Listen, then act.

Barry from Papamoa Beach

Having said that they will listen to the community and that they are not in office to rubber stamp staff recommendations, the commissioners showed that they mean what they say when they turned down the staff recommendation that would have seen hundreds of carparks removed from the Pilot Bay and Marine Parade precincts. The reason they gave for that decision was that it didn't have community support.They then went on to give recognition to a community proposal for a shared boardwalk by putting it forward for a feasibility study in the Long Term Plan.
Many will support those decisions and others will oppose them. But, putting that debate aside, the point to be noted is that the commissioners didn't merely pay lip service to the community's concerns and wishes, they listened, weighed them up then did something about acting on them. In the past, the majority of our elected councillors have not done that: they have simply pretended to listen and then danced to the tune played by the CEO and staff. The majority who tried to do their best for the community were often derided and, in some cases, abused by the mayor and some fellow councillors.
In her briefing to the commissioners Minister Mahuta instructed them to "determine a mechanism for engaging with the community." What better mechanism could there be than COMMUNITY BOARDS. Residents need to have a greater measure of power put into their hands. If that's the way you feel, tell the commissioners when the review comes out in May or June that you want community boards for Tauranga. You can also make a pre-emptive strike by contacting the commissioners right now and telling them your wishes.