Dr. Kai Masser
Local Citizen Panels (CP) – A Means to
Broad and Sustainable Citizen Participation
Current Applications
– Citizens based budgeting
– Promoting “sound” regional (economic) development
Web: http://www.foev-speyer.de/buergerpanel
The „Speyer CP Model“
A Dialogue Oriented Citizen‘s
Participation Measure
Four Inevitable Principles
• Representativeness: Accurate picture of the
population of the city (age, sex, education)
• Openness: Everyone can join in
• Low threshold: Not much time needed and
no specific knowledge or competence; no
further obligations nor duties
• Flexibility: More intensive participation
measures can be added; with support by CP
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
To meet all four requirements
at the same time..
.. a special CP/survey design was needed
The Speyer „CP Model“
• Regular Citizen‘s Surveys (2 or more a year):
– Closed channel: Representative random sample
/ with PINs
– Open channel: The surveys are announced to
the public via every possible way (news papers,
radio, tv, city hompage, flyers etc.pp.). Every
citizen can join in (preferably via www)
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Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
• CP Membership:
– Every participant can register (e-Mail or postal
address) as a CP Member. CP members get
information about the survey results and every
forthcoming survey
– CP members are also invited to other CP
activities, e.g. survey result presentations and
discussions, the development of questionnaires
(for the forthcoming surveys) and
– Other forms of citizen‘s participation
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Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
Opportunity
•
•
•
•
•
Representative (only) “Online-Surveys”
Based on the CP-Members and
An adequate weighting of cases
“Volunteers” are still welcome
But the “system” has to be calibrated, that
is
• After three or four years a new
representative sample is necessary
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
• Feedback:
– Not only the CP members are informed about the
survey results, but also the broader public via the
(local) press
– All responsible official bodies (councils, offices
and boards) should take note of the survey
results and discuss them. The public should be
informed about the outcome of these discussions
– If possible or necessary, officials should discuss
the results and subsequent measures with
citizens
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Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
Citizens and the government.
changing pictures
Three pictures from germany
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
1968!
Young men attacing an armoured
police vehicle (water-canon)
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
2010!
(Military like) Police, with help
of an armoured police vehicle
(water-canon), is attacing
scool-girls and elderly people
There is a problem to carry out
infrastructure projects on all
levels of government.
e.g. Speyer: The extension of the
„very“ regional airport
Another „funny“ story:
The „Boss-Company” (Clothing)
wants to build a new logistic
centre near Stuttgart
The Problem:
• Large, ugly building
• Lot of traffic (Trucks)
• Very few employees (not much
(new) jobs)
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
Two cities where in competition
• Metzingen:
– Citizens initiative
against the project
– Major promoted the
project
– A public petition came
to a
– Citizens decision!
– The project was
refused
– The Major dismissed!
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
• Nürtingen:
– Citizens initiative against
the project
– Major promoted the
project
– Public petition with an
Citizens decision in sight
– The global economic
crisis came:
– The Boss-Company was
not interested any more
– The Major is still in
charge!
However
It is important to involve citizens
A new approach, not only in
Metzingen
Metzingen / Economic Region
(Municipality and neighbour districts)
• How to use the area (planned for the
“Boss” plant) now?
• It’s the only possible area in the region to
build up new trade or industry plants..
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
CP interrogating enterprises &
citizens synchronized
• Enterprises:
– Does your company
wants to expand?
– Do you need more/
new surface area?
– Which use?
– What effects: volume
of traffic (trucks),
emissions etc.?
– Can we help you?
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
• Citizens:
• Positive Effects:
– Jobs
– Economic strengthening of the region
(income, diversity etc.)
• Negative Effects
– More traffic, Noise
– Pollution (Ecology)
– etc.
Tuttlingen / Region
(Municipality and neighbour districts)
• Development of public (regional) transport
• Not only by involving the “usual suspects”,
e.g. companies, administrations, parties,
unions and other interest (“pressure”)
groups but also
• The Citizens (representatively)
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
Twofold concept
1. Representative
Citizens Survey
about
•
•
•
•
Opinions
Satisfaction
Wishes
&
The willingness to
enrol in further
activities
Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels
2. (Further)
participative
activities
• “Face to Face”
Meetings
(“Workshops /
Conferences”) which
• Help to develop a
new strategy for
public transport in
the region
Thank you for your attention!