Squamish is hoping to spin some money off the GranFondo next year.
Last month, 7,000 cyclists zipped through Squamish free of charge. District of Squamish didn't impose its $5-per-participant trail fee that it normally levies on events use district-owned property, including trails, roads, road allowances or rights-of-way.
"I am not sure how it was waived," Brian Barnett, the district's general manager of engineering, told council on Tuesday (Oct. 18).
As riders pay $225 to enter the race, tacking on an additional $5 doesn't seem unreasonable, Mayor Greg Gardner said. Even though the event was successful and popular with spectators, there are significant impacts on the community, he said.
The race route, which cuts Squamish in half, and traffic delays do affect companies, such as the Squamish Valley Golf and Country Club, Gardner noted. While there is potential for economic benefit from visiting spectators and the like, Squamish sees nowhere near the cash flow that the race pulls in for Vancouver and Whistler, he said.
"I think we have some work to do and some gains that have to be made," Gardner said.
The district is in talks with GranFondo organizers to promote the Medio, a 60-kilometre race option that starts at Garibaldi Mall, Barnett said. This year, approximately 150 racers started pedalling in Squamish.
"About 90 per cent of them were not from the community," he noted.
The municipality is also working with event organizers to enhance the spectator site at the Garibaldi Mall. That could include the addition of food services, music and entertainment, stated a staff report to council.
Municipal staff are examining how Squamish can capitalize on the number of riders who train for the race in the Squamish area. People from around the Lower Mainland use areas in the Sea to Sky Corridor to practice for the 122-kilometre race. Local business could provide some kind of incentive to help draw participants here, Barnett said.
"[GranFondo organizers] want us to be happy. They want this event to be successful for the District of Squamish," he said.
The district did receive a written complaint about the race's road closures, Barnett noted. Coun. Patricia Heintzman added that letter regarded the conflict in scheduling between the race and the Brackendale Fall Fair.
Before next year, Heintzman said she hopes fair organizers' concerns are addressed and the trail fee is applied.
"This [race] is certainly a big part of the future of the community," she said.
