The future of Mount Maunganui's Phoenix carpark will be the subject of discussion at today's Tauranga City Council meeting.

The previous council was offered an alternative to the joint venture proposal to build more shops at the downtown Mount Maunganui site, with the suggestion of an urban park in August this year.

Pheonix car park in Mount Maunganui.

Originally envisaged as a way of repaying some of the council debt, the shopping hub redevelopment option is now considered unprofitable, giving the urban park option more weight.

The staff recommendation is to seek community engagement, put up a display of options and seek public feedback during the summer.

Another contentious issue seeking council resolution today is achieving the proper cyclist/pedestrian mix on the footpath along Harbour Drive in Bureta.

Councillors are today asked to receive the second petition on the issue, this one from the cycling public, who claim the roadway along Harbour Drive is too dangerous for cyclists.

They claim motorists drive along at excessive speed, and the road is so unsafe they would rather take their chances with the pedestrians on the footpath.

The previous petition from the pedestrians resulted in cyclists being banned from the footpath.

Both the opposing petitions are being presented by Harbour Drive residents.

Councillors are also to make the call today on the Local Alcohol Policy, a document debated and prepared by the previous city and Western BOP District councils.

Failure to support it at this stage will mean the Western BOP authorities will miss the December 18 deadline for ratifying the Local Alcohol Policy, and place local liquor sales under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, which doesn't recognise local liquor bans, opening and closing hours and things like one way door policies.

The Tauranga Art Gallery Trust's venture toward financial freedom is also on the agenda.

The trust needs council consent to transfer $500,000 it currently holds in an endowment fund. The money was donated to the trust from the community before 2006 when the Art Gallery Trust became a Council Controlled Organisation.

When the Art Gallery site, the former bank building's conversion was completed, there was some money left over which has since been re-invested as bank deposits and now amount to $570,472.

Future income from the fund raising foundation is seen by the trust as a complement to ratepayer support for the gallery, but will not replace it.

See SunLive for outcomes of today's council meeting.