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Interface between city and neighbourhoods

Participation procedure for the review of the interface between city and districts

The quarters of the city of Zurich

In 2019, the city administration reviewed its interface to the districts and looked for opportunities for improvement in a transparent participation process together with the district associations and other neighbourhood organisations. The possibilities of e-participation were also used in the process.  An interpretative order was drawn up and principles and proposals were developed for a contemporary interface that does justice to the growing and changing city of Zurich and the diversity of Zurich's population. The procedure and the results of the review process are documented in a final report

History

9 September 2021: Call for tenders for the pilot operation of a hub in Altstetten

In the public participation procedures on the interface between city and neighbourhoods and the ageing strategy , various stakeholder groups from the districts and representatives of the population repeatedly expressed the desire for a place in the district where they can obtain local information and advice on the diverse offers of the city administration and private organisations. In addition, they would like to be able to exchange ideas and network with other residents and organisations of the district on site. This is the counterpoint to the fact that services, meeting places and facilities in the districts are constantly being dismantled.

In a pilot project, the City of Zurich wants to develop and test a model for advice, networking and information points in the districts from mid-2022 to the end of 2025. The operation of such a "hub" in Altstetten is now being put out to public tender. Interested organisations can submit their bids until 29 November 2021 (information on the call for proposals). 

Press release of 9 September 2021

8 July 2021: "City idea" – a participatory budget for Zurich

"Participatory budgeting" was brought into play in the participation process for the city-district interface as a possible approach for supporting projects in the districts. Following the pilot project "Quartieridee" in Wipkingen, the process is now being tried out city-wide with the "City Idea". Ideas related to the topics of climate and environment as well as children and young people are sought. Urban Development Zurich is carrying out the pilot project as part of the City Council's Smart City Strategy and the strategy focus "Testing Smart Participation". The project is financed by ZKB's extraordinary anniversary dividend. The findings of the project are intended to provide the city with a basis for whether the participatory budget is a suitable instrument to strengthen the participation of the population. 

Press release of 8 July 2021

7 July 2021: Pilot test - Hubs for Zurich districts

From mid-2022, two new so-called hubs for the Altstetten districts and districts 4 and 5 will be launched as part of a pilot test. They link and supplement existing offers in the districts, offer orientation and are places of encounter for the population. The city council has approved CHF 1.9 million for the implementation and evaluation of the pilot project.

Press release of 7 July 2021

29 June 2021: Digital Platform Quarters - Test operation is set up

One proposal for optimising the city-neighbourhood interface was the "Digital Platform For Neighbourhoods" – to bundle and make it more visible area-specific information and offers as well as to promote local networking. After a phase of clarifying needs, a test operation with interested neighbourhood organisations will be set up as part of the city council's strategy focus "Testing Smart Participation". The preparatory work is ongoing. 

15 February 2021: "Quartieridee" - Test run on participatory budget completed

Almost 100 proposals for the design, use or modification of the Wipkingen district were received on the quartieridee.ch platform between 18 September and 24 October 2020. Eight projects are now being supported with the district budget. The project promoters draw a positive interim balance on the new instrument. With the "Quartieridee" project, the associations Nextzürich and Urban Equipe have tested a participatory budget at district level in cooperation with urban development. 

Press release of 15 February 2021

21 September 2020: "Quartieridee" tests a participatory budget in Wipkingen

With the "Quartieridee" project , the associations Nextzürich and Urban Equipe in Wipkingen are testing a participatory budget at district level. Residents of the district as well as visitors are invited to enter ideas for the design and use of their quarter on a digital platform. Zurich Urban Development is accompanying and supporting the pilot project as part of the City Council's Smart City Strategy and the strategy focus "Testing Smart Participation". The findings gained in the project are intended to provide the city with a basis for assessing whether the participatory budget is a suitable instrument for strengthening the participation of the neighbourhood population. 

Press release of 21 September 2020

27 August 2020: Neighbourhood networking events as a new task for the neighbourhood associations

The city council is asking the municipal council to support the 25 neighbourhood associations of the city of Zurich and the Zurich neighbourhood conference with CHF 409,200 per year from 2021 to 2024. This includes additional contributions to the implementation of annual networking events with other interested neighbourhood organisations.

In the participation process, further proposals for measures to optimize the interface were developed. Their examination and implementation had to be postponed due to Corona. This applies in particular to the testing of so-called turntables. The need for such locally anchored places of networking, information transfer and encounters that complement the existing offers had clearly been demonstrated in the interface process.

Press release of 27 August 2020

18 March 2020: Sharpening the profile of a possible digital platform Quartiere

On 4 November 2019 and 18 March 2020, two exchange and concretisation meetings with interested parties on the subject of "Digital Platform Quarters" took place. The creation of a digital platform was a central concern of the participation process and is now being pursued as a sub-project within the framework of the city council's strategy focus "Testing Smart Participation" . In order to improve networking and the exchange of information within the districts on the one hand and the exchange of information between the city and the population in the districts on the other, it is to be examined which digital communication channels are to be used for this purpose.  are to be used, extended or built.

15 November 2019: Additional meeting of the Track and Development Group

The Track and Development Group met for an additional meeting on Wednesday, 6 November 2019. It discussed and further specified the topics "hubs" and "annual meetings with the city council" that emerged from the participation procedure. The presentation of the session is available under «Documents and Links ».

19 September 2019: Participation procedure completed

Together with numerous neighbourhood organisations, the city has analysed its interface with the population in the neighbourhoods. The participation procedure has now been completed. The results are summarised in a report. This forms the basis for the following substantive concretization and the political decision-making process.The report is published under "Documents and Links".

Press release of 19 September 2019

8 July 2019: Review conference with 90 participants

The Review Conference took place on 29 June 2019. 90 representatives of various neighbourhood organisations and the city administration took part. Since the first large group conference in January and the e-participation in February, the Spur and Development Group, together with the project team, has developed seven principles for the functioning of the interface between the city and the population in the districts. And she has developed an idea of what a future model for the interface could look like. These results to date were presented at the Review Conference. The participants reviewed the results and checked whether they met the needs expressed in the previous participation process. The photo protocol of the event and the slide presentation are available under "Documents and Links ".

22 May 2019: Fifth meeting of the Track and Development Group

The Track and Development Group met for its fifth meeting on Monday, 20 May 2019. Since the last meeting, two committees have continued to work. You have reported on the status of the work. Afterwards, possible elements of a future model were discussed and further concretized. In addition, the Track and Development Group dealt with the content and course of the second large group conference. The presentation of the session is available under «Documents and Links ».

16 April 2019: Fourth meeting of the Track and Development Group

The Track and Development Group met for its fourth meeting on Thursday, 11 April 2019. The project team informed the participants about the current status of the project. Together, principles for the functioning of the city-district interface and requirements for a future model were discussed and further work was carried out in terms of content. The presentation of the session is available under «Documents and Links».

7 March 2019: E-participation completed

Throughout the month of February, all interested parties were able to comment on the website www.schnittstelle-stadt-quartiere.ch the eight topics identified at the large group conference in January 2019. The website was visited by 2614 visitors during this period. Of these, 208 people have registered, and 68 people have contributed 172 contributions. A first review shows a high quality of content of the contributions. The project team is now working on evaluating the contributions so that the newly submitted assessments can be incorporated into the further project work.

30 January 2019: E-participation at the interface between city and neighbourhoods

The participation procedure for the interface of the city to the population in the districts is entering the next phase: From 1 to 28 February 2019, all interested parties can comment on the results of the first event on 18/19 January online. This enables an expansion of the spectrum of perspectives, assessments and ideas. The e-participation platform www.schnittstelle-stadt-quartiere.ch will be launched on 1 February.

Press release of 30 January 2019

29 January 2019: Third meeting of the Track and Development Group

The Track and Development Group met for its third meeting on Monday, 28 January 2019. She discussed the e-participation platform and the eight topics that were intended for further work. In addition, the practice of municipal financing of district activities was explained in detail. The presentation of the session is available under «Documents and Links ».

22 January 2019: The first large group conference took place at the weekend

On 18/19 January 2019, the first large group conference took place. More than 100 representatives of various neighbourhood organisations and the city administration took part. The conference took place in a good, constructive atmosphere. The eight topics that have been designated for further work can be commented on by all interested parties in the e-participation from 1 to 28 February. The photo protocol of the event, the presentation and the booklet with the steps of the conference are available under "Documents and Links ".

8 January 2019: Second meeting of the Track and Development Group

The Track and Development Group met for its second meeting on Tuesday, 8 January 2019. She discussed the status of the applications as well as the expressions of interest for the Welcome Group Conference on 18/19 January 2019. The list of participants was then submitted to the project management for a final decision. It is posted under "Documents and Links ".

19 November 2018: Invitations to the first large group conference have been sent

Representatives of the 25 neighbourhood associations, 13 organisations similar to neighbourhood associations, 21 other organisations with a neighbourhood and population connection and 14 representatives of the city administration are invited to the large group conference. The complete invitation list is available under Documents and Links .

Additional organisations and groups can contact us via the contact form until 16 December 2018 if they are interested in participating in the large group conference.

Press release of 19 November 2018

7 November 2018: First meeting of the Track and Development Group

The Spur and Development Group, in which the neighbourhood associations, the neighbourhood association-like organisations and the city administration are represented, met for its first meeting on Monday, 5 November 2018 and discussed which organisations should be invited to the first large group conference. The invitation list is submitted to the project supervisor for a final decision.

The meeting documents are available under "Documents and links"  under the heading "Minutes and presentations".

30 October 2018: Members of the Track and Development Group are designated

The neighbourhood associations, the neighbourhood association-like organisations and the city administration have appointed their representatives for the track and development group. The Track and Development Group accompanies the participation process. Their function is to prepare the first large group conference and to further develop the recommendations from the large group conference and from eParticipation so that they can be reviewed for critical comment at the second large group conference.

The list of members is published under "Documents and Links".

21 September 2018: It starts - Project start for the participation procedure

The city administration wants to analyze its interface to the districts and, if necessary, make optimizations. In a transparent participation process, opportunities for improvement are being sought together with the neighbourhood associations and other neighbourhood organisations.

Press release of 21 September 2018

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