Palmerston North City Council

 

Minutes of the Council Meeting Part I Public, held in the Council Chamber, First Floor, Civic Administration Building, 32 The Square, Palmerston North on 12 February 2025, commencing at 9.04am

Members

Present:

Grant Smith (The Mayor) (in the Chair) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Apologies:

Councillors Lew Findlay and Lorna Johnson (late arrival).

Councillor Lorna Johnson entered the meeting at 9.21am during consideration of clause 16-25.  She was not present for clauses 15-25 to 17-25 inclusive.

 

Councillor Lew Findlay entered the meeting online at 2.09pm before consideration of clause 19-25.  However due to technical difficulties he did not vote for items 19-25 to 24-25. He was not present for clauses 13-25 to 18-25 and 25-25 to 27-25 inclusive.

 

 

Karakia Timatanga

 

Councillor Debi Marshall -Lobb opened the meeting with karakia.

 

15-25

Apologies

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.   That Council receive the apologies.

 

Clause 15-25 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

 

16-25

Notification of Additional Items

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

That Council consider the report Local Water Done Well – Consultation Document, subject to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

Reason for lateness: Council sought changes to the draft consultation document one working day prior to the publishing of this agenda

Reason for Urgency:  To enable some separation between the Local Water Done Well and Annual Budget consultations.

 

 

Clause 16-25 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

 

 

Presentation - Massey University Foundation

The presentation was withdrawn. It will occur at the April Council meeting.

 

 

17-25

Confirmation of Minutes

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the ordinary Council meeting of 5 February 2025 Part I Public and Part II Confidential be confirmed as a true and correct record.

 

 

Clause 17-25 above was carried 13 votes to 0, with 1 abstention, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Abstained:

Councillor Leonie Hapeta.

 

18-25

Local Water Done Well- Approval of Consultation Document

Memorandum, presented by Julie Keane, Transition Manager, Olivia Wix, Communications Manager, Scott Mancer Manager Finance.

Councillor Lorna Johnson entered the meeting at 9:21am

 

 

Councillor Bowen moved an additional motion requesting a letter outlining the Council’s concerns with Local Water Done Well be sent to the Minister of Local Government. 

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.   That Council adopt for consultation the Local Water Done Well Consultation Document (Attachment 1). 

 

 

Clause 18-25 above was carried 13 votes to 2, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillors Brent Barrett and Karen Naylor.

 

 

Moved Rachel Bowen, seconded Brent Barrett.

RESOLVED

That the Mayor and Chief Executive write to the Minister of Local Government to express the concerns  of Palmerston North City Council with Local Water Done Well.

 

Clause 18-25 above was carried 11 votes to 4, the voting being as follows:

For:

Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Mark Arnott, Leonie Hapeta and William Wood.

 

19-25

Annual Budget (Plan) 2025/26 - Update including draft Consultation Document and Supporting Information

Memorandum, presented by Cameron McKay, General Manager – Corporate Services and Scott Mancer, Manager - Finance.

The meeting adjourned at 10.36am

The meeting resumed at 10.58am

 

Councillor Wood moved two motions: to reduce the professional services budget in the draft Annual Budget; and request a report on the risks and implications of reducing the budget.  The professional services budget was decreased to reduce the rates increase to below 8%.

 

Councillor Barrett moved two motions seeking additional material be added to the consultation document to clarify the proposed rates increase for ratepayers.

 

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.   That the Chief Executive incorporate the following in the draft 2025/26 Annual Budget supporting information for adoption at the Council meeting of 5 March 2025:

a.   Budgetary assumptions that are unchanged from those agreed to at the Council meeting on 11 December 2024, except for

i. the addition of operating expenditure budget of $400K to fund the proposed levy from the water services regulator.

 

 

Clause 19.1-25 above was carried 14 votes to 1, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillor Karen Naylor.

 

 

Moved William Wood, seconded Grant Smith.

RESOLVED

1.   That the Chief Executive incorporate the following in the draft 2025/26 Annual Budget supporting information for adoption at the Council meeting of 5 March 2025:

a.   Budgetary assumptions that are unchanged from those agreed to at the Council meeting on 11 December 2024, except for

ii. reduce the  professional services budget by $1M  for the 2025/26 Financial Year. 

 

 

Clause 19.2-25 above was carried 11 votes to 4, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Leonie Hapeta, Billy Meehan, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Patrick Handcock, Lorna Johnson and Orphée Mickalad.

 

 

 

 

Moved William Wood, seconded Grant Smith.

RESOLVED

3. That the risks & implications of the Professional Services budget reduction  be presented to the Council meeting on  5 March as part of adopting the Draft Annual Budget for consultation.

 

 

Clause19.3-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.   That the Chief Executive incorporate the following in the draft 2025/26 Annual Budget supporting information for adoption at the Council meeting of 5 March 2025:

b.   Financial statements and other supporting information based on the drafts included as Attachment 2, noting that $100,000 has been set aside in each of the financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27 to support the Centrepoint Theatre rebuild, until further confirmation from Centrepoint as to which allocation of support (in-kind, consent costs, grant) would be most appropriate.

 

 

Clause 19.4-25 above was carried 14 votes to 1, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillor Karen Naylor.

 

 

Moved Brent Barrett, seconded Rachel Bowen.

RESOLVED

2a. That the Consultation Document include information on proposed rates as a proportion  of household income.

 

 

 

 

Clause 19.5-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

 

Moved Brent Barrett, seconded Rachel Bowen.

RESOLVED

2b. That the table on Page 14 of the Consultation Document include percentage increase in rates for each of the various categories.

 

 

Clause 19.6-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

2.   That Council note the Consultation Document will be presented for adoption at the Council meeting of 5 March 2025, based on the draft in Attachment 3 (as amended above).

 

 

Clause 19.7-25 above was carried 14 votes to 1, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillor Karen Naylor.

 

 

20-25

Fees and Charges Review

Report, presented by Steve Paterson, Manager Financial Strategy.

Councillor Johnson  moved a motion to increase parking charges by 50 cents per hour, to maintain a policy of incrementally increasing parking fees annually.

 

 

 

 

Moved Lorna Johnson, seconded Grant Smith.

RESOLVED

Parking

That metered parking changes (Appendix 13) are increased by 50 cents per hour to take effect from 1 July 2025.

 

 

Clause 20.1-25 above was carried 11 votes to 4, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Lorna Johnson, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillors Mark Arnott, Vaughan Dennison, Leonie Hapeta and Billy Meehan.

 

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

 

RESOLVED

Trade Waste

2.   That Council agree for consultation the proposal of updated fees and charges for Trade Waste services effective from 1 July 2025 as attached in Appendix 2 (amended with Option A from Table 1 in section 3.4 of this report) and authorise the Chief Executive to undertake the necessary consultative process under sections 82 and 150 of the Local Government Act 2002.

 

 

Clause 20.2-25  above was carried 12 votes to 3, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillors Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen and Karen Naylor.

 

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.    That Council receive the report titled ‘Fees and Charges Review’, presented on 12 February 2025, and note the current status of fees and charges.

 

 

Planning & Miscellaneous

3.   That Council agree for consultation the Statement of Proposal (and the associated summary) of updated fees and charges for Planning Services and Miscellaneous Services effective from 1 July 2025 as attached in Appendix 3, and authorise the Chief Executive to undertake the necessary consultative process under sections 83 and 150 of the Local Government Act 2002.

Building

4.   That Council agree the fees and charges for Building Services, as proposed in Appendix 4 for public notification to take effect from 1 July 2025.

Environmental Health

5.   That Council agree the fees and charges for Environmental Health Services (in terms of regulation 7 of the Health (Registration of Premises) Regulations 1966) as proposed in Appendix 5 for public notification to take effect from 1 July 2025.

Animal Management

6.   That Council agree the fees and charges for the Impounding of Animals (in terms of section 14 of the Impounding Act 1955) and for Dog Registration and Dog Impounding (in terms of sections 37 and 68 of the Dog Control Act 1996) as proposed in Appendix 6 for public notification to take effect from 1 July 2025.

Burial & Cremation

7.   That Council agree the fees and charges for Burial and Cremation, as proposed in Appendix 7 for public notification to take effect from 1 July 2025.

Service Connections

8.   That Council agree the fees and charges for Service Connections, as proposed in Appendix 8 to take effect from 1 July 2025.

Resource Recovery

9.   That Council agree there be no changes to fees and charges for Resource Recovery, as proposed in Appendix 9.

Parks and Reserves  

10. That Council agree the fees and charges for Parks and Reserves as proposed in Appendix 10 to take effect from 1 July 2025.

Backflow Prevention

11. That Council agree the fees and charges for Backflow Prevention testing and maintenance as proposed in Appendix 11 to take effect from 1 July 2025.

Corridor Access Request

12. That Council agree the fees and charges for Corridor Access Requests as proposed in Appendix 12 to take effect from 1 July 2025.

 

Clause 20.3-25 above was carried 13 votes to 2, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillors Mark Arnott and Billy Meehan.

 

The meeting adjourned at 1.04pm

The meeting resumed at  2.09pm

 

Councillor Lew Findlay was present online when the meeting resumed at 2:09pm. However he had technical issues and his vote was not able to be recorded.

 

21-25

Rating System for 2025/26

Memorandum, presented by Steve Paterson, Manager - Financial Strategy.

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded William Wood.

RESOLVED

1.   That the Chief Executive incorporate the following rating system assumptions in the draft of the 2025/26 Annual Budget supporting information and consultation document to be presented for adoption at the Council meeting on 5 March 2025 (subject to any amendment):

i.          continuing the second stage of the implementation of the capital value based targeted rate.

iii.        differentials for the rural/semi-serviced (0.2ha to 5ha) differential category with a surcharge of -40% for the general rate and for the targeted capital value-based rate.

 

 

Clause 21.1-25  above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded William Wood.

RESOLVED

1.   That the Chief Executive incorporate the following rating system assumptions in the draft of the 2025/26 Annual Budget supporting information and consultation document to be presented for adoption at the Council meeting on 5 March 2025 (subject to any amendment):

ii.         a uniform annual general charge of $300.

 

 

Clause 21.2-25  above was carried 8 votes to 7, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Mark Arnott, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Leonie Hapeta, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor and William Wood.

Against:

Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Patrick Handcock, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded William Wood.

RESOLVED

1.   That the Chief Executive incorporate the following rating system assumptions in the draft of the 2025/26 Annual Budget supporting information and consultation document to be presented for adoption at the Council meeting on 5 March 2025 (subject to any amendment):

iv.        differentials for the non-residential differential category with a surcharge of 150% for the general rate and 100% for the targeted capital value-based rate.

 

 

Clause 21.3-25  above was carried 14 votes to 1, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillor Lorna Johnson.

 

22-25

Submission on the Local Government (Water Services) Bill

Memorandum, presented by Mike Monaghan, Group Manager- 3 Waters and Julie Keane, Transition Manager Three Waters.

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.   That Council agree the submission on the Local Government (Water Services) Bill (Attachment 1).

 

Clause 22-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

 

23-25

Submission on Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill

Memorandum, presented by Todd Taiepa, Manager - Māori Advisory.

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.   That Council receive the memorandum titled Submission on Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill.

 

 

Clause 23-25 above was carried 11 votes to 4, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Lorna Johnson, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin.

Against:

Councillors Mark Arnott, Leonie Hapeta, Billy Meehan and William Wood.

 

24-25

Arena Masterplan Steering Group

Memorandum, presented by John Lynch, Manager Venues + Events.

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.   That Council reconvene the Arena Masterplan Steering Group and agree the attached Terms of Reference.

 

 

Clause 24-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

25-25

Order of Candidate Names on Voting Papers 2025

Report, presented by Hannah White, Manager Governance.

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.       That Council agree the following order for arranging the names of candidates on voting documents for Palmerston North City Council, pursuant to Regulation 31 of the Local Electoral Regulations 2001:

(c) random order.

 

 

Clause 25-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

26-25

Appointment to the Heritage Reference Group

Memorandum, presented by Hannah White, Manager- Governance.

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.   That Council appoint Councillor Rachel Bowen as Council’s representative on the Heritage Reference Group until October 2025.

 

 

Clause 26-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

27-25

Council Work Schedule

 

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Debi Marshall-Lobb.

RESOLVED

1.   That Council receive its Work Schedule dated 12 February 2025

 

 

Clause 27-25 above was carried 15 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Debi Marshall-Lobb, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald, Patrick Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin.

 

 

 

Karakia Whakamutunga

 

Councillor Debi Marshall- Lobb closed the meeting with karakia.

 

 

 

The meeting finished at 3.45pm

 

Confirmed 5 March 2025

 

 

Mayor