The voter community FÜR Karlsruhe has submitted an amendment to the planned Integrated Urban Development Concept 2040 (ISEK 2040) to the municipal council. Instead of the proposed temporary solution with external advice, FÜR Karlsruhe is calling for the establishment of a permanent “Stabs Zukunft Karlsruhe”.
“We need a continuous, agile process for planning the future of our city, not an expensive consultancy marathon every few years,” explains City Councillor Friedemann Kalmbach. “With our own future team, we can pool the knowledge of the city of Karlsruhe and develop a feeler for upcoming challenges.”
The amendment proposes using the planned funds for the new staff instead of investing them in external consulting. The exact structure of the staff, including the number of posts, is to be discussed by the municipal council in order to find a joint compromise.
“Our proposal enables the IUDC to be updated on an ongoing basis, bringing it closer to reality,” emphasizes Kalmbach. “In a time that is characterized by volatility and constantly new challenges, we need flexible structures that can react quickly.”
FÜR Karlsruhe argues that an internal team knows and can assess the local conditions and needs of citizens better than external consultants. In addition, the staff should act as an interface between different city departments and thus develop holistic solutions for urban development.
“Our proposal stands for responsible and sustainable urban development,” summarizes Kalmbach. “We are convinced that this is the best way to shape the future of Karlsruhe – together, flexibly and with foresight.”
