers may have to cover close to $10 million in costs for the event.
Sources say councillors were informed yesterday that the city could be responsible for more
than the $400,000 Hamilton has committed.
Race organizers at this point expect the city to sign on for much more. That number includes a
liability fund of up to $6 million to cover law suits and a possible $3.5 million for police,
emergency crews and road closure costs.
Taxpayers would be forced to pay that bill -- over and above the tax increases they are
already facing.
That bombshell convinced councillors to give city manager Bob Robertson two weeks to present a
signed contract with the Hamilton 2003 race organizers that limits the city's financial
exposure to $400,000 .
And if he doesn't?
Councilor Murray Ferguson said the odds of the world's third-largest sporting event running in
October are "50-50."
"No money, no go," Ferguson said of the possible consequences.
Mayor Bob Wade was tight-lipped when he emerged from the briefing session on the $12.5-million
(total) event.
"Until the city manager comes back with a response to a number of
questions that he has been asked to address, I'm not uncomfortable. On the
other hand, I'm not as comfortable as I might like to be," the mayor added.
The championships are expected to attract a worldwide television audience of 500 million. If
the city says no, the Tim Hortons Road National Championships on June 27-29, which had been
planned as a test run for the worlds, would likely be cancelled.
Wade said cost concerns centre around what the city is expected to cover as outlined in
reports in 2001.
"There have been a series of reports that clearly identify the potential for the city's
contribution but those reports were based on the city's costs being picked up by the cycling
corporation and that's not part of their present budget as we understand it. That's one of the
issues were going to deal with," he said.
Wade said the city's contract with the local organizing committee hasn't been completed
because agreements between the international, Canadian and Hamilton organizing committees were
only finalized at the end of December.
Neil Lumsden, chief operating officer of the Hamilton 2003 world cycling championships,
confirmed the city has some cost concerns.
"What I'm hearing is there are some specific costs that are running more than what they want
to spend," he said, adding the specific costs and who is responsible will be clarified in
the contract.
"That's when the lines in the sand will be clear as far as what everyone's
responsibilities are."
Ferguson said the organizing committee has asked taxpayers for a "significant" increase that
is not their responsibility.
"We said bring back a contract that limits the city's contribution to $400,000," Ferguson
said. "The city's position has been clear from the outset that $400,000 is the maximum
contribution. The backers from the get-go have been the province and the federal government.
Our position is that they are the ones to pick up the tab."
The province is committed to providing $2.25-million with another $1.25-million expected from
the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Heritage Minister Sheila Copps has committed $10-million from
the federal government.
Lumsden said the funding from the senior levels of government remains on track.
Wade said the possibility that city taxpayers may be asked to pick up more costs for the event
is crucial.
