Healthy Cities won prizes of the Ministry of the Environment for quality and innovation in public administration

New publication offers inspiration from Switzerland and Czech Republic for cities and regions

A new publication that contains inspiring examples of best practice from municipalities and regions, both from Switzerland and Czech Republic, was created owing to collaboration of Healthy Cities, Municipalities and Regions of the Czech Republic with the Swiss Association Equiterre. Both countries can boast a number of demonstration activities that fulfil the principles of sustainable development and support the inhabitants' health and quality of life. The publication titled "Let's Be Inspired! Demonstration Activities and Best Practice from Switzerland and Czech Republic" (available also in English) aims to introduce a part of these activities briefly, specifically through 9 selected topics that arose from the discussion over inspiring procedures from both countries and questions of how to use these in the practice of municipalities, regions and cantons.

The aim of the publication lies not only in the comparison of similar activities from Switzerland and from the Czech Republic, but primarily in the mutual inspiration for the representatives of local governments in both countries. Even though the system of local administration in the Swiss Confederation is based on division of the state into 26 cantons, where each of them has its own different system of administration and management and therefore is considerably different from the administrative structure of the Czech Republic, the publication should introduce successful procedures, which are feasible in both countries and in environments with different structure of public administration. This publication is one of outputs of the project „Partnership for improving the quality of municipalities – best practice sharing in the topic of international programs Healthy City Project and Local Agenda 21“, realised by the HCCZ in collaboration with Equiterre, partner for sustainable development. The project has been financed from the Partnership Fund (Czech-Swiss Collaboration Programme).

Healthy Cities' Forums - meetings with the public over the local most burning problems

Healthy Cities' Forums have already started. In these events citizens identify the “10 Top Problems” - considered to be the most burning and important ones on the local or regional level. These problems or plans are thereafter verified by public enquiries and forwarded to the municipal, regional or city district representatives. On these regular year meetings focused on the overall development of the city (and accompanied by several more thematic round tables) the political representation should also inform the public how did they deal with the problems from the last Forum, what changes have been made etc.
In the year 2010 HCCZ has organized and has assisted to 40 events of this type all over the country.

HC Forum took place in Prachatice on 17. 2. for the second time in its history. In comparison to the last year, this year's public forum brought a greater number of initiatives, proposals or expectancies in the field of strategic development, social area or health care. Lets name e.g. the demands for the reduction of gambling clubs' operation, realisation of a barrier-free access to the library or completion of missing pavements. Selected problems will be consequently verified in a survey among city inhabitants. The other suggestions, of which there were 76 altogether, will not be omitted either.

The Students' Forum of HC Prachatice took place in the morning hours before the “adult” meeting and copied its methodology and procedures, of course in a much entertaining and amusing way. Pupils and students of basic and high schools discussed the most burning problems from their point of view, they have propose many plans or inspirative activities to the city representatives. Surprisingly, the highest number of votes received the proposal of "improvement of security and safety in the city in night hours". The event was attended by more than 80 pupils and students.

Up to 130 citizens attended the HC Forum in Uherske Hradiste that took place in the community centre's hall. In comparison to the previous meeting there was a shift in the fact that the majority of problems discussed falls directly within the city's authority and not e.g. within the authority of the region. The most burning problems from participant's point of view included topics such as parking, improvement of safety in selected locations (parks) or reconstruction of pavements.

New examples in the "GoodPractice" Database

National competition on safe and sustainable transport projects celebrates its 10th anniversary

The Partnership Foundation announced the 10th year of the national competition called “Routes in Cities” focused on safe and sustainable transport in CZ cities. All cities and municipalities that realise traffic calming measures can participate and win attractive prizes. CZK 500 thousand will be distributed by the foundation among the most interesting projects realised this year. The deadline for competition applications is on May 31, 2011. The Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic are one of the project partners.

For the “Routes in Cities” competition one can participate with traffic solutions focused on increase of traffic safety, improvement of public area and optimal arrangement of automobile, cycling, pedestrian and public transportation. The opportunity to enter the competition is available not only to the cities but also municipalities and their associations, sub-regions or city districts from the whole Czech Republic.

The „Partnership Foundation“: Win the Title of City of Trees!

Partnership Foundation announces the sixth year of the City of Trees competition. The competition, taking place under the auspices of the Ministry of the Environment, can be newly joined by all cities in Czech Republic. The task of the applying cities is to prepare a year-round campaign for public, inspired by trees and environment. In addition to the title and financial reward in the amount of CZK 50 thousand (from TetraPak company), the winning city will have a unique opportunity to participate in the all-European competition Entente Florale Europe. The deadline for applications is June 5, 2011.

The idea to dedicate one year to trees originated under the title of The Year of Tree in Strakonice, 2004. On the basis of the fantastic campaign's success, Partnership Foundation decided to transfer this idea also to other cities under the title City of Trees. Kromeriz became the first City of Trees in 2006/2007, followed by Tachov, Havirov and Broumov.

The European Award “TOWARDS CLASS A” 2011