Minutes of the citizens' meeting of the entire city on November 22, 2023

Lord Mayor Dr. Florian Janik welcomes the citizens present to the citizens' assembly of the entire city and then refers to the general, usual rules.
The Lord Mayor also welcomes the members of the City Council and the employees of the city administration, introduces those present on the podium and explains their respective areas of responsibility.
Furthermore, Lord Mayor Dr. Florian Janik reports that, according to the provisions of the municipal code (Art. 18 GO), the recommendations and concerns of the citizens must be dealt with within three months by the City Council, the committee or, in the case of ongoing matters, by the administration, depending on the responsibility.
At 8:06 pm, he gives the floor to the citizens for their concerns and requests.

1. playground boards

It is suggested that playground signs be installed for non-speaking children / people with little knowledge of German. Suggestion: https://eu.autismusverlag.ch/unterstuetzte-kommunikation/spielplatztafel/spielplatztafel.html

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
The Office for District Work, Play and Leisure Areas Department, is already looking into this issue. The proposal will be examined by the administration.

2. children's and youth city library

Citizens want a larger children's and youth library in Erlangen's city center.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
A branch of the city library will open in the west of the city of Erlangen in 2025. Until then, no additional rooms will be created in the city center. In addition, alternative premises in the city library are currently being examined.

3. elementary school childcare

It is suggested that an (emergency) childcare facility be created for children who have not been offered a place.

Referent for Youth, Family and Social Affairs, Mr. Rosner:
In principle, the problem should primarily be solved at the school itself. Emergency care in the form of a "jumper pool" cannot be planned and cannot be organized city-wide. The city of Erlangen is constantly promoting the offer of all-day school, the expansion of after-school care places and further helpers in the form of voluntary support (e.g. parents).

4. social pedagogues at elementary school

Every elementary school urgently needs at least one social education worker.

Officer for Youth, Family and Social Affairs, Mr. Rosner:
Based on a needs assessment in 2020, the committee decided in 2022 to successively create a certain number of youth social work positions at all Erlangen schools over the next five years.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
The services are co-financed by the Free State of Bavaria. This co-financing is limited within the scope of its possibilities.

MOTION
The City of Erlangen should actively approach the Erlangen schools and check the basis for the survey of requirements and adjust it in the staffing plan.
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

5. need for support in kindergartens

All municipal daycare centers should create at least two places for children with special needs.

Referent for Youth, Family and Social Affairs, Mr. Rosner:
There are approximately 230 integrative places with special needs in the facilities in the city area of Erlangen. These places are registered and created on the basis of the guidelines for integration in daycare facilities.

REQUEST
All municipal kindergartens should have at least two places for children with special needs.
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

6. off-peak times / emergency care in kindergartens

It is requested that care be restored in kindergartens during off-peak hours (before 7:30 a.m.).

Referent for Youth, Family and Social Affairs, Mr. Rosner:
The kindergarten statutes have created more flexibility in kindergartens. In view of the current shortage of skilled workers, efforts are also being made to ensure the best possible care. In addition, funds have been allocated in the budget for the "MammaMia" project to take account of the increasing demand.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
In individual kindergartens (independent providers), extended off-peak hours are offered. A needs assessment is currently underway (family survey). It is promised that if anything else is missing, another survey will be launched.

7. aircraft noise

It is asked whether the flight routes have changed in relation to the city west. Furthermore, it is requested that the issue be raised with the Aircraft Noise Commission.

Officer for the Environment and Climate Protection, Ms. Bock:
The City of Erlangen is not aware of any flight route changes. A promise is made to raise the issue with the aircraft noise protection officer at Nuremberg Airport and to provide feedback.

8. highway noise

Citizens have recently noticed highway noise at Neustädtischer Kirchenplatz, Schlossplatz and Schlossgarten. It is assumed that the whispering asphalt is the cause.

Referent for planning and construction, Mr. Lang:
Autobahn GmbH is responsible for this.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
It is promised that the issue will be brought to the attention of Autobahn GmbH.

9. remaining budget for climate targets

It is noted that it is foreseeable that the City of Erlangen will soon have used up the CO2 budget to which it would be entitled to comply with the Paris Agreement. It is therefore suggested that, for reasons of climate justice, it should immediately stop consuming resources at the expense of others. This fact should be openly communicated by the city administration.

Officer for the Environment and Climate Protection, Ms. Bock:
The remaining budget (3.4 million tons) has been communicated (also in the final report Roadmap Climate Awakening) and will be communicated by the city administration.

REQUEST
The City of Erlangen should launch a campaign to inform citizens about the residual CO2 budget.
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

10. establishment of two express bus routes with e-buses

It is suggested that the city of Erlangen purchase e-buses with two express bus routes:
West route (route 1):
Martin-Luther-Platz / Baiersdorfer Straße, St. Johann (Langer Johann), Möhrendorfer Straße, Adenauerring, Rudeltplatz / Lindnerstraße, Paul-Gossen-Straße/-Brücke [Siemens Campus], Technische Fakultät [B4], Industriegebiet Tennenlohe. With around 10 stops.
West route (route 2 - optional):
St. Johann, Klinikum am Europakanal, Adenauerring, Rudeltplatz / Lindnerstraße, Paul-Gossen-Straße/-Brücke [Siemens Campus], Technische Fakultät [B4], Industriegebiet Tennenlohe. Optional stops are e.g. "Am Hafen" (Büchenbach). Alternative routes with branches to and from Herzogenaurach are desirable.
East route (route 1):
Spardorf, Markuskirche, Technical Faculty / Staudtstraße, Tennenlohe industrial estate
East route (route 2 - optional):
Spardorf, Markuskirche, Technical Faculty / Staudtstraße, Paul-Gossen-Brücke / Siemens-Campus

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
A promise is made to examine the proposed routes as part of local transport planning.

REQUEST
The proposed two express bus routes with e-buses should be included in the review as part of the revision of the local transport plan and possibly introduced as a test route.
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

11. vacancy of GEWOBAU apartments in Elise-Spaeth-Straße

With regard to the housing shortage, it is reported that GEWOBAU apartments in Elise-Spaeth-Straße have been vacant for a very long time. Furthermore, it is asked whether apartments (e.g. for students) can be allocated on a temporary basis with fixed-term rental contracts.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
GEWOBAU will start refurbishing the apartments in Elise-Spaeth-Straße next year. That is why they are no longer being rented out.

Mayor, Mr. Volleth:
It is promised to check whether fixed-term rental contracts can be concluded for a temporary period.

12 ESTW bus timetable

What possibilities does the city see to counteract the shortage of bus drivers at ESTW in order to return the timetable, which has already been severely thinned out since February, to normal operation as quickly as possible? Will the staff shortage have an impact on the implementation of the free city line from 01/2024?

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
In the last UVPA (Environment, Transport and Planning Committee / Works Committee EB77, Environment, Transport and Planning Advisory Board), the adjustments to the bus service for the next timetable change were published. The service will be expanded to include the city line and a minibus line to the west of the city. A complete return to normal operation will not be possible for the coming year due to staff shortages.

13. fossil advertising on urban spaces

It is requested that municipal spaces should not be used in future as exhibition space for fossil-fuel vehicles (as was recently the case at Erlanger Herbst).

Officer for Legal Affairs, Personnel and Digitalization: Mr Ternes:
Special uses in public spaces are regulated in Art. 18 of the Bavarian Roads and Paths Act (BayStrWG). Accordingly, a refusal is not possible under public law.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
It is promised that the City of Erlangen will approach the Erlangen City Management Board to push for private-law areas to no longer be used as exhibition space for fossil advertising.

REQUEST
The City of Erlangen exhausts all possibilities to prevent the display of fossil vehicles in public places.
The motion was put to the vote and passed by a majority.

14. packaging tax

The introduction of a packaging tax in Erlangen (based on the Tübingen model) within the next six months is desired.

Speaker for Economy and Finance, Mr. Beugel:
The introduction of a packaging tax is currently a high risk for the city of Erlangen. The project in Tübingen has not yet proved successful. The City of Erlangen has already exchanged ideas with the project manager in Tübingen. There is no personnel capacity available for the introduction of the packaging tax, which means that new jobs would have to be created for the time being. Furthermore, the franchise company McDonalds has filed a constitutional complaint in Tübingen (proceedings are still ongoing). In addition, new regulations in the form of the new Single-Use Plastic Fund Act (EWKFondsG) will come into force from January 1, 2024. Furthermore, the opinion is held that the introduction of the packaging tax is not a municipal task, but a task for the federal legislator and there is currently no federal regulation.

MOTION
It is proposed that a packaging tax be introduced in the next six months.
The motion was put to the vote and passed by a majority.

15. dynamic electricity tariffs Erlanger Stadtwerke AG

Erlanger Stadtwerke AG is to offer a dynamic green electricity tariff in its grid area from mid-2024, advertise it on its website and actively create the technical conditions for this.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
The legal obligation to introduce dynamic electricity tariffs is 1.1.2025. As the procedure is very complex, an earlier introduction is not possible.

MOTION
It is proposed that Erlanger Stadtwerke AG should introduce dynamic electricity tariffs earlier (mid-2024).
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

16. city-country railroad

The park and recreation area at Langemarckplatz is being destroyed by the current planning. How is this compatible with the declared climate emergency?

Planning and Building Officer, Mr. Lang:
The Stadt-Umland-Bahn is part of the climate emergency. In the current preliminary planning, Langemarckplatz is not to be destroyed; it is only a matter of removing a fifth of the trees at the intersection.

17. green space Fahrstraße

The newspaper reported that a multi-storey parking lot is to be built on the green space in front of the former youth center.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
Opposite the Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium is the Friedrich-Sponsel-Halle. The sports hall is in very poor condition and needs to be replaced. This sports hall is to be replaced on this green area of the Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium. The new sports hall is to be built first and then the old one demolished. Parking facilities will also be created under the sports hall. The sports areas on the grounds of the Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium will be retained in the same quality.

Planning and Building Officer, Mr. Lang:
The competition for the further procedure is in preparation. Talks are also underway to open up the site to the general public.

18. green electricity "certificate purchase"

The city should work to ensure that Erlanger Stadtwerke AG makes it transparent to its green electricity customers in future whether this really comes directly from renewable plants or merely receives the "green electricity" label through the purchase of certificates.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
Erlanger Stadtwerke AG has been offering green electricity products for a long time. They have had the "ok-power" seal of approval since the beginning of 2022. This is one of the best eco-labels available on the German electricity market. There are only just under 70 energy suppliers in Germany that have this prestigious seal.

19th moratorium on boiler replacement

In 2024, the City of Erlangen is to push ahead with the moratorium on boiler replacement (Climate Action Measure E3) and ensure that heat generation in municipal buildings becomes fossil-free as soon as possible.

Officer for Planning and Construction, Mr. Lang:
A meeting paper (report) on the moratorium on boiler replacement will be posted for the Environment, Transport and Planning Committee / Works Committee EB77 (UVPA) in December. Since January 2023, the City of Erlangen's building management has had a position dealing with structural planning.

MOTION
It is requested that it be added to the report of the UVPA submission in December that there is currently only one position for the boiler replacement moratorium, but that five positions are required.
The motion was put to the vote and passed by a majority.

20. strengthening energy consulting

The City of Erlangen should significantly expand its energy consulting capacities as described in "Climate Awakening Measure S4" in order to support citizens in all parts of the city in implementing energy-saving measures.

Officer for the Environment and Climate Protection, Ms. Bock:
The Climate Awakening status report and all other related information are published on the city's website. The city of Erlangen now has four energy advice centers. However, there is a lack of personnel resources for the further expansion of energy advice.

REQUEST
More personnel resources should be created for the further expansion of energy advice ("Climate Awakening Measure S4").
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

21st Arcaden forecourt (business card)

Next year, there is to be a traffic trial lasting several weeks in which the forecourt in front of the arcades is to be extended and through traffic in Henkestraße is to be excluded. It is also proposed that the trial be tested during Erlangen Spring or Erlangen Autumn.

Referent for planning and construction, Mr. Lang:
This traffic trial is proving difficult, as the passage of private traffic cannot be clearly blocked by traffic signs. A temporary solution (for Erlangen Spring or Erlangen Autumn) is welcomed.

MOTION
It is proposed that a traffic trial be carried out and that the square in front of the Arcaden be closed to motorized through traffic and that the quality of stay be improved.

22. parking space regulations

The City of Erlangen should adopt and issue the amended parking space statutes as soon as possible. This should also include the need for cargo bike parking spaces and stipulate safe, easy and illuminated access to the bicycle parking spaces (no "sliding ramps"). The parking space statutes should come into force by 01.04.2024 at the latest.

Planning and Building Officer, Mr. Lang:
The parking space statutes are currently still being coordinated with the parliamentary groups. A draft is to be submitted to the committee before the end of this year. This will stipulate that every 10 parking spaces must be reserved for a cargo bike.

Legal, Personnel and Digitalization Officer: Mr Ternes:
The provisions of the sliding ramps and lighting is an issue of the parking space guideline (detailed regulations) and not the parking space statutes (legal basis Bavarian Building Code - BayBO).

REQUEST
The City of Erlangen should issue the parking space statutes by 1.4.2024 at the latest and determine the topics of sliding ramps and lighting in the parking space guidelines.
The motion was put to the vote and passed by a majority.

23. parking pricing

It is requested that the Lord Mayor, following the example of the "Livable Cities Initiative", launch a Bavarian initiative to abolish the planned maximum limits on parking fees (§10 ZustV) and resident parking.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
The Bavarian Association of Cities and Towns already represents this position and has approached the (old) state government with this issue without success. The Bavarian Association of Cities and Towns has set itself the goal of raising the issue again with the (new) state government.

24th Eichendorf School playground

The Eichendorf School's asphalted playground is to be transformed into an appropriate, ecological and attractive playground. As it is not possible for the Eichendorf School to implement this alone, support from the City of Erlangen is requested.

Lord Mayor, Dr. Janik:
There are currently no plans to improve the schoolyard at Eichendorfschule.

MOTION
It is requested that the asphalted playground of the Eichendorf School be redesigned to be more ecological, more appealing and with seating.
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

25. sufficiency offensive

The City of Erlangen should define the responsibility for the sufficiency offensive (Climate Awakening Measure S8 - e.g. housing advice, sharing economy, city of short distances, etc.) and start this measure in 2024.

Officer for Environment and Climate Protection, Ms. Bock:
There is a lack of personnel capacity for this project.

MOTION
It is requested that the responsibility for the sufficiency offensive (Climate Awakening Measure S8 - e.g. housing advice, sharing economy, city of short distances, etc.) be defined and the measure be launched in 2024.
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

26. strengthening climate education

The city of Erlangen should strengthen its own educational offers (Climate Awakening Measure S11) in the area of climate protection. In particular, this should be a nationwide, free offer in adult education, including in cooperation with local companies.

Environment and Climate Protection Officer, Ms. Bock:
There is a lack of personnel capacity for this project.

MOTION
It is proposed that the City of Erlangen strengthen its own educational offerings (Climate Awakening Measure S11) in the area of climate protection and, in particular, offer a comprehensive free adult education program, including in cooperation with local companies.
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

27 Climate and environmentally friendly catering at municipal events

The city of Erlangen should develop a concept that at least 30% of the food served at high-profile city events should be vegetarian and vegan and that the carbon footprint of all food served should be printed transparently. This concept is to be implemented for the 2024 open-air season (from May) at the latest.

Officer for the Environment and Climate Protection, Ms. Bock:
There have already been initial discussions with the Liegenschaftsamt on this. However, there is a lack of personnel capacity for this project.

MOTION
It is proposed that a concept be drawn up to ensure that at least 30% of the food served at high-profile city events is vegetarian and vegan and that the carbon footprint of all food served is printed transparently. This concept is to be applied for the 2024 open-air season (from May) at the latest.
The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

28th FAU master plan

The City of Erlangen should obtain the publication of the FAU master plan from the FAU, which includes both the redesign of the areas of the current campus and the use of the adjacent areas (forest, nature reserve). These plans should be made publicly available for citizens to view.

Planning and Building Officer, Mr. Lang:
The university's framework plan has already been published. Participation procedures are already underway or will begin soon.

MOTION
It is requested that the City of Erlangen obtain the publication of the FAU master plan from the FAU, which includes both the redesign of the areas of the current campus and the use of the adjacent areas (forest, nature reserve).
The motion was put to the vote and passed by a majority.

Mayor Dr. Florian Janik closes the citizens' assembly at 22:40 and thanks the citizens for the discussion and their commitment.

on behalf of
signed.
Mayor's Office and Press Office