At full Council we were told that the Regional Council, Environment Bay of Plenty ratepayer-funded new bus service will be called City Ride.

This was because EBOP didn't own the Hopper brand – it is the property of outgoing contractor Bayline. Elected members expressed disappointment at the demise of the unique Tauranga brand.
What we weren't told (and perhaps our staff didn't know) was that EBOP was offered the Hopper brand but rejected the offer. That's a pity – the yellow Hopper buses are a uniquely Tauranga feature and let's hope the new contractor steps into the shoes of the current provider with the same friendly, courteous and flexible service. Sometime in all the spin that goes on these days, we, the public just don't get told the whole story – just those bits that suit. For example, I was told in June last year that Helen Clark had the UN job and would be resigning her parliamentary seat just after the election. But look how it's being portrayed now. Tax relief is another big item in the news but little about ACC fee increases which will well and truly eclipse those tax concessions in most cases.

Playing traffic games
Back to Council! Traffic lights will be installed at the intersection of Oceanbeach Rd and Golf Rd, Mount Maunganui. Having stopped traffic flow on parts of Cameron Rd with traffic lights everywhere, it's now time to start on the Mount?
I received an absolute assurance from the roading manager that traffic lights would NOT be needed at Surf Rd intersection just down the road to allow beach traffic onto Oceanbeach Rd.
He said access from here would be achieved with painted yellow hatch lines on the intersection. Good luck, if Chapel St/Marsh St intersection is an example. A feature of the yellow hatch lines there is for right turning traffic going towards the Mount off Chapel St to play noughts and crosses with the oncoming traffic. It's difficult to use the intersection after one or two of these cars, having
run the red light, are forced to park up in the centre of the intersection on the yellow hatch lines because there's nowhere to go.

Bus charades
An interesting discussion on the proposed Downtown Transportation Centre.
That's a bus station to you and me. Consultants have narrowed it down to two site options: Willow St outside the Council or Durham St up by the Bay Times. Costing $27,000 so far for two consultants' reports, we're now in for another one.
Elected members were resistant to this but Mayor Stuart Crosby changed most of our minds by reminding us this charade was necessary to unlock the 53% subsidy from Central Government. By spending another $20,000 we are eligible for a $450,500 subsidy to build facility costing an estimated $850,000.

Twice the rates
If we're to have a public transport system and, we were told, there will be one bus movement at the bus station each minute during the day, then it needs to be well organised and co-ordinated.
Ratepayers will pay twice – once through your City Council rates for the bus centre and again through your regional council (EBOP) via a targeted rate (the rate increase you have when you're not having a rate increase!) on your property to pay for the bus subsidy.

Complicated wards mess
There has been a change to the previous discussion on Council representation for the next election due October 10, 2010. On a straw poll majority of eight we are suggesting a Council all elected at large. Most of us felt we are past the social engineering experiment of wards, mixed wards etc and the whole mess is too complicated, especially on the voting forms.

Independent bunch
Unsurprisingly Wayne Moultrie hung out for a ward for the coastal strip of Mount and Papamoa. Wayne is a past mayor of the independent principality that was the borough of Mount Maunganui in pre-amalgamation days, before 1989. They really were an independent bunch in those days too and good on them. Murray Guy wanted to retain the present mix of three wards plus at-large councillors, but with the introduction of a fourth ward for Maori representation. His was the only voice in support.

Broke and aged
An interesting report with census information accompanied this item, confirming that Tauranga has a much higher average of residents over 60, higher median age, and lower incomes than the NZ average. Average household income is $38,034 (2006 census) with average median income per resident of $16,900. 'This income is regardless of employment status, so includes beneficiaries, which form a relatively high proportion of Tauranga's residents.” That's a direct quote from the report. It goes on to say that the overall pattern is a reflection that Tauranga has a larger proportion of retirees than the national average and is home to few company head offices or large Government departments. If that's so, then how do those people who say that Council's rates are too low propose we fund Council's insatiable appetite for money?

Precariously strained
Mayor Stuart Crosby mentioned to us that one of the options floated at the time Council advised everyone the proposed 10 year plan was unsustainable (we are one of about six high growth councils with similar funding dilemmas – it's just we're first out of the blocks) from Year 4 onwards was for the Government to sack the democratically elected Mayor and Council and install a commissioner. They did this up at Rodney a while back when that Council became dysfunctional due to personality conflicts. We don't have that problem.
A commissioner of course could easily fix Tauranga's future financial problems but create some new ones. Like by putting rates up enough to finance the 10 year plan there would be no ratepayer input or restraint (that's what we do) and many income restricted people, as outlined in the census report, would be left in an even more precarious financially-strained situation.
The solution is in your hands via the democratic process of budgets, plans, submissions and elections. Please get your submissions in.

Good news for ratepayers
Thanks to those who have contacted me to let me know your views.
Very interesting how you have such a good handle on the situation. You must all read The Weekend Sun.
Good news for Environment Bay of Plenty ratepayers – they are actually getting a 2.4 per cent general rate decrease this year. Last week's Faulkner's Corner incorrectly stated EBOP was increasing rates by 2.4% this year. However there will be a 3.4 per cent rise the following year and an increase of 2.4 per cent in 2011/12.