Łódź
How does the perspective of city planning and management change after a pandemic, and what solutions should be implemented to stimulate positive change?
Already during the first wave of the global epidemic, the city prepared a draft development strategy corresponding to the new reality. Implementing the idea of „Lodz—a city created together” means actively involving as much of the Lodz community as possible in the process of joint city management. The city plays the role of a leader who does not work on everything alone, but motivates others to work as well, and an animator who creates the framework, provides the tools and gives the field away, but evaluates the results. The main assumptions of Lodz's adopted strategy are: a creative city, multidirectional development and the activity of Lodz residents as a source of the city's development.
Lodz's most important planning and management challenges at the strategic level include the need to adapt to climate change and reduce environmental hazards, strive for climate neutrality, develop infrastructure that improves competitiveness, investment attractiveness and living conditions in the cityCity, counteracting the negative effects of demographic processes, developing and supporting human and social capital, as well as increasing innovation and increasing the efficiency of the City's management (including the financing of development activities) and cooperation between neighboring local governments and across sectors. Therefore, much more attention will be paid by the City to building local cooperation in our neighborhoods, including even the smallest neighborhood communities.
We have high hopes for the development of solutions in the areas of city monitoring, systems for remote recognition of emergencies in technical infrastructure, supervision of the work of, for example, public transport drivers, systems to reduce traffic jams in the city, management of free spaces in city parking lots, remote care networks for people requiring health monitoring in their homes, teaching children and young people in remote learning conditions. The use of smart solutions should take place in programs to reduce the carbon footprint of public and private buildings (thermal retrofitting, remote reading of city utilities, supply control). Given the costs, which are not low, it is important that they are covered through a variety of mechanisms, including, in particular, through PPPs, for example.
Łódź, Majewski Passage—implementation 2022
© City Hall of Lodz
How is the city prepared for the energy crisis?
Rising energy prices increase current expenses related to the maintenance of the office and increase the cost of investments carried out by the City.
Energy expenses are mandatory expenses, and despite the savings introduced, the scale of the increases forces the City to increase its spending plan for this purpose. Therefore, earmarked reserves are activated and funds are transferred from other planned expenses (as part of savings).
The lack of funds from the National Reconstruction Plan prevents the energy transition work from starting quickly. Local governments could already begin the process of preparing projects, relying on funds from the European Union.
For the City, maintaining high energy prices entails further reductions in current spending in order to set aside funds to cover rising energy costs. In order to eliminate the effects of energy increases, the City has implemented and is implementing a number of projects that reduce energy consumption. In recent years this has been a series of tasks related to energy efficiency in educational institutions. In the case of ongoing revitalization, there is also a strong emphasis on the element of energy conservation.
For municipal companies, the situation is very similar. In their expenditures, they have to calculate increased energy expenses and look for savings for this purpose or reduce investments. Macroeconomic conditions, such as the level of inflation and increased costs of electricity and heat, gasoline, oil, gas, labor costs, the provision of cleaning or security services, among others, have become a problem for the operation of the Companies, which, with limited revenue opportunities, affect the deterioration of the results generated by the Companies. The task of the Companies is to seek savings in other cost areas, to reduce property expenses to the necessary minimum, where possible to increase the revenue side—the unit price of the service provided by the Company, for example, raising the price of admission to Aqua Park or the Municipal Zoo.
Spokesperson's Office of the Mayor of Łódź
Łódź, East Street after revitalization
© Office of the City of Lodz
Szczecin
How does the perspective of city planning and management change after the pandemic?
Above all, the pandemic taught us a new organization of work. This is because the system of remote work worked very well. It turned out that in order to manage the city and make the most important decisions, all we need is a computer and meetings conducted online. At one time it seemed unrealistic, but some of these solutions are still in place in the office today and work well. Of course, everything depends on the specifics of the subject.
Szczecin is also in the unique situation that none of the hospitals are municipal, so topics related to the impact of the pandemic on health care pass us by, so to speak. Of course, we are always ready to cooperate with medical institutions, while our main task was the functioning of the city as such. We fought for the continuity of services provided by the authority, transport companies or provided the necessary equipment to educational institutions. In an organizational sense, surely every local government is already much better prepared for new challenges.
Szczecin;—photovoltaic panels at the Water Supply and Sewerage Plant; Szczecin has for years steered toward environmentally friendly solutions by investing tens of millions of zlotys in photovoltaic panels on public buildings
© Szczecin City Hall
Is and how is the city prepared for the energy crisis?
The energy crisis seems like a very big challenge for any local government. For some, probably even greater than a pandemic. Rising energy or gas prices are directly hitting the budgets of cities and towns. This unfortunately threatens to reduce the number of services offered to residents, and this is a very real scenario.
For years, Szczecin has been heading in the direction of pro-environmental solutions. We have already invested tens of millions of zlotys in photovoltaic panels on our facilities. Schools, Social Welfare Homes or, for example, the sports complex of the Szczecin House of Sports and the Netto Arena sports and entertainment hall have them. The Water and Sewage Plant also uses its farm. Despite the many measures, Szczecin will also face the need to look for savings in the municipal budget. This is a result of dramatic increases in electricity prices. Suffice it to mention two energy proceedings. The City Roads and Transportation Authority received about a 25 million zloty increase (night street lighting or traffic lights), and Szczecin Tramways is facing an increase of more than 31 million zloty. Just two seats and an increase of more than 56 million zlotys—this is something no local government can bear. Thus, big savings await us.
Spokesperson's Office of the Mayor of Szczecin
Szczecin;—panels on the Netto Arena sports and entertainment hall
© Szczecin City Hall
Wrocław
How does the perspective of city planning and management change after a pandemic and what solutions should be implemented?
The systemic approach to the resilience of the city and its environment in the case of Wroclaw is expressed in strategic documents focused on climate change adaptation, spatial, economic and social development. They all point to the need to develop a compact city, a city of short distances, a city of fifteen minutes, where all needs—work, shopping, learning and entertainment—will be met within walking or biking distance from home. This will make residents more resilient to change and emergencies, as in the pandemic, where access to green space, but also a safe commute to work and shopping, was crucial.
Wrocław;—Elementary School No. 99 on Glubczycka Street; Wrocław is pursuing a strategy of a compact city, a city of short distances, a city of fifteen minutes, where all needs—work, shopping, learning and entertainment—will be met by residents within a short walk or bike ride from home
© wroclaw.pl
How is the city prepared for the energy crisis?
The tender for the purchase of gas has already been awarded. It concerns group purchases for about one hundred and ninety municipal entities, including schools, kindergartens, health centers and cultural institutions. We received one offer from PGNiG for more than 27 million zlotys. This is the price at the current zero VAT rate. If VAT is restored to 23 percent next year, then this amount will increase by that much. This offer is about 3 million zlotys more expensive than the contract that was concluded for the current year. The bid fit within our planned budget.
As for the tender for the purchase of electricity—the opening of bids took place on September 15. Wroclaw buys electricity as part of a large purchasing group, which includes about two hundred and seventy units: city hall, schools, nurseries, cultural institutions, city companies. It is worth noting that already this year the price per kWh has increased by 60 percent. It is worth noting that renewable energy sources are being used in new municipal investments. They are installed in new and renovated schools and kindergartens. Photovoltaic installations are in operation at, among others, the expanded Elementary School No. 21, the expanded and renovated SP No. 99 or the modern nursery school on Signal Street. The same is true of the ongoing Local Activity Centers on Suwalska and Elcka streets. The city is also using air-source heat pumps in selected facilities.
Press Office of the Mayor of Wroclaw
Wrocław: nursery school on Signalowa Street
© wroclaw.pl
