CLIENT:
Partner:
EMMA Experts in Media en Maatschappij
Question:
Can you organize and facilitate a citizens’ council for the municipality of Maastricht, in the framework of the actualization of the environmental vision (‘omgevingsvisie’)?
Process:
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A careful deliberative process consisting of seven interactive sessions with room for diverse perspectives and ideas.
Results:
- 100 elected residents who together represent a good reflection of the Maastricht population
- 15 well though-out and carefully worded recommendations to the city as input for the environment vision 2040
- Much enthusiasm among the participants who advocate giving citizens’ council a structural place in the connection between citizens and local politics in the future.
“How do we arrange the city so that everyone feels good?”
That was the question posed to Maastricht residents for the first citizens’ council in the southernmost city in the Netherlands.
A broad question that invites citizens to help think about the future of their immediate living environment. About how the city can be designed so that it is safe and healthy for everyone. About creating sufficient space where residents can meet. And about how the city can be made more beautiful and sustainable. The recommendations of the citizens’ council contribute to the updating of Maastricht’s environment vision for 2040.
Exploring, researching, deliberating, enriching and voting
In seven meetings, the participants explored, researched and debated a variety of themes in constantly changing groups. Among other things, they discussed encounters as a basis for social health and pleasant living together. The role of green spaces for recreation and exercise was discussed. Housing facilities and what is needed to feel safe in the city were also discussed at length.
City officials and external experts joined in to further explain a number of themes. Halfway through the council – in session four – the participants tested their ideals against practice during site visits in the city. On this basis, they formulated the first draft recommendations.
The dialogue facilitators challenged the citizens’ council through a variety of working methods to sharpen and enrich the recommendations with each other. During the final session, they put 16 recommendations to a vote, 15 of which were adopted and offered to the city.
A team of discussion facilitators from EMMA and Perspectivity guided the Citizens’ Council.
Reflection of the city
Thanks to a thorough lottery process beforehand, the citizens’ council was a balanced reflection of the city. Not the ‘usual suspects’ you see in many participation processes, but residents of all ages, educational levels and from all neighborhoods and cultures.
“Even people who might not normally be at the forefront of participation processes have now been given a voice.”
In the final report, the members of the council state: “With this fair reflection of the inhabitants of Maastricht, there is a significant power of expression. Therefore, in our opinion, the recommendations have more weight than those of lobbies or individual and commercial interests at the local level, participation groups or neighborhood frameworks. It also gives a voice to people who might not normally be at the forefront of public participation processes.”
The recommendations were presented to the city council on Jan. 30, 2024.
Deep Democracy
Perspectivity and EMMA were both invited to submit a proposal to the municipality for facilitating this citizens’ council. By joining forces, we brought both logistical expertise as well as extensive experience with dialogue and deliberation.
To increase the quality of dialogue and recommendations, Perspectivity chose to incorporate Deep Democracy principles and practices into the design of the meetings. This created space for diverse perspectives and enriched draft recommendations with the voice of the minority.
More information?
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Read more at Thuis in Maastricht (Dutch)
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Download the Eindrapport Burgerberaad Maastricht (Dutch)
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Contact Petra de Boer