• Tuesday, 14 May 2013
• 6 – 7pm
• CQ Hotel, Cuba St

The AGM will be held at this meeting.  Further information will be circulated prior to the meeting.   The April 9th meeting is cancelled.

If you would like to join the committee and provide some assistance with developing submissions, building and maintaining the website, organising meetings, etc please put your name forward by sending an email (top right-hand corner of the webpage).

We look forward to seeing you there.

The negatives of alcohol consumption have been discussed frequently at ICA meetings.  There are positives from being able to responsibly enjoy alcohol too.  The challenge is to get the balance right.   The meetings generally have people from both sides of the spectrum – and some in the middle.  It is an opportunity to listen to other people’s views and have input into creating the solution.

For the ICA meeting on Tues, 12 March, 5.30 – 7.30pm, at CQ Hotel there will be small facilitated groups.

ICA members need to engage in this process now to ensure your views are heard as individuals and collectively.  Also see the WCC’s page

See you there.

These aspects were:

• WCC supported local authorities having the ability to set higher standards  primarily for economic resilience and emergency management (after consultation with the community) – ICA strongly opposes this as economic resilience and emergency management is a public good – and should not be funded by private owners.
• Lack of any reference to the ongoing uncertainty that is created by maintaining a link between the 33% and the New Building Standard.

Clr Ian McKinnon proposed an amendment to address our concerns about the ongoing uncertainty that this part of the submission created, but this was defeated by the Chair’s (Andy Foster’s) casting vote.  Clrs Pepperell, Lester, Coughlin, Morrison, Gill and Ritchie support Ian McKinnon’s proposed amendment.

ICA did support much of what the WCC’s submission said – and acknowledges the work Clrs and officials are doing, but ungoing uncertainty for building owners has to be stopped.   We cannot rely on public funds accompanying these proposals despite the best intentions of councillors to link higher standards to provision of public funds.

There will be many more discussions on this topic as the submissions are considered by MBIE and legislative changes proposed.

WCC is organising a public meeting for the the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to provide an overview of its consultation document released in response to the Royal Commission’s vol 4 of the final report in early Dec.

MBIE  is seeking comments on proposals to improve the EQ-prone building system.  Submissions are due by 8 March 2013, and ICA will do a submission.  Members are encouraged to read the consultation document, attend the 5 February meeting and provide feedback to ICA on the recommendations.  The link to the consultation document (and other associated documents) is http://www.dbh.govt.nz/consultingon-epbp.

The MBIE document also recommends the threshold stays at 34% of NBS but is proposing different timeframes to those recommended by the Royal Commission, ie requiring the same timeframe for all buildings for assessment and strengthening work.

Significantly the MBIE consultation document differs from the Royal Commission’s recommendation by not proposing that local authorities have the ability to set different timeframes for strengthening to be completed or to change the threshold (ie go above recommended/proposed 34% of NBS).

Volume 4 of the final report from the Royal Commission of Enquiry into the Canterbury Earthquakes was released in early December.  This is the report that provides direction about critical aspects that affect buildings owners.  Of most significance is that the report does not include a recommendation to increase the current threshold, but there are other significant recommendations, such as providing territorial authorities, such as WCC, having ability to set higher standards after following the special consultative process.  I encourage you to read the summary of the report and the Volume 4.    http://canterbury.royalcommission.govt.nz/Final-Report—Part-Two

The ICA sub-committee will be reviewing both documents.  The regular February meeting for ICA (on 12th) will be used to discuss the recommendations among our members and gather your feedback to inform the submission.   You are welcome to send any comments to the ICA email on the recommendations.

Send any comments through to ICA email address – innercityassociation@gmail.com

This meeting is in response to concerns raised about street drinking, begging and antisocial behaviour in the inner city.  It presents an opportunity for attendees to share your concerns and for WCC, Police and support agencies to outline what can be done and is being done.  It is an opportunity to give your thoughts on solutions to improve the central city.

While invites have been sent to residents/businesses in the Manners St (from Mr Bun to McDonalds), Cuba St and Garrett Street, including Victoria Court Motel, the meeting is open to all inner city residents and businesses.
RSVP to reception@wcc.govt.nz or phone 499-4444

It is also an opportunity to consider helping improve the environment by joining other ICA members to monitor the CCTV cameras at Wellington Central Police Station.  See earlier post.

This work began earlier this year following one of the ICA/BCCG/WCC EQ meetings.  The exhibition presents design visions by 4th year students for Cuba St taking into account heritage values, district plan rules, architectural responses and seismic retrofitting options for Cuba St.  Exhibition runs until 26 Nov, 9am-5pm weekdays; 10am-4pm Sat/Sun.  See attached doc for details of launch.

Details on the launch are available here.  cuba st project evening
RSVPs are required for the launch event – to Marina Welch, 494 8320; email: infocentral@historic.org.nz

If you are interested in the answers to these questions then please attend our next meeting:

Tues 6 November, 5.45 for 6pm – 7.30pm, CQ Hotel, Cuba St

This meeting is jointly provided by the Inner City Association and Body Corporate Chairs’ Group.

We have two confirmed speakers:

Simone Naylor, AON (Insurance brokers)

• Overview of what’s affecting the NZ insurance market and any affect of the international market, eg: what % of premiums is due to perceived increased EQ risk in Wgtn and what % is recovering reserves?  At what point will premiums decrease (reserves recovered)?
• Future direction of insurance policies, eg move to fixed cover/indemnity, how do these work compared to full; what are pros/cons?
• EQ Commission – implications of changes on premiums
• How to work with insurance brokers: eg, what are their responsibilities/obligations in terms of disclosure about their commission/payment structure?
• New products that are coming onto the market (for commercial and residential buildings)

Troy Churton, Building and Housing Group, Ministry of Building, Innovation and Employment

• Legislation requirements for insurance; implications of the current market forces (eg, not being able to get insurance)

Simone and Troy will each speak for 10-15 minutes and will then take questions from the floor.

Neville Brown, Earthquake Resilience Manager at the Wellington City Council will be in attendance to answer any questions related to the Council’s role in this area.

Where to next?

The evening will conclude with discussion on what action the Inner City Association and the Body Corporate Chairs’ Group can take next to highlight owners’ concerns about the current situation to individuals and organisations that have some responsibilities in these areas.

Based on past meetings, we encourage you to arrive early and begin to be seated by 5.45 for a 6pm start.

Note: Despite considerable efforts we have been unable to arrange speakers from any insurance company, the Insurance Council of NZ or a bank to participate in this meeting. However, ASB has agreed to provide a written statement.

Neil Cooper, Chair of the Body Corporate Chairs’ Group, will provide a summary of feedback from a brief bank survey and his discussions with banks he spoke to, in relation to these questions.

A cash bar will be available before the meeting for early arrivers.

Application process

• Complete the attached POLICE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM and post (address on the form) or scan as a pdf and email to Matt Boyce (matthew.boyce@police.govt.nz).
• As volunteers are working in the Police Station they have to be screened (hence the detail on the form and the full application process).  Volunteers will be issued with ID/swipe cards to access the CCTV monitoring area.
• Applicants are advised when the initial check is completed and receive a letter outlining the role and requirements.  A formal application is then required for the District HR team to review prior to the applicant being approved as a volunteer.

Monitoring set-up

• Room is at the Central Police Station, Victoria St.
• Will be room for two volunteers to work at one time.  Training will be provided prior to starting on using the equipment and on what to look for.  Volunteers will monitor a number of screens and will make the decisions on which screens warrant closer attention based on what they see.  Volunteers will be able to adjust the cameras to see what is happening.
• Room is close to the Watch house where a Snr Sergeant is based who will be able to provide advice when needed.  Volunteers will be linked into the wider communication network to be able to report activity and/or focus on particular cameras if necessary and provide information on what is happening in the wider area.
• 20 volunteers are needed to start roster, and aim is to get a team of 30+ volunteers to make the roster load reasonable.  Police trainee applicants (ie, not accepted yet) will be part of the volunteer team, suburban community patrols and senior secondary students will also be approached
• Volunteers will be able to select their rosters (intention is to use a web-based calendar that volunteers can access).  Long-term ideal is to have someone administer the roster.

Roster structure

• Initial focus will be the peak times Friday and Sat (6pm – 5 am) on both nights.  As volunteer numbers increase, it will be extended to Wed (6pm – 1am) as well and possibly Thurs
• Each roster is envisaged to be 3 – 4 hrs (this is based on the roster lengths at other centres where volunteers are used)
• Volunteers interested in monitoring at non-peak times will be able to do so to see if it’s warranted.
• An area is available for volunteers to have a break (tea, coffee, biscuits (chocolate apparently!) – volunteers are not being monitored on how long they’re watching the screens during the shift
• If volunteers are not available for all slots, the cameras will not be monitored unless the Police have resources to do it.

If you have any questions, you can email Matt Boyce (at the email above).  If you have friends, family or colleagues who may be interested, please pass this information on to them.

When:  Tues 9 Oct, 6 – 7pm
Where: CQ Hotel, 213-223 Cuba St (upstairs

As part of the Police’s Prevention First initiative in the CBD, announced in late August, volunteers are sought to be part of the rosters to monitor the CCTV cameras sited at the Wellington Police Station.

Come and hear Sergeant Matt Boyce outline what is involved in being a volunteer – the application process, training, rosters.   Rosters can cover day, early evening, night – so there is likely to be one that suits you!

Safety and security issues have been discussed at previous ICA meetings.  This is an opportunity to help improve safety and security for all residents and businesses.

I encourage you to come along and hear about it and put your name forward.