Using information technology in participatory budgeting: The case of the city of cologne Matthias Trénel & Oliver Märker Zebralog cross media dialogues Berlin / Germany http://www.zebralog.de/en International Conference “Participatory Budgeting in Asia and Europe: Key Challenges of Participation” August 17-19, 2009, University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China

1. Using information technology
in participatory budgeting:
The case of the city of cologne
Matthias Trénel & Oliver Märker
Zebralog cross media dialogues
Berlin / Germany
trenel@zebralog.de
http://www.zebralog.de/en
International Conference
“Participatory Budgeting in Asia and Europe: Key Challenges of Participation”
August 17-19, 2009, University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China

3. Context: The city

4. Context: The city
 Population of 1 million
 City council with 16.000 employees
 Annual budget of €4 billion (≈ ¥40 billion)
 History of corruption scandals („Kölner Klüngel“)
 approx. two thirds of population use internet

5. Context: Timeline
 2002: Local Agenda 21 group called for PB
 2004: Political parties incorporated idea into election programs
 2005: local council asked finance administration to plan PB
 2006: budget department set up steering committee, hosted symposium
on PB and comissioned representative survey of citizens
 2007: 4 weeks active PB phase
 2008: local council adopted proposals
 2009: next active PB phase coming up
 ...

6. Context: Aims of PB
 Develop a citizen-oriented local authority
 Optimize processes through IT
 Present municipal budget in transparent and comprehendable form
 Receive good spending and saving suggestions concerning
- Roads, paths, squares
- Green spaces
- Sports
 Making proposals should be as easy as possible for all citizens
 Create an attractive multi-channel communication platform with low
barriers to access

7. Methodology: Outreach
 Mailing to every household
 Billboards
 Radio spots
 City web site
 Information event

8. Methodology: Channels of participation
 Information event
 Paper form
 Call center
 Internet
 NO local meetings

9. Methodology: Making proposals online
 Users were asked to submit proposals on first page
 Users categorized their own proposals
 Anonymous participation was tolerated
 All proposals were visible on platform
 Other users commented on proposals
 Meta-forum for discussion of PB
 Moderators kept rules of civility and responded to questions and
complaints

10. Methodology: Making proposals online

11. Methodology: Selecting proposals
 All proposals received support or disagreement on the online-platform
through votings by users
 Those proposals receiving most support were selected for further
examination by the administration
- Top 100 proposals for roads, paths and squares
- Top 100 proposals for green spaces
- Top 100 proposals for sports

12. Methodology: Selecting proposals

13. Methodology: Examining proposals
1. Screening by finance administration
during PB: Team of 16 employees
working in shifts
2. Feasability check by relevant
administrative departments
3. Review by relevant council
committees
4. Review by finance comittee
5. Decision by council
6. Public feedback to citizens
7. Monitoring of proposal enactment

14. Results: Participation
4.937 Proposals
9.171 Comments
52.534 Votings
11.744 Registered participants (60% were male)
120.000 Unique visitors

15. Results: Proposals by participation channel
E-Mail Call-Center Paper Form Online-Plattform
103 148 448 4.238
2% 4% 9% 85%

16. Results: Proposals over time
5.11. Press Conference

17. Results: Type of proposals
Saving Spending Other
Total..........
Roads, paths, squares..
Green spaces ...
Sports ....
Other issues....

18. Results: Media coverage
 PB received extensive media coverage, daily
updates, also in tabloid press
 High participation rates created interest
 PB was well documented online
 Competition between proposals was entertaining

19. Results: Policy impact
 Local council adopted
proposals measuring €17
million (≈ ¥170 million)
 Local council has decided to
continue PB
 Administration plans to
utilize participation platform
in other policy areas

20. Results: Main lessons learned
 Online-platform is leading participation channel, but should not be the
only one
 Online-platform is ideal for documenting and monitoring PB from the
planning stage to the enactment of proposals
 Online-platform allows efficient processing of proposals in the
administration
 Involving as many citizens as possible is a good strategy to faciliate
political impact of PB

21. 谢谢
Thank you for your attention!