Matt Cowley Tauranga City Councillor

No, I'm not talking about the end-of-year festive season. This week's council meeting shows the city is already warming up for an exciting election season in September-October 2016.

After a heated debate and a split vote, we agreed on Monday to ask the community for feedback on how Tauranga City Council should treat election signs in public spaces under the local elections policy.

I hope this election focuses more on candidates' ideas and policies, and less about election signs. But in the face of extremely low voter turnout, election signs remind people there is an election happening.

In short, the city's public spaces bylaw requires everyone putting a sign on council-owned land to ask permission from the council first. The draft local elections policy shows where you can put election signs without needing to ask for permission.

I hope the new approach makes it fairer for both new and reigning candidates as the whole election sign issues is a lot like musical chairs at a loud children's birthday party.

Strong messages were sent to the previous council in 2013 that elections signs should not create a public nuisance. For instance, election signs shouldn't make areas look ghastly, signs should be well maintained, and signs shouldn't become hazards.

It's simple – keep your signs in the designated areas, and look after them, and you'll be fine!

I like the draft policy because it's a good balance between keeping it simple and not allowing the city to be littered with signs. But I look forward to your feedback.

Check out council's website for more details and to have your say at www.tauranga.govt.nz

Feel free to email me your thoughts (matt.cowley@tauranga.govt.nz), call/text me on 0276989548, and follow me at www.facebook.com/a.younger.voice.