2010 - the year of the Stadium

2010 was truly the year of the stadium in Hamilton. I can't even count how many stories, blog posts and tweets I wrote about the stadium this year.

So, it seems only fitting that my last Hall Marks post of 2010 is all about the Pan Am debacle. Rookie councillor Judi Partridge has written an interesting explanation of her position on the Pan Am stadium, which I've included below. It's significant that she's taken this stand because she was one of the the councillors who voted against Confed last week, but was rumoured to be waffling. Remember -- last week's emergency vote to abandon Confed wasn't ratified, and it could be reversed when council meets on Jan. 12. However, Partridge doesn't seem like she's backing down.

On another note, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who commented and read Hall Marks in 2010. I've really appreciated all your insight and knowledge this year and am looking forward to 2011!

Pan Am Games Stadium

If I heard nothing else going door to door during the election campaign, it was to get spending and wages under control, reduce taxes and attract new jobs - everyone of us around the council table heard the same messages loud and clear from taxpayers and I will tell you we are working very well together toward shared values and common goals. We are listening to our taxpayers – It is a different council.

The previous council put us in a difficult position – frankly we were boxed into a corner – As stewards of taxpayers dollars, we needed to get the taxpayers back in the drivers seat to find the best solution for this stadium. The taxpayer should not be the primary funder of any private business – that is not responsible governance.  The new stadium being built in Winnipeg has $88 million contribution from their football team and the private sector, $12.5 from their taxpayers – that is quite different from what Hamilton taxpayers are being asked to pay at 70 million from taxpayers and $10 mil from TiCats – .we need more private business to step up. If the TiCats choose to move to Burlington, it is their choice as a private business.

It may appear on the surface that the stadium would work at Confederation Park – the reality when real facts are presented is much clearer that it would not. We cannot do assessments on the fly, making last second decisions of this magnitude.

Confederation Park

Council also heard that there was not enough time to properly evaluate Confederation Park by January 14th – with Christmas holidays, many consultants and ministry staff needed, were away until Jan. 5th. There are significant issues that staff were already aware of and would not have adequate time to review. The deadline of Feb. 1 for Hostco also requires a final detailed cost analysis and budget to be submitted for the site selected. We also heard there would be no extension. The Confed evaluation would have to include analysis from federal Ministry of Fisheries, conservation authorities, provincial ministry’s and include significant set-backs due to the lake front location.

Opportunity:

The responsible thing to do was spend the next few weeks toward Feb. 1 deadline working with our partners, including the TiCats on what would be acceptable short-term and long-term solutions that would include private sector partners. The West Harbour stadium site is still the only council approved site on the table. Bob Young walked away from the Mountain site as a possible location.

Hamilton is still a participant in the Pan Am games and will receive infrastructure dollars to host soccer, cycling, swim competitions and more.  I believe strongly that we will find a solution and the Ti-Cats will remain Hamilton Tiger Cats.

Comments

[Larry]

I hope the other councillors will listen to the intelligent reasoning that Councillor Partridge puts forth. (Am I hoping in vain? Our council has been embarrassing on this issue, and they don't seem to realize it.) I am exhausted trying to pay my rising property taxes, the HST, hydro bills, food (yes, food.) I barely have the money. My property taxes cannot stretch anymore to fund 70-120 million for a stadium.

[Yves Dubeau]

My gut feel is that our"councilors for life"" are incapable of making hard decisions. While voting for hosting the Pan Am games 2 years ago they sat and did nothing in evaluating every possible sites. When deadlines ( numerous) approached every vote taken at council was always at the brink of time thus limiting the scope of staff to satisfy all parties involve. Just watch council in operation and judge for yourself that most decisions are always at the last minute. This is a sure sign of bad management hopefully of the past.

[Allan Taylor]

I'm not so sure how she can be so definitive that a site won't work when she refuses to even accept a report on its viability. Seems she is politically motivated not to accept the site under any condition but thats not her stated reasoning. For this she get rookie hypocrite of the year

[st]

I think the city should go with the best site now,the east mountain as the cats seem to like that area,dont lose to aldershot,keep the cats here in Hamilton.

[steven sheen]

I would ask The City Of Hamilton to approach the cats to see if they would agree to stay if the stadium was built on the East Mountain as the Cats originally liked and wanted,so that we can save the cats.