By late yesterday, more than 284 submissions had been received just days before the April 15 deadline for those wanting to have their say on the council's 2019-20 plan.
The submissions showed strong support for using rates to offset bus fares, and a free inner-city bus loop, both of which were being considered by the council.
Some people lauded the idea of one or both initiatives, while others questioned the need for either, in response to specific questions asked by the council as part of the consultation.
Others had big ideas of their own, including Monarch Wildlife Cruises and Tours co-owner Neil Harraway, who wanted Dunedin to aim to double in size - to a population of 250,000 people - by 2050.
"This may be an arbitrary figure, and some may say an impossible target, but I believe it can provide a great focal point and a rallying cry."
To achieve the goal, he suggested everything from the obvious - "have more babies" - to specific initiatives to grow the city's education, smart business and tourism sectors, including investment in the waterfront development.
"Don't let the nay-sayers grind it down - they may not know that many many cities with much worse climates than ours have vibrant and vital waterfront developments."
Daniel Osland said the council should consider the pedestrianisation of parts of George St, the Octagon, Moray Pl and the Exchange, perhaps with a light rail or tram line to provide for mobility access.
Christian Ohneiser went further, arguing pedestrianisation of George St should be followed by a tram system linking South Dunedin with the central city, and to buses servicing hill suburbs.
"The original settlers had the right idea all along."
Others wanted to see more investment in the bus service - at the moment still controlled by the Otago Regional Council - matched by the roll-out of smaller, more suitable, buses in the city, reducing their economic footprint.
A group of pupils from Karitane School sent in a joint submission on street lights.
"Dear Dunedin City Council. Today we learnt street lights are effecting our animals. It hurts their eyes and it confuses them because they think it's daytime.
"Please can you change lights to amber lights so that the animals can happily play and sleep at night," the pupils wrote, signing off with love hearts and a flower.
Others were less polite as they railed against the council's plan to spend more, increase debt and invest in things.
Steve Earnshaw said the council was guilty of having "champagne tastes on a beer income", and a proposed 5% rates increase was "nothing more than a criminal rort".
"How about a 3% increase and try to live within your means rather than mortgaging us to the hilt for your vanity projects."
He also blasted the state of the city's roads as a "f*** disgrace", and did not support the central city upgrade plan or cycleway spending.
"Here's a plan for the central city: Put it back the way it was in the early '80s."
