Council is going to tender from its pre-qualified preferred tenderers to build the Indoor Sports and Exhibition Centre (ISEC) adjacent to Baypark Stadium.

We're five months behind the eight ball now as we waited for the last political stumbling block to be cleared up.
Speedway promoter Willie Kay held exclusive rights for 20 speedway nights over the entire site and there were political concerns that these rights could affect operation of the ISEC on those nights. Mr Kay has now cleared the way, which he didn't have to do, and the project will now proceed subject to acceptable tender. Mr and Mrs Kay took the time to attend the council meeting – a nice gesture especially as they had to sit through a plethora of business before we got to the ISEC item. Rick Curach tried an amendment, once again seeking a last minute entry into the tender process for cost savings. His intent was for design and build. Mayor Stuart Crosby pointed out that if council significantly altered its proposal it would affect the TECT grant of around $8 million. Rick, caught out beautifully, asked where it said that.
'Page 59, items four and five” responded Stuart, referring to the TECT letter of confirmation included in the agenda. Rick apparently hadn't done his homework and read his agenda thoroughly. We all understand Rick's sentiment to save money. This ISEC is not a warehouse; it's a somewhat specialised building as evidenced by the lengthy consultation process council went through to ascertain all potential users' needs. It was then designed to cater to those needs and received a sign off from those users, so we've got it right as we start and won't get into expensive extras as we go.
What is trying to be achieved is best value – not cheapest – price for a fit-for-purpose building. It is huge and any alterations once it's started would be costly. Council sometimes in the past has gone for cheapest and every time it's been short term gain for long term pain. What council is looking for here is to do it once and do it right. Rick's amendment failed 9-2 and then the resolution to proceed succeeded 8-3 with Rick only voting against because the process won't deliver value in his view. Hayden Evans and Catherine Stewart voted against but didn't speak to outline the reasons why.

Council ‘argy bargy'
Beachfront Mount Café owners wanted the Norfolk Pines thinned to allow more sunlight through so their patrons wouldn't get too cold in winter. The city arborist confirmed that in summer they were valuable for their shade and you can't have it both ways. Council kicked that one for touch but allowed removal of Melia trees in Florida Key which residents said created health and safety issues. Costs will be shared 50/50 with residents and trees will be replaced with magnolias. There is a ‘petition mentality' coming through. If you have a tree issue talk to staff first, then an elected member(s), then a petition if all else fails. Mayor Stuart Crosby noted later in the meeting that once again council spent three seconds approving a borrowing programme of $132,206,110 and 45 minutes on trees. Mike Baker had a last ditch attempt to review council's decision to cull four pohutukawa trees at Te Ngaio Ave, Mount Maunganui but failed. It needed nine out of 11 votes to overturn a previous council decision. He got about half that, so every second pohutukawa is for the chop. Sad that there was no review, compromise or further discussion and I don't think you've heard the last of this from all accounts.

Drinking on The Strand
Strand drinking bylaws have been altered but we tossed out the no standing while drinking outside proposal. The Strand reclamation car parks will be closed at 10.30pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday from October 1. This will remove a convenient meeting place for trouble makers. Pedestrian access along The Strand will move to a three metre or so walkway adjacent to the road. Then bars and restaurants will have control over their respective areas and trouble makers won't have access through the outside dining/drinking areas. We are not trying to punish law abiding people because of the actions of an unruly minority.

TCAL director
There was an unfortunate attack on common sense from some elected members on a proposal to appoint deputy mayor David Stewart to the board of Tauranga City Aquatics Limited. As David had left the chamber for the debate it meant that with only 10 votes Mayor Stuart Crosby had to use his casting vote to secure the appointment; an ugly and unnecessary moment in my view. Had the opposition been made known earlier – that's one reason the agenda comes out five days before, then issues could have been worked through thus avoiding the situation.
During the 10 year plan I suggested that it is a sensible idea to have an elected member on the board of each Council Controlled Organisation. No one spoke against it then. From my experience on these kinds of operations, elected member input is positive as it provides insight for external directors on the peculiarities of its local government shareholder. Just two differences between a normal commercial company and a CCO for example are that the press sit in on council meetings where CCO business is sometimes discussed; whereas a commercial company conducts its board of directors meeting is private. Audit NZ has different accounting requirements. CCO's operate well and the addition of David to the board of TCAL costs nothing. There was no indication of any opposition in the run-up to the council meeting and opposition from Pick 6 councillors Catherine Stewart, Hayden Evans, Rick Curach, Murray Guy and Ward Councillor Bill Grainger had all the hallmarks of a political ambush. Some said it was nothing personal against David. Others said they were concerned about undue political input plus other hard to fathom reasons. Mayor Stuart Crosby was recently appointed unanimously to the Board of Tauranga City Venues Ltd, which runs Baypark.