Pan Am velodrome big issue going into new year

Mayor hopes to see funding commitment for indoor cycling track

From Christina Commisso, Milton Canadian Champion

Mayor Gord Krantz says he has learned more about velodromes in the latter part of 2011 than in his whole life.

That learning curve is expected to continue into this year, as the velodrome is one of many Milton projects on the agenda for 2012.

The long-serving Milton mayor told the Champion in a recent interview that he hopes to see a funding commitment for the indoor cycling track this year — one of his many New Year’s wishes.

“This is a huge international sport and it’s growing. There will be 20 to 25 international meets in Canada each year, and they could happen right here,” he said.

Tourism boom could erupt

The 74-year-old mayor said if the velodrome business plan is approved by Milton council and construction is given a green light, he envisions a hotel or two popping up in the immediate area and a tourism boom for the town. “Tourism is a huge industry in Canada, and we’re looking for our piece of that industry.”

The velodrome is closely tied to the Milton Education Village (MEV). The 150-acre parcel of land at Derry and Tremaine roads will serve as home to the cycling track and to a Laurier University satellite campus if Milton gets its way.

Krantz said he was hoping to see more movement on the MEV campus in 2011, “but I’m far from being naïve,” he said.

“The Province has a cash crunch issue…I can’t blame them for being a little cautious,” adding that he’d like to see the funding come through in the next couple of years.

“Where else are they going to get 150 acres of free land? The Province is roughly 60,000 (post-secondary) spaces short and here we are ready and able and willing to help.”

Mayor wishes for ground-breaking

The mayor’s final wish for the new year is a ground-breaking for the Milton District Hospital expansion, a long-awaited promise that came to fruition this past summer.

As for predictions for 2012, the mayor said one thing will be inevitable in Milton — traffic.

“I’ll apologize for that in advance,” said Krantz, pointing to the Main Street grade separation just east of Ontario Street. “It’s going to cause a disruption and I’ll be the first one to acknowledge that.”

Asked why the Town didn’t plan the construction pre-population boom when the traffic impact would be less intense, Krantz said there was simply no way to fund the $50 million, four-year project.

“Development charges are paying for a huge portion of the project,” he said.

Krantz said while Milton is far-removed from the financial crises taking place around the globe, he believes the Town could feel some of the pinch.

“The federal and provincial governments can have an indirect impact,” he said, adding that he wouldn’t be surprised if certain government services are downloaded to the municipal level. 

From The Milton Canadian Champion.  I’ll post more details and my comments later.

Citizen-based compensation committee could be formed

Committee would make recommendation about town council members’ salaries

With the salaries of elected representatives being a sensitive topic for councillors and the public alike, the Town is hoping to de-politicize the issue with a citizen compensation advisory committee.Monday, the administration and planning committee approved the formation of the committee that will review councillors’ and the mayor’s salaries and recommend an increase, if warranted. Milton council will make the final decision on the committee Monday.

“I’ve been dealing with these kinds of things on and off and they’re never the easiest to deal with,” said Mayor Gord Krantz. “If you and I get one per cent, or half a per cent or a 50 per cent raise, you can turn it back in to the Town or take it and give it to your favourite charity,” he suggested, explaining council doesn’t have to accept a raise.

Krantz warned he wouldn’t want to see a councillor oppose a pay hike, and later accept it. “That’s when you become hypocritical and that has happened in the past.”

In July, council and non-unionized Town staff received a two per cent salary increase as part of their yearly wage adjustment.

The annual pay increases are to ensure Town staff and council salaries remain competitive and keep up with inflation. In 2010 council voted to freeze their salaries.

A council compensation review, undertaken every few years, ensures the salaries of Milton’s councillors and mayor are in line with those of comparable municipalities.

The last review in 2007 led to a hefty increase — the mayor’s salary increased from $49,133 to $60,480 and the rest of council saw an increase from $21,096 to $25,096.

Ward 6 Councillor Mike Cluett, who in the past has criticized council’s yearly raises, [ SEE MY PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRIES ON THE SUBJECT ]said it’s important Miltonians understand it’s residents, not councillors, who would determine how well council should be compensated through the review process.

“I don’t think there’s a prevailing feeling in the public that we’re overpaid…but I think we should take the citizens’ committee recommendation seriously, but remembering that it is an advisory committee and we can accept whatever the pay increase may be, we can take it back or we can try to defer it to a future date of council. That’s something we might want to consider.”

Ward 4 Councillor Rick Malboeuf said he would be pleased to see salary recommendations taken out of staff and council’s hands.  

“I’ve been through this process before and my advice is to stay as far away from this issue as possible,” he said to fellow councillors.

Currently, the mayor earns $65,128 a year and councillors earn $27,025. Krantz and regional councillors Colin Best and Tony Lambert also earn around $41,000 for sitting on Halton regional council.

The compensation committee would be made up of four members from the Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee, and the president of the Milton Chamber of Commerce would chair the group.

Each member of the committee would receive $300 per meeting — a maximum of three meetings will take place totaling $4,500 — and they would be expected to make a recommendation to council in January.

The meetings would be open to the public, however, no delegations to the committee would be allowed.

Town staff surveyed council salaries in 11 other municipalities and the results would be presented to the committee. 

From the Milton Canadian Champion By Christina Commisso

Council eyeing velodrome

The Pan Am Games velodrome has sparked the interest of Milton council.

The velodrome, an indoor track for cycling, is the only major Pan Am sports venue that’s still without a home after the City of Hamilton decided to cap its funding for the $45 million project at $5 million. Organizers, however, were looking for the host municipality to fund 44 per cent of the capital costs — about $20 million.

They’ve now reached out to communities who previously expressed an interest in hosting a Pan Am event, one of them being the Town of Milton.

“We did not go seeking this, they came to us to see if we could be interested,” Mayor Gord Krantz said during a committee meeting Monday. “I’m interested.”

However, Krantz said he wouldn’t be looking to the taxpayers to fund the local share of the project. Rather, it would be funded, if possible, through private partnerships.

The Town is proposing the Milton Education Village (MEV) location, a 150 acre-site at Derry and Tremaine Roads, house a permanent velodrome. If Pan Am organizers opt for a temporary facility, the Town is proposing the Derry Green Business Park or any existing vacant building in Milton.   

In a letter addressed to Krantz, organizers indicate they require a “shovel ready” site between five and six acres to be provided by the municipality by January 31, 2013.

Milton’s CAO Mario Belvedere pointed out the deadlines for the Pan Am site are similar to those of the MEV. Council has previously said the MEV would be shovel-ready by early 2013.

“Is that just a coincidences, or something we can look at more vigorously,” said Belvedere. “There are opportunities for project partnering by looking at other community partners who are already in place for the education village.”

But he warned that Hamilton had more than a year to work out site-selection and funding for the velodrome, and that still wasn’t enough time.

Milton has been given about a six-week window.

Organizers are looking for municipalities to express their interest and propose a site by tomorrow and a binding agreement to be signed with a host municipality by November 30.  

“Simply put, we haven’t had enough time to ask the appropriate questions,” said Belvedere.

Some of those questions include whether the interior of the velodrome could be modified to include other sports, what kind of operating subsidy would the Town receive to help with the ongoing costs of the velodrome and if the entire project can meet Pan Am’s tight timeframe.

Asked if the Town can meet the November 30 deadline, Belvedere responded, “absolutely not.”

“To be fair no one could meet those timelines. No one could put together a $40 million project in six weeks,” he said.

Krantz reiterated that he has no intentions of putting the Town’s finances in jeopardy and that the project would only move forward with private sector support.

 “There’s no doubt in my mind the Milton Education Village will be built in the next two, three, or five years. Will this fit in the college? I think it’s a perfect fit.”

He continued, “I’m looking 10, 20 years out to what the benefits of this facility may be.”

Krantz said three or four communities were approached by Pan Am organizers about the project.

While the committee voted express their interest in the Pan Am velodrome, several councillors raised concerns about the project.

“We only have six weeks for binding agreement. That’s not enough time for public feedback and that makes me nervous,” said Ward 8 Councillor Zeeshan Hamid.

He requested that the Town host a public meeting regarding the velodrome, but Belvedere said it’s best to wait and see if a private partner is found, as the velodrome wouldn’t move forward without one.

Hamid also raised concerns about ongoing operating costs.

Ward 6 Councillor Mike Cluett asked if there has been any indication from the Province regarding when MEV will move forward.

“There’s been no real contact at this early stage by the government or the ministry,” said Belvedere. “Prior to the election it was opinion of the ministry that they needed to move quickly on securing an additional 40,000 new spaces in the GTA, and that was a high priority.”

Ward 2 Councillor Greg Nelson said a velodrome would be a “hard sell” for downtown residents.

“With the hospital expansion and underpass underway, residents expect us to move forward with a razor-sharp focus,” he said, adding that he wouldn’t support funding the project with taxpayer dollars. “I hope we have Donald Trump or Richard Branson on speed dial.”

The velodrome will be an International Sports Federation-approved facility and will be used for Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games track cycling events and for training. The four-seasons velodrome will have a 250-metre track and will serve as the national training centre for Cycle Canada.

Belvedere said if organizers opt for a temporary site at the Derry Green Business Park, it would mean that area of town would receive water and wastewater services ahead of schedule. A temporary facility would be housed in a dome. When the games are over, the track would be removed and the dome could be used for indoor sports.

Mississauga councillors were expected to decide whether to bid on the velodrome at a meeting today.

A status report on the project will be presented at the November 21 Milton council meeting.

From The Hamilton Spectator ONLINE

By Matthew Van Dongen

Milton is racing to bid for the permanent Pan Am indoor cycling facility turned down by Hamilton council.

From CHCH News

The following is an article from the Milton Canadian Champion by Christina Commisso.

Mayor raises slot revenue concerns at conference

Decreases in the Town’s slot revenue had Milton’s mayor, along with about a dozen others, raising their concerns during a provincial conference late last month.

Mayor Gord Krantz said he was very vocal about the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s changes to financial reporting, which result in an annual loss of $136,000 for the Town, during the 2011 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in London, Ont.

“There are 22 municipalities affected by this and at this point we haven’t challenged the legality of it, or questioned the ethics of it,” said Krantz.

“Regardless of how they report, it shouldn’t have a negative effect on us.”

In July, Town staff voiced their opposition to the OLG reporting changes, which was supported by council.

Krantz also addressed the ‘heads and beds’ subsidy during the annual AMO event, which brings together representatives from 444 municipal governments along with provincial ministries.

Since provincial facilities, such as universities and colleges, hospitals and correctional centres, are exempt from property taxes, the Province gives municipalities a $75 per head/bed subsidy — an amount that hasn’t increased since 1987.

Pointing to the Maplehurst Correctional Complex, Krantz said, “It takes a lot of extra policing to look after a place like that. The subsidy is no where near as close as we spend (on extra policing).”  

Krantz said the Liberal, NDP and PC provincial party leaders made appearances at the four-day conference and municipal leaders were eager to hear the parties’ platforms.

“We all know we have a huge deficit in Ontario,” warned Krantz of election promises.

However, asked if a change in power at Queen’s Park could put the recently-announced Milton hospital expansion in jeopardy, Krantz said regardless of which party comes out on top in the October 6 election, “they’re committed to going through with it.”

“I’m almost positive it (the hospital expansion) will move forward. Maybe it will move a little slower, but it will move forward.”

He said the next big-ticket item the Town has its heart set on is the Milton Education Village.  “To the best of my knowledge, the latest statistics show the Province is short 40,000 university and college spots,” he said.

“We can help eliminate that shortage.”

I’m still giddy (yes I said giddy) with excitement everytime I read something about the expansion at Milton District Hospital.  Here is the article from today’s Milton Canadian Champion (by Christina Commisso) with coverage of the historic announcement.

Hospital expansion approved

Completion expected in late 2015 or early 2016

Hugs, high-fives and tears were aplenty Thursday morning, as Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews announced Milton’s hospital has been given the long-awaited green light for a massive expansion.

Milton District Hospital (MDH) will triple in size following a 320,000 square-foot addition that should be completed by late 2015 or early 2016.

“The support is unanimous. We have people from all political parties who are here today saying yes, this is the right decision. I’m pleased that all of us together have gotten where we are today,” said Matthews, as the room erupted in applause.

Pointing to an outpouring of community support that has  surrounded the MDH expansion, the Liberal MPP said hospitals are the heart and soul of a community, “and no where is that more true than right here in Milton. You should change the town’s motto to ‘where we don’t take no for an answer.’”

Matthews re-iterated that the expansion is poised to move full-steam ahead. “I want to be very clear this money has been allocated. It is in our fiscal plan. It has gone through our treasury board. All of the Is are dotted and Ts are crossed. This money is part of our infrastructure plan.”

The expansion will include a new emergency department to accommodate 45,500 visits a year. Currently the department can handle 30,000 visits. The addition of an MRI machine and chemotherapy services will more than triple the size of the hospital’s diagnostic imaging department. A new maternal child-care ward will include 17 post-partum beds, up from the current eight, and the intensive care unit will see 10 beds, up from six.

Also in the plans are two new medical surgical in-patient units with capacity for 72 patients and expanded operating suites, and a post-anesthetic care unit that will accommodate 8,400 surgeries a year — a 70 per cent increase over the department’s current capacity.

Eighty per cent of the rooms will be single patient to enhance infection control.

Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) CEO John Oliver said construction should be complete by 2015/16, about a year after the new Oakville hospital is planned for completion.

“Both hospitals will be under construction at the same time and one will open right after the other. We’re going to make up for lost time in Milton,” said Oliver to an elated crowd.

He said detailed planning with hospital staff will begin immediately, along with discussions with the hospital foundation and the Town regarding the local share of the construction costs plus the entire cost of equipping and furnishing the hospital.

Asked about the cost of the expansion, Oliver said for the time being a number won’t be released to the public. “We learned from the Oakville project when you put a number out, it changes…we’ll talk about the kinds of services and the number of beds, but we won’t release a number to the public.”

Milton Mayor Gord Krantz said at this point in time he has no idea what kind of money the Town will be on the hook for in terms of the local share.

“This was only the start and now some of the grunt work needs to be done and finances is going to be a big part of that,” he said. “I have a sneaking suspicion the community is going to buy into this and fundraising is going to have to be a definite part of it.”

The recently-announced Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital expansion, pegged at $312 million, is looking for $120 million from the Burlington community. The Town of Oakville has committed up to $130 million toward the construction of the new Dundas Street and Third Line hospital, and the Oakville Hospital Foundation is raising $60 million for the community share.

Asked if the hospital’s local share will be part of the Town’s 2012 budget — which is already well underway — Milton’s CAO Mario Belvedere said, “We will do what needs to be done to support this program and we can work on amending whatever needs to be done.”

He said he plans to meet with Oliver within the next few weeks to discuss numbers, adding that the scope and speed of the expansion is “well beyond our imagination.”

Halton’s Conservative MPP Ted Chudleigh, who has advocated for a Milton hospital expansion for a number of years, joked, “It’s such a good day, I don’t think I can say anything bad about the Liberals.

“This project is going from functional planning to completion in one step, that’s unprecedented in Ontario.”

Asked how the expansion — which several Milton residents and councillors dubbed the number one election issue — changes the dynamics of the October 6 provincial election, Chudleigh said, “It becomes less of an issue. It comes off the table and now it’s a matter of making it happen.”

Local provincial Liberal candidate Indira Naidoo-Harris said Thursday was a day for celebration.

“It’s a wonderful day for Halton and Milton. I am thrilled the minister has been listening to our community.”

Several members of the Friends of Milton Hospital and Grow Milton Hospital groups were on hand for the announcement and said the days of gathering about 40,000 signatures (during two community campaigns) in support of an expansion — in rain or shine — has finally paid off.

“We needed care at all levels,” said Friends of Milton Hospital co-chair and former nurse Cari Kovachik-MacNeil. “Milton’s emergency has always been known for how good it was, but then where do the patients go from here when the hospital is in gridlock. Now they can stay here, in their own hometown.”

This is just a reminder for those in the area to join George and Liz at the Hawthorne Cafe for their grand opening.

Yours truly and Mayor Gord Krantz will be there as well. (THERE’S a selling point for you!)

Date:  Saturday July 9th, 11am to 2pm
10220 Derry Rd. (Rabba Plaza) 905.864.7007

To celebrate we are offering buy 1 get 1 FREE on all of our speciality coffees and refreshing cold drinks.

Bring the family! There will be face painting and balloons.  Delicious free samples will be given throughout the day.

Hawthorne Cafe

Slightly overshadowed by our neighbours to the south and THEIR celebrations and our most recent Canada Day events, the Town of Milton has turned 154 years old today.  And contrary to popular belief, Mayor Gord Krantz was NOT on Town Council at that time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MILTON!

From the Town of Milton website:

Living in Milton, Ontario

Then…

Milton’s earliest beginnings can be traced back to 1825, when an enterprising young man named Jasper Martin built a gristmill on a mill pond. By harvesting the power of the swiftly flowing water, Jasper’s gristmill prospered and grew to become the centre of a settlement called Martin’s Mills, with a population of just 100 people in 1837.

The townspeople soon changed the name of the town to Milton because of the Martin family’s fondness for the poet John Milton. The Town of Milton was incorporated in 1857 and the first Town Council meeting was held in the County Buildings, where the current Town Hall is still located, on July 4, 1857.

And now…

Today, the Mill Pond is still flourishing in the centre of town, but without the gristmill, surrounded by a landscaped park. This gathering place is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts who want to walk, picnic and fish or just sit on a bench to enjoy the nature around them. From the historic downtown core with a bustling Saturday morning Farmers’ Market, to the steady business growth and development throughout the town, Milton has continued to prosper over the years. Nestled at the base of the scenic Niagara Escarpment, Milton is also well known as the preferred tourism destination Escarpment Country™

Home and beyond…

Milton is home to Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfieldwho has taken his down-to-earth Milton heritage around the world and beyond. A graduate of our very own Milton District High School, we are proud to have Colonel Chris Hadfield as an international ambassador for the Town of Milton.

Milton – an ideal place to live, work and play

Whether you are visiting, working or living in Milton, we know you will enjoy everything the Town of Milton has to offer. We encourage you to get to know us a little better, stay awhile and maybe even take home a souvenir as a reminder of our old-fashioned hospitality.

The next meeting of Milton Town Council is on Monday June 27th starting at 7pm at Milton Town Hall.

The governing body of the Town of Milton is Town Council, consisting of the Mayor and 10 Councillors who represent Milton’s eight wards.  Milton residents elect members of Council for a four-year term of office.  You can find a link to watch the Town Council meetings here.  The meetings are also broadcast on TV Cogeco (Channel 14).

Town Council deals with:

• Matters requiring policy direction
• By-laws or by-law amendments
• Responses or actions to pertinent issues

Council also makes decisions on the recommendations of Milton’s two Standing Committees of Council:

• Administration & Planning Committee
• Community Services Committee

The link to the agenda can be found here.  Some of the highlites of tonights meeting include:

• Recognizing Yolanda McCann as 2010 Milton Senior of the Year
• An update from staff on Emerald Ash Borer & Black Knot fungus on trees
• A report & recommendation from CSAC on Community Fund Allocations
• Supplementary Report on Region Official Plan Ammendment No. 39

Hope to see you there or watch ONLINE as well via www.milton.ca

This coming Monday June 20th is the Administration & Planning Standing Committee meeting at Town Hall starting at 7pm.  

This Committee consists of five Councillors and the Mayor. Committee members review all reports, formulate policy and make recommendations to Council on matters over which Council has authority under the Municipal Act, the Planning Act and other legislation. Recommendations are made in the areas of corporate administration, personnel, legal issues, planning and finance.

The Administration and Planning Committee reviews the operating and capital budgets as well as various financial matters affecting the Town of Milton.

The agenda for the meeting can be found here.

Some of the highlites include:

• Staff report on 2012 User Fees in Milton
• Capital / Operating Financial Statements May 2011
• Staff Report on future development at Derry/Tremaine Road
• Staff Report on zoning change at 8750 Regional Road #25
• Staff Report on development at Whitmer St/Duncan Lane
• 2012 Budget Call Report

As always you can watch online on Monday night at 7pm.  If you have any questions or comments for any of these reports, please email me mike@mikecluett.ca