Mayor criticised for undermining staff
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich has been slammed for undermining staff after suggesting the council has an anti-carpark "agenda".
During yesterday's infrastructure services committee meeting, Mr Radich raised concerns from stakeholders who wanted more consultation on the council's Albany Street Connection, a project aiming to provide a safe walking and cycling connection between the harbour path Te Aka Ōtākou and Dunedin's tertiary area and CBD.
"I've been contacted by business owners on that street and they were under the expectation there was going to be some additional consultation with them about the parking and the set-up for the road," Mr Radich said during discussion on the council's forward work programme.
"They're certainly not of the opinion that they've had that.
"It does suggest that there might be some other agenda, other than optimisation of that street."
Mr Radich rephrased his statement after a point of order from infrastructure chairman Cr Jim O'Malley, who took issue with the mayor's assertion staff had an "agenda".
When it was upheld by deputy chairman Brent Weatherall, Mr Radich said there was "another 'imperative', another 'raison d'etre' for the project that does not include or does not take into due consideration the key stakeholders of the area".
Council papers showed construction was expected to start in November and be completed by May next year.
But Mr Radich said the procurement process, due to begin in July, should be halted until the parking committee had reviewed and approved a revised plan, "subject to consultation with the business and property owners".
Mr Radich later told the Otago Daily Times he was not suggesting council staff had an agenda.
"I wasn't attributing that to anyone in particular, although the project is a hangover from the previous council.
"It might be governed by different imperatives than the benefit of the key users of the street."
He was unable to clarify who might be driving the "different imperatives".
"If you've got divisiveness amongst the key stakeholders of a project, then surely it's better to get them on the same page, to modify the project accordingly so that everyone can have agreement about how it should end up."
When asked, Mr Radich said it was business owners Jason La Hood and Greg Paterson who had contacted him with their concerns.
Climate and city growth general manager Scott MacLean said there had been a lot of consultation with affected parties — "they've had a lot of input into the final design, and my understanding is that they were happy with that."
Cr Lee Vandervis said while councillors had seen initial plans, he was concerned they had not seen the final design.
"I feel that [the project] has been pushed through this council, and now pushed through with changes yet to be ratified."
Cr Vandervis said he was concerned the project was going ahead without a chance for elected officials to comment on it.
"To find that it is now, with all haste, going to contract and to be done, I find that unusual, and it makes me uncomfortable."
Cr Steve Walker said the discussion was "getting close" to being the most extraordinary thing he had seen at the council table and the suggestion consultation had been underdone was a "kick in the guts" to staff.
"It is interesting that both the mayor and the other councillors never bring up these concerns when it's a consultation that fits their agenda," he said.
Cr Christine Garey said councillors had been assured a thorough consultation process had been held by staff with expertise.
"To then cherry-pick, which is how I see it, because there are some folk who don't agree with where it's landed — it's cutting our staff off at the knees, and I don't accept that that is an acceptable way for governors to behave."
Cr Sophie Barker said she would like to see the plan but there had been ample opportunity for consultation.
Cr Carmen Houlahan said there was "a lot of waffle and not a lot of point to the issues being raised".
There had "obviously" been extensive consultation, she said.
ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz
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Otago Daily Times
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Mayor criticised for undermining staff
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich has been slammed for undermining staff after suggesting the council has an anti-carpark "agenda". During yesterday's infrastructure services committee meeting, Mr Radich raised concerns from stakeholders who wanted more consultation on the council's Albany Street Connection, a project aiming to provide a safe walking and cycling connection between the harbour path Te Aka Ōtākou and Dunedin's tertiary area and CBD. "I've been contacted by business owners on that street and they were under the expectation there was going to be some additional consultation with them about the parking and the set-up for the road," Mr Radich said during discussion on the council's forward work programme. "They're certainly not of the opinion that they've had that. "It does suggest that there might be some other agenda, other than optimisation of that street." Mr Radich rephrased his statement after a point of order from infrastructure chairman Cr Jim O'Malley, who took issue with the mayor's assertion staff had an "agenda". When it was upheld by deputy chairman Brent Weatherall, Mr Radich said there was "another 'imperative', another 'raison d'etre' for the project that does not include or does not take into due consideration the key stakeholders of the area". Council papers showed construction was expected to start in November and be completed by May next year. But Mr Radich said the procurement process, due to begin in July, should be halted until the parking committee had reviewed and approved a revised plan, "subject to consultation with the business and property owners". Mr Radich later told the Otago Daily Times he was not suggesting council staff had an agenda. "I wasn't attributing that to anyone in particular, although the project is a hangover from the previous council. "It might be governed by different imperatives than the benefit of the key users of the street." He was unable to clarify who might be driving the "different imperatives". "If you've got divisiveness amongst the key stakeholders of a project, then surely it's better to get them on the same page, to modify the project accordingly so that everyone can have agreement about how it should end up." When asked, Mr Radich said it was business owners Jason La Hood and Greg Paterson who had contacted him with their concerns. Climate and city growth general manager Scott MacLean said there had been a lot of consultation with affected parties — "they've had a lot of input into the final design, and my understanding is that they were happy with that." Cr Lee Vandervis said while councillors had seen initial plans, he was concerned they had not seen the final design. "I feel that [the project] has been pushed through this council, and now pushed through with changes yet to be ratified." Cr Vandervis said he was concerned the project was going ahead without a chance for elected officials to comment on it. "To find that it is now, with all haste, going to contract and to be done, I find that unusual, and it makes me uncomfortable." Cr Steve Walker said the discussion was "getting close" to being the most extraordinary thing he had seen at the council table and the suggestion consultation had been underdone was a "kick in the guts" to staff. "It is interesting that both the mayor and the other councillors never bring up these concerns when it's a consultation that fits their agenda," he said. Cr Christine Garey said councillors had been assured a thorough consultation process had been held by staff with expertise. "To then cherry-pick, which is how I see it, because there are some folk who don't agree with where it's landed — it's cutting our staff off at the knees, and I don't accept that that is an acceptable way for governors to behave." Cr Sophie Barker said she would like to see the plan but there had been ample opportunity for consultation. Cr Carmen Houlahan said there was "a lot of waffle and not a lot of point to the issues being raised". There had "obviously" been extensive consultation, she said.
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