10 January 2020

Media: Stuff

Topic: CBD parking

Enquiry

Dropping you a line with some questions for a story I'm working on at the moment about CBD parking, hopefully for Steve if she's about?

I've spoken to a number of business owners in Pukuatua St who have raised a number of concerns, including Craig Elliott who is considering relocating his business because of the problems clients are having, specifically with the parking meters.

I wanted to ask:

Craig tells me has raised concerns with council in the past, and even spent some time with two of your staff - Henry Weston included I believe. Can I confirm this is correct?

The biggest issues I'm hearing are people are confused about the meters, and dislike the 50 cent card fee - has council had feedback on these issues too?

It's also been suggested to me that the parking system is undermining efforts to revitalise the CBD. More than one person has told me it's putting people off coming into town - has Steve heard similar complaints, and does she think there's any justification for these concerns?

When does the contract for I-Park to run the parking system expire?

To what extent can council compel I-Park to make changes - for example could council get the 50 cent card fee removed?

Response

From Community and Regulatory Services Manager Kurt Williams:

Council works in partnership with i-Park to make improvements and changes as we become aware of recurring trends and issues. Council's Regulatory staff and Mr Weston met with a group of CBD business owners, including Mr Elliot in April 2018 and their feedback was incorporated, where feasible, into the current parking design. This included movement of taxi stands, realignment of parks including some P15 parks and signage changes.

We encourage people to report issues about the parking system directly to Council so we can maintain an accurate overview of the user experience. While people can contact Council on 07 348 4199 about concerns about the system, any machine faults need to be reported to i-park. Their number is on the front of each machine.

We recognise that some people may find using the machines easier than others, we have had feedback of this nature. As part of our continuous monitoring of the system we are working with i-park to identify hot spots where this may be an issue and will look to add extra instructional signage on machines in these areas.

In regards to the 50c fee for using debit/credit cards, this is a user pays' fee and covers the cost of the provision and maintenance of the card reader technology and any bank fees. If it were to be removed from the transaction, it would need to be recovered from other funding sources such as rates or parking tariffs. There is always the option of using coins, which incur no additional fees, at the nearest available machine that accept coins.

Information:

• The current i-park contract expiry date is 30 June 2026
• Council sets the parking Policy which includes parking tariffs i.e. cost per hour to park ($1 per hour).
• i-park is responsible for providing the technology, enforcement services and back office processing.
• Parking tariffs and parking infringements have not increased with the introduction of the new i-park system. Infringement amounts are set nationally by central Government.
• Half of the machines offer the coin payment option.
• 60 minute free parking in still available in the centre streets of the CBD (Tutanekai Street and typically the first block of connecting side streets)Click HERE for some helpful information about using the parking system. From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick:"I have certainly been hearing people's frustrations with the parking system. There is ongoing monitoring of all aspects of the parking system and I'll be requesting an update and reassurance that common concerns are being considered and any glitches are being worked through. We want to ensure that we have an effective, efficient and fair system in place. "If there is ongoing confusion about how to use the system there will need to be further efforts to help alleviate this and that's something I'll also enquire about. New systems can take time to embed but we don't want people to be frustrated or confused and we certainly don't want parking to be the reason people choose to not visit the inner city.

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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)

Topic: CBD apartment living

Enquiry

I am writing an article on the benefits and impacts of apartment living in the CBD. Experts say new apartment builds planned or under construction in Tauranga's city centre will help to revitalise the CBD. Some say inner-city living could be a major driver of the CBD's recovery and could become a longer-term trend. About six new apartment builds and more than 200 apartments were either planned or already under construction in the CBD.

I am wanting to see if this is the same in Rotorua's CBD. My questions to the council and Mayor Steve Chadwick are:

• How many apartment builds are there in Rotorua's CBD? How many are new? How many are under construction? How many are planned?
• What are your thoughts on apartment living in the CBD?
• What impact will these new apartment builds have on the CBD? What impact have completed apartment builds had on the CBD already?
• What are the benefits of apartment living in the CBD? What are the complications it could pose if any?
• Please add anything else you would like to say here:

Response

Comment from Mayor Steve Chadwick:

Rotorua needs housing of all types to alleviate our housing shortage and we want to see more inner city living as part of a comprehensive housing plan currently being developed.

There is plenty of opportunity in our CBD and last year Council approved investigating potential incentives to encourage building improvements and conversions to apartments. Of course ultimately it's up to property owners to determine if/when conditions are right for them but it is certainly something we'd love to see and Council is keen to work with those ready to invest in our CBD.

I believe more people living in an inner city would add to CBD vibrancy, benefit businesses, including retail and hospitality, and could encourage new businesses to the inner city. It also offers a lifestyle that I think would be attractive to people who enjoy being around others and enjoy being active and having easy access to amenities, activities, cultural hubs and parks.

Information:

• There are 107 apartments in the CBD, made up of 6 apartment blocks.
• 2 apartments have been created in an existing building over the past 12 months.
• 1 new apartment block of 8 apartments has been granted resource consent as of late 2019.
• We are not aware of any apartments under construction at present (i.e. building inspections have not commenced).

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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)

Topic: Summer tourism

Enquiry

I am working on a story checking in on the tourism industry over the holiday period. However, I wanted to get some comment from Council around the benefit of all the events held at this time of year. Deadline is 2pm today

How many events were held over the holiday season in connection with Council?

What is the benefit of holding these events for the Council and for the residents?

What event created the biggest benefit for Rotorua?

Has this year been the busiest with events over the holiday season, if not when was?

Response

The reporter was advised that we were unable to provide detailed figures as the MBIE expenditure stats for December won't be released until mid Februrary, and January will come out around four weeks later.

Comment from Michelle Templer, Chief Executive of Destination Rotorua:

The number of visitors through the main Rotorua i-SITE over the two weeks of Christmas and New Year was very similar to 2018/2019. However, the Redwoods i-SITE has seen some of its busiest days ever, with a 15% increase in visitor numbers through the doors this holiday period.

Both i-SITEs fielded lots of enquiries about restaurant and accommodation availability, and the i-SITE camping ambassador team reported that the DOC and RLC campgrounds were full throughout the two weeks.

The sunny weather has definitely played its part as many of the operators with outdoor activities have reported a good couple of weeks. The DOC team at the i-SITE has also received lots of enquiries from visitors wanting to spend time enjoying our lakes and forests.

The high season in Rotorua now runs from mid-October to mid-April, and the lengthening of that period is the result of a lot of hard work by the visitor industry to bring people here for longer. Part of that attraction is the big summer events like Glo, the Tarawera Ultramarathon and Crankworx. These help to attract both domestic and international visitors and add to the vibrancy of the city.

From Rotorua Lakes Council Arts and Culture Business Development Manager Joanna Doherty:

Events that Council has either organised or been involved with during the holidays so far (from 15 December to today):

• Kia Wero, Kia Pānui - The Great Te Aka Mauri Summer Reading Challenge, 7 December 2019 - 2 February 2019
• Pāti Hōpua Kirihimete - Christmas Pool Party at Rotorua Aquatic Centre, 15 December 2019
• Wā Ukurere - UkeBox ukulele strum & open mic at Te Rūnanga Tea House, 15 December 2019
• Rapuhia Te Ika - Fish Out of Water Art Trail (17 December 19 - 3 February 2020
• Pāti Hōpua - Wā Whakatā Schools Out! End of year pool party at the Aquatic Centre, 19 December 2019
• Toi Mā Runga Paihikara - Art by Bike Tour, around Rotorua City, 28 December 2019
• American Graffiti Show'N'Shine - collection of hot rods at the Rotorua International Stadium, 31 December 2019
• Rēhia I te Tau Hōu Glo Festival - family New Year celebrations at Rotorua Village Green, 31 December 2019
• Katchafire - music concert with various artists at Rotorua Village Green, 3 January 2020
• Pāti Hōpua - Tīrama Glow Party at Rotorua Aquatic Centre, 3 January 2020
• Ngā Pātuki o te Wā Whakatā School Holiday Events - range of fun activities at Rotorua Library, 6 - 28 January 2020
• Hokomanga Pō - Rotorua Night Market - every Thursday (holiday markets have been 19 & 26 December and 2 & 9 January so far)
• Hokomanga Ahuwhenua - Rotorua Farmers Market - every Sunday (holiday markets have been 15, 22 & 29 December and 5 January so far) Events are a fantastic way for our community to connect with each other, and to provide a range of activities for families and visitors to enjoy over the holiday season. Many of the events that Council organises and supports are free, ensuring everyone in our community has the opportunity to enjoy these activities at a time when traditionally whānau come together. Of the events over the holidays so far, Rēhia I te Tau Hōu Glo Festival has probably had the biggest benefit, in terms of the numbers of both residents and visitors that have enjoyed the free entertainment, and laser and firework displays. It is estimated that up to 15,000 people came down to the Village Green to be part of the New Year's celebrations this year, and the vast majority of these were locals.

The summer holidays are always busy with events, and this year has been no different to other years.

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Media: Rotorua-based Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Elected member code of conduct complaints

Enquiry

I would like to seek some clarification on the Mayor's comments about Councillor Macpherson and code of conduct complaints.

In earlier comments, Steve said:

"I am currently dealing with a formal Code of Conduct complaint regarding Cr Macpherson which I received shortly before Christmas.

...

Neither the complaint nor a meeting I requested with him in November, to which he refers in his press release, are about or related to Cr Macpherson questioning the definition of rates affordability in the annual report."

It is not clear if in the second paragraph you refer to a complaint in November or if you refer to the same complaint as in the first paragraph. Does that sentence mean there was a complaint in November separate to the confirmed complaint received just before Christmas?

What I am trying to clarify is:

a) if there was a complaint (or, if it was to be an informal conversation, rather than a formal complaint, as per the Code of Conduct - please specify) in November and that;

b) the November complaint and its issue is separate to the complaint received in December.

Response

Clarification from the Mayor as requested:

In the excerpt you sent us Cr Macpherson talks about a meeting the mayor requested with him. That is the November meeting referred to in the mayor's response. It was to be informal.

The November meeting and the code of conduct complaint received in December are separate matters.

Neither the November meeting nor the code of conduct complaint received in December are related to, or about, Cr Macpherson questioning the definition of rates affordability in the annual report.

Excerpt you sent us:

"To illustrate, when I recently contested the Annual Report's definition of rates affordability, because it lacks any reference to ratepayers' ability to afford rates, senior officials cancelled an offer to review the matter off-line and told on me' to the Mayor for violating the elected representatives' Code of Conduct. The Mayor declared that a violation had occurred and called me to a meeting with her Deputy. When I questioned her premature judgement and refused to attend, a threatening letter was issued, and the matter was then dropped. The policy issue of rates affordability remains unresolved. It confirmed to me how troubled and wary authoritarians become when the legitimacy of their political ideology and key policies are critically evaluated."

NOTE: This enquiry relates to previous enquiries responded to on 8 January (see HERE) and 7 January (see HERE)