Branded cars, T-shirts, free pizza and face-to-face sessions with councillors are among efforts by the Dunedin City Council to improve its 10-year plan public consultation.
Councillors yesterday signed off on a consultation plan beginning in March, a plan developed as a response to questions asked of the public in recent years about how they want to be consulted.
People wanted face-to-face meetings with staff and councillors, consultation in busy areas of town, and ensuring all residents could be heard.
Suggestions for the council’s upcoming four-week consultation on its draft 10-year plan recommended that city councillors should spend 26 to 28 hours attending community events.
A drop-in space in the Octagon, consultation stands set up in popular areas in the city, and pizza nights in different neighbourhoods are some of the events planned.
Staff and councillors had the option of wearing branded T-shirts to make them easily identifiable and raise awareness of the 10-year plan, the report said.
Branded electric cars would also be parked outside some venues.
The report said the cost of the consultation was higher than in previous years.
New costs included radio advertising, advertising on the back of two buses and signwriting for two council electric cars.
Staff from a range of departments and councillors were encouraged to be involved and asked to prioritise consultation.
The report said the city council anticipated key themes raised during consultation might include housing, transport, affordability and sustainability, climate change and waste minimisation.
It was hoped the efforts would leave people feeling they were heard, well-informed and that the whole community had been given the chance to engage.
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Comments
This council looks upon the citizens of this city as simply minor irritants in their grand plans.
Consultation is seen as a trusty old can of fly spray used to knock down and quieten these 'irritant' flies, but not effective enough to kill them....And that suits this council just fine.
The councilors are getting the staff to do their dirty work, why don't the face a public meeting? and bring sleepy Arron along as well
Hey, can I have a t shirt please?
It is pointless talking to the greens, theirs is a holy crusade to save all of us from ourselves. No matter what the cost, no matter how idiotic the idea.
Absolutley (in their minds) Dunedin should ban all parking in or near the town centre. People should only be alowed access by bus, bike or walking. Arterial roads can then be closed and converted to playgrounds or just monuments to stupidity.
Quote: "Staff from a range of departments and councillors were encouraged to be involved and asked to prioritise consultation."
Good to see that councillors themselves are participating. On the face of it, I think this is a great idea. Instead of frustrations aired through letters to the editor and online etc, the public now have the opportunity to speak directly and in person with councillors and staff in a more relaxed environment. This could well indeed lower some of the barriers between the ratespayers and public servants.
At the very least, a genuine attempt is being made to listen and be heard, from both sides.
Oh Buzz!...Your innocence is utterly adorable!
Here's a hint....When you read the word 'consultation' .... replace that word with 'lip service' and you'll feel much better when the DCC ignore all feedback, and forge ahead with their original plan.
Since when has this council ever listened to the people who pay their wages?! Consultation is simply another 'tick' in their list of tasks on the road to eliminating every vehicle from Dunedin's roads. The sooner you understand that, the better.
I awoke late in the morning, from my window, the sun had embrazoned a magnificent warm glow over our beloved wee city. I had had a coffee and the most delicious bacon and eggs for breakfast. I typed my comment in a utopic frame of mind, hanging on to the last thread of overtly positive optimism, my fingers joyfully tapped the keyboard .....lol, then you Snozz, rained on the parade.....charade....oh god, just pass the free bloody pizza and give me a T shirt! As a punishment I shall self flagellate on the town hall steps to the satisfaction to fellow readers.......
To Buzz....If I could give your comment 100 'thumbs up'.....I would!
There would be more participation if the public thought there was a snowball's chance their views would be taken into account for a change.