Gang of four in nighttime breakout

The City of Perth’s warm, fuzzy encouragement to ratepayers to attend more meetings has yet to filter down to their new car park.

Grumbling sounds arose from the bowels of the refurb’d City HQ’s parking bunker after the most recent meeting.

The noise was sourced to Paul Ritter whose many years as councillor and city planner have failed to sour his interest in matters civil. But civility was definitely off the agenda for Mr Ritter that night.

In a gang of four, which embraced Business News reporter Noel Dyson, Jones Lang Wootton’s leasing man Kevin George and City director of business units Doug Forster, Mr Ritter found himself shut out of the car park.

All dressed up and nowhere to go (City dinner invitations to visitors were withdrawn at a previous meeting), the four traipsed around the building until eventually discovering a man with a magic key.

A City motion at its previous gathering – that car park hours be extended past 7pm for normal meetings and special occasions – has now been picked up by efficient staff.

We officially declare Council House’s (second) honeymoon period over.