From April to July, Vilnius City Municipality’s infrastructure specialists spent several evenings a week meeting with residents. They took place in the courtyards where parking lots are planned to be renovated this year, replacing asphalt and pavement surfaces and curbs as needed, and installing additional small cellular parking lots made of open-work tile paving.
A meeting with residents in every courtyard
The original list included a total of 34 yards with 49 cell sites. Each yard had a separate meeting with residents, who were able to make suggestions for adjustments to the planned landscaping works and to oppose the works. These consultations are a new way for the municipality to consult local residents when works are carried out in the form of repairs and do not have to be coordinated with the public under the law. Meetings with residents help to clarify the project idea and give designers a better understanding of local needs.
“Vilnius is on the path to greater involvement of citizens in decision-making. We have benefited greatly from hearing residents’ suggestions and comments – almost half of the parking management plans have been improved to make them more responsive to residents’ needs. There is still a common belief in Lithuania that a person’s space of responsibility ends at the door of the apartment, but I hope that such programmes encourage Vilnius residents to take care of their wider environment,” said Valdas Benkunskas, Mayor of Vilnius City.
The parking project hearings were well attended, with a total of 594 residents attending the meetings, an average of 17 per meeting. This level of involvement of residents in decision-making about their immediate environment is unprecedented in Vilnius.
Citizens as decision-makers
After 16 meetings, the schemes of works were refined, with the most frequent changes being changes to the limits of works to take account of additional needs and adjustments to the installation of kerbs. Minor changes were adopted after a further 4 meetings. In 11 cases, the residents had no comments, while in 3 yards some residents objected to the works and they were abandoned. It is noted that the resistance came from the most difficult yards, where the problems were deeper than could be solved by repairs, and the residents chose to stick to the status quo for the time being. Reports from all the meetings and more information can be found on the project page at tvarkingosaiksteles.vilnius.lt
“Nikita Ščiupakov, Public Engagement Specialist at ID Vilnius, noted that during the meetings, neighbours got to know each other and the municipality’s professionals, learned how decisions are made about their environment, and after the official part was over, they often stayed on to discuss other common issues. “Such meetings not only help to develop projects that meet the needs of the residents, but also slowly foster a culture of dialogue. When making decisions, it is common practice to listen carefully to the opinions of all stakeholders and work together to find the best solution,” said N. Shchupakov, Public Engagement Specialist at ID Vilnius.
Work is in full swing
Work is already underway in many of the yards, as the playgrounds discussed with residents are planned to be completed by the end of this year’s work season. Currently, four courtyards have been fully equipped and work is underway in another 15. However, if due to changes in circumstances (weather conditions, etc.) some of the pitches cannot be completed this year, they will be returned to as soon as the spring arrives.
Although the meetings on small cell sites ended in July, in autumn Vilnius residents may see even more invitations to meetings on parking. These car parks are also made of open-work concrete pavers, but they are larger and more complex, so they are no longer being built with simple repairs but with building permits. As is usual for construction projects, a presentation of the design proposals for each of these plazas is organised for residents to comment on them. Stay tuned for information from your municipality or sub-location on the design of the proposed construction. These larger pitches are planned for next year.
