Hamilton City Council in session during their 10 year plan meetings. Photo / Tom Rowland
Hamilton's controversial 10-year plan is now in the hands of the public after councillors finalised the consultation document on Tuesday.
City councillors spent much of early December putting together the 10-year plan, which includes a number of changes to the city.
In May, councillors will hear verbal submissions from the public and debate them, and then in June will head back to the table and review the plan.
The final plan will be adopted on June 28. Some of the main issues in the plan:
The largest decision on ratepayers's minds will be the proposed large rates increase.
The council has proposed a 9.5 per cent rates increase for the next two financial years.
The original proposal from the mayor was a 15.5 per cent rates increase but after several additions to the plan the new calculation showed that a 19 per cent rates increase would be needed to balance the books.
The projects such as the central city park are examples of items that could push or lower rates.
As it stands a regional fuel tax will not be coming to council which councillors had hoped would ease the burden on ratepayers.
Hamilton has been in a 10-year transition to change to capital value, however during the 10-year plan meetings the council voted on making an immediate change to CV.
Under capital value rates are calculated on the value of the land and what is built on the land rather than just the land itself.
Along with the CV change the council also voted to add a a Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) of $500 per property.
The UAGC is a flat fee to reflect base costs which apply to all residents and ratepayers. It would form part of a property's rates bill and would not be additional.
Destination Playgrounds, after initially being cut from the mayor's proposal, were added back into the council's 10 year plan after an amendment from Rob Pascoe.
The amendment was that a further two Destination Playgrounds would be built in Hillcrest and Glenview while Garden Place also has the potential to have a Destination Playground.
In December $18 million was approved for a community hub to be built in Rototuna which would include a library, while council would also look to a private partner to build and operate a pool in the hub.
A car park will also be included but the mayor signalled during the December meetings that he would like the CBD two-hour free parking scheme to be implemented there as well.
The council voted $25 million to go towards the theatre, however it also wanted $5 million more to come the regional ratepayers in the Waikato. The move concerned to councillor James Casson who said that Hamilton ratepayers would take a double hit in this move. The proposed regional theatre will be built on the old Hamilton hotel site yet questions remain over the future of Founders Theatre's site.
One of the most controversial decisions in the plan is the council's proposal to buy and demolish a block of buildings on Victoria Street to open the city up to the river. The proposed budget was set at $12 million after an amendment by councillor Geoff Taylor.
Council voted to put $3.95 million in capital expenditure toward the redevelopment which includes a Destination Playground, and $44,500 a year for operating costs.
A $10 entry fee to the Hamilton Gardens was added to the council's proposed 10 year plan after Mayor Andrew King used his casting vote to go in favour of the entry fee after a hung vote.
The $10 entry fee will be only for the special themed gardens. The entry fee has had opposition from councillor Geoff Taylor.
HOW TO MAKE A SUBMISSION
Consultation opens on Thursday March 29 and concludes on April 30.
Verbal submissions will be heard in mid-May and the council will consider submissions and develop a final plan before the end of June.
Ratepayers will receive a letter from next week detailing the proposed rating effects of the plan, with submission documents and supporting information available from Thursday through the council's website, city libraries or the council's reception.
An advertising and promotional campaign to raise awareness of how to make submission starts this week and submission information is also available in audio, Te Reo and NZ Sign Language on the council's website.
“Seventy hours a week on the chipliner. If you enjoy it, it’s not work.”