Although councillors were meant to be considering where to charge for Sunday parking, several took the opportunity to berate the "mean-spirited" proposal at yesterday’s Dunedin City Council meeting.
Cr Steve Walker said the new parking charges were not backed by robust data and rushing the decision through would "come back to bite us".
"I do think this is mean-spirited, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis."
Cr Jim O’Malley said he felt criticism of the proposal was prompted by the looming election.
He had previously chaired the parking committee, which made recommendation to council, and said it was a "political lawn mower you put your hand into all the time".
"No matter what decisions you make, you will find people around here who will decide that they can get — what I would call at the moment, this close to the proximity of the election — points on this."
Councillors voted 11-4 to approve the area and hours of enforcement for Sunday charges, which would apply 9am-6pm and include most of the Octagon, Moray Pl, Filleul St, part of London St and Great King St and end at Frederick St, while free, time-limited parking would remain in George St and Princes St.
Cr Cherry Lucas chaired the parking committee which recommended council adopt the enforcement zone and hours and said she was "incredulous" to see councillors debate the matter again.
"It's not about whether we're going to put Sunday pay parking in or not," Cr Lucas said.
"We've already agreed we will."
Councillors approved central city parking fees on Sundays as part of the nine-year plan process, in an effort to increase parking turnover.
At yesterday’s meeting, staff said $150,000 in Sunday parking revenue had been included in council budgets.
"This is not a large revenue stream, but we want to keep our rates down."
Cr Marie Laufiso said she disagreed opposition was election-related; the decision related to the council’s values, she said.
Cr Carmen Houlahan said the charges would deter people from going into the central city on Sundays and Cr Christine Garey said she could not support the plan as the costs of enforcing the parking changes were not known.
Cr Mandy Mayhem also sat on the parking hearing panel and said the written submissions on Sunday parking included some of the most blunt, rude and insulting comments she had seen.
Cr Brent Weatherall, who owns a George St store, said the changes would benefit retailers and discourage all-day parking by retail workers on Sundays.
"If we did have five-days-a-week trading, I'd be more than happy to have free parking on the weekends," he said.
Paid Sunday parking signs and markings would be scheduled for installation "at the appropriate time" for the implementation, a report to councillors said. The changes will be reviewed next year.
The vote
On paid Sunday parking in Dunedin’s central city.—
For (11): Crs Bill Acklin, Sophie Barker, David Benson-Pope, Kevin Gilbert, Cherry Lucas, Mandy Mayhem, Jim O’Malley, Lee Vandervis, Brent Weatherall, Andrew Whiley, Mayor Jules Radich.
Against (4): Crs Carmen Houlahan, Marie Laufiso, Steve Walker, Christine Garey.
