The meetings were the result of continued lobbying by the industry, which claimed fees in Dunedin were far higher than in other areas.
At the time, Cr Kate Wilson promised to consult the industry, and the meetings yesterday attracted 12 people in the afternoon and 16 in the evening.
Anger in the industry came through early in the meeting, with some keen to show Cr Wilson and staff price comparisons between Dunedin and other centres for consent fees, with differences of thousands of dollars.
Cr Wilson asked the meeting for constructive criticism, and to let the council know what it was doing right, as well as what it was doing wrong.
G.J. Gardner Otago franchisee Laurie Mains called for a user pays system, and for the council to recognise, through fees, work builders had done before applying for consent.
Some had well-put-together plans that made it easier, and cheaper, for the council to process.
He also said inspectors needed to be more accurate. Consents would be delayed because inspectors would ask for information that was already in the application, and customers would ask why their building was delayed.
Developer Tom Richardson said the council needed to be more customer focused, despite it being a "monopoly" in the area, and suggested a facilitator be appointed to help guide people through the consent process.
Council city environment general manager Tony Avery told the meeting the council had to deal with government accreditation, which resulted in different systems in different areas.
It was not possible just to take systems from areas like Clutha or Central Otago, which several said were far better than Dunedin's, and use them in the city.
He said staff had to report back to the council with a response to the problem in September.
Cr Wilson said she was "thrilled" with the quality, and the constructive nature, of the meeting.
The council would consider the suggestions raised at the meeting.
