A FORMER Labor party member who plans to run in the next local government election says council should provide more car parks and make it more affordable to operate a business in the Cleveland CBD.
Callen Sorensen Karklis has started a petition calling on council to develop a strategy with businesses, upgrade car parks and resolve a lack of consultation over realty prices in the Cleveland CBD.
The petition wording has been slammed as outrageous by Cr Peter Mitchell, who says that Mr Sorensen Karklis is out of touch.
Mr Sorensen Karklis has also been refused permission to speak at council.
A council spokesperson said that councillors had agreed during the federal election campaign that it was not appropriate for candidates to use public participation time at meetings because they might use it to campaign.
"This extends to all other levels of government elections, including council and includes current sitting councillors," the spokesperson said.
Cr Mitchell said public participation was not a play thing for candidates to use.
"I do not support public participation being used as a soapbox by candidates," he said.
Mr Sorensen Karklis said it was common for candidates and the public to address council.
"Democracy is being undervalued in this instance as the community needs to be heard," he said.
Mr Sorensen Karklis' petition said council should come up with a strategy that went beyond the Cleveland CBD incentives package.
However, a council spokesperson said that package, which started in 2013, had expired on December 15, 2017.
Mr Sorensen Karklis said council should upgrade Cleveland CBD parking, improving the Cleveland shopping centre car park and "resolve the lack of consultation process in regards to high realty prices in the CBD on a local level".
A council spokesperson said studies of the Cleveland CBD had found there was enough car parking for current demand.
Cr Mitchell said council had nothing to do with privately owned car parks, real estate prices or rents.
"He (Mr Sorensen Karklis) is doing a disservice to the community to suggest that council controls that," Cr Mitchell said.
Cr Mitchell said Mr Sorensen Karklis would benefit from compulsory candidate training, as proposed by the state government, so that he understood what council could do.
A paper petition by Mr Sorensen Karklis, submitted to council had been signed by 173 people, while an online petition at charge.org had 100 signatures.
"People feel there's a lack of consultation with the business end of town," he said. "Business people and customers were concerned that Cleveland was becoming a ghost town."
Mr Sorensen Karklis said consideration needed to be given towards lowering rents and providing a multi-level car space, green space for young families and teenagers and disability access.