Fostering a city that is pleasant or suitable for its citizens was another.
And one of the more dominant themes was the need to get infrastructure into sound shape and to maintain it.
How to balance such priorities, while keeping a wary eye on increasing debt, was the task facing the Dunedin City Council yesterday and discussion will continue today.
The results from this week’s meeting will end up being put before the public for consultation.
Rates rises of almost 10% have been indicated for each of the first three years in the 2025-34 draft long-term plan.
A nine-year capital spending programme worth about $1.85billion has been put forward in draft budgets.
Debt is projected to exceed $1b by the middle of 2034.
Water rates are headed for significant increases.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said the draft programme was focused on the city’s core needs.
He encouraged councillors to make trade-offs — if they looked to add in funding, they should also look to take some out.
Councillors were mindful of cost pressures, while also being saddened good projects would miss out on funding.
Cr Steve Walker had a list of activities or projects under threat.
It included a community housing project, adding toilets, art in public places and the Dunedin Tunnels Trail.
Cycling infrastructure was getting left behind in the draft plan, he said.
Cr Carmen Houlahan said a call to remove a $17.1 million planned spend on theatre space from draft budgets had been received by people involved in performing arts as "a kick in the guts".
"A hit like this is crushing," she said.
Cr Andrew Whiley said the council had failed in the past to put enough investment into infrastructure.
Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said previous decision-making had consequences, and this included the council’s call to retain Aurora Energy last year instead of selling it.
A deficit has been indicated for next year and a question from Cr Lee Vandervis established the signalled rates rise would be 13.9% if a balanced budget was produced instead.
