Armenia: Assessment of Existing Urban Development Challenges, Policies and Institutional Capacities by The Urban Foundation

EU Black Sea Basin Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Joint Operational Programme 2007 - 2013

Capacity for integrated urban development: INTEGR-ABLE

Republic of Armenia: Assessment of Existing Urban Development Challenges, Policies and Institutional Capacities.

Prepared by: Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development 2012

Capacity for Integrated Urban Development

Content 1. CHAPTER 1: Legal framework and Urban development policies at national and local level ....2 2. National level, territorial structure ........................................................................................2 3. Administrative structure, authority, responsibility and functions ..........................................2 4. Legal framework (ownership of land and buildings, land registry, urban planning regulations,Biulding permitting regulations, heritage preservations, environmental planningand protection regulations, decentralization of puvlic services, national policies regarding spatial-economic development, financing mechanizms) .........................................4 5. Local level, administrative structure, authority, responsibility, functions .............................. .9 6. Lrgal framework (land database, land use planning and zoning, urban planning regulations, building permittes, local strategies spatial- economic development.......................................11 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

CHAPTER 2: Assessment of urban development capacity .....................................................12 Methodology for assessment of urban development ............................................................13 Generalization of assessment results ...................................................................................14 Findings ...............................................................................................................................14 Annex 1 Letter to mayors .....................................................................................................19 Annex 2 Summarized information received from the municipalities .....................................20

CHAPTER 1. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AT NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL

1.1.

National level

1.1.1. Territorial structure The Republic of Armenia is a landlocked country located in the South Caucasus. The territory of the republic is 29,740 square kilometers. Over 90% of the country territory is located at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level. Water surface makes 1% of the total land area. In the south-west of the country is located Ararat valley, which is the main agricultural area. Much of the territory of the country is mountainous. Complex relief conditions require special engineering solutions for construction areas, as well as pause significant restrictions for extensive urban development. According to the data of State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre by the RoA Government the residential areas make only 5% in the republic land balance (data as of July 1, 2011). (Table 1). The total estimated territories occupied by urban settlements are quite large and they make approximately 100 hectares or 65.7% of the total area occupied by settlements. Urban areas play a significant role in the economy of the RoA. According to the State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre by the RoA Government urban lands covers approximately 3% in the republic land balance, but about 67% of the population and over 80% of industrial capacity are concentrated there. ##

Land functional using

1 2 3 4

Agriculture lands Residential territories Industrial sites, land on subsoil using, the territories of any other industrial purpose Objects of energy, transport, communications and utility infrastructure

5 6

Specially protected areas Territories of special purpose

7 8 9

Forest territories Water surface Reserve areas Total:

1.1.2.

Space, Thous.ha 2077.0 152.2 33.0 12.8 298.0 31.7 343.1 25.9 0.6 2974.3

Space, % 70% 5% 1% 0% 10% 1% 12% 1% 0% 100%

Administrative structures: authority, responsibility and functions in territory

1.1.3.

Based on the constitution, the Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic, social, rule of law state. The constitution was adopted July 5, 1995, through a popular referendum and was amended Nov. 27, 2005. The president is the head of state and is the guarantor of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. The president is elected for a five-year term of office. Executive power is exercised by the government, which is composed of prime minister and ministers. The single-chambered National Assembly is the supreme legislative authority. The

National Assembly is elected through general elections for a term of five years. Justice is administered solely by the courts in accordance with the constitution and the laws. Armenia is divided into ten administrative regions (Marzes) (Figure 1). Regions are further divided into rural and urban self-governed communities (hamaynk). In summary, Armenia has 10 sub-national jurisdictions at the regional level and 915 self-governed communities: 866 rural communities and 49 urban communities.

Figure 1. Administrative Regions of the Republic of Armenia.

Regions in Armenia are a de-concentrated tier of central government authority, which were formed postindependence by the consolidation of numerous Soviet-era 'rayons'. As such, regional administrators do not have their own budgets and are not considered a local government level. The role of regional authorities (Marzpetaran) is to implement the territorial policy of the central government, coordinate central government agencies in the field and to supervise the legality of local governments’ decisions. While communities are regulated through national laws, the activities of the regional governments are regulated by a decree from the President of the Republic. As the nation’s capital, Yerevan has a special status of a Community according to the RA Constitution and Law on Local-self Government in Yerevan City”, which is divided into 12 administrative districts. Regional councils are comprised of the mayors and heads of communities in the region, but chaired by the appointed regional governor (Marzpet). In fact, regional administrations serve to ensure adherence of local governments to central government plans pretty much as it functioned in the Soviet System. The local (self) government level in Armenia is formed at community-level. The community governance structure includes a Community Council and the Head of the Community (the city mayor or village head). The legislation of Armenia Law stipulates that the community council and the head of the community are directly elected by local residents for a four-year mandate through general, equal and direct elections by secret ballot. In accordance with the new Law on Local Self-Governance (2002) the number of the community head’s staff is determined by the local government itself. For more information see Point 1.2 Local Level. Communities are typically relative small self-governance areas. Rural communities represent 97 per cent of the total number of communities and 36 per cent of the national population. More than 93 per cent of communities (accounting for 31 per cent of the population) have populations of less than 5,000. The

excessive fragmentation a t the local government (community) level, resulting in fiscal disparities and the lack of administrative and fiscal capacity.

1.1.3 Legal framework ď&#x201A;ˇ

Ownership of land and buildings

The Civil Code (adopted in1999) regulates the details of the ownership rights, including the protection of those rights, as well as the terms and conditions for renting, transferring and disposing of housing and other real estate. The Civil Code also spells out regulations on mortgages on residential units, foreclosure and eviction in case of default. The territorial boundaries of a land parcel are defined in the documents / statute issued to the owner by the state authority. The owner of a land parcel has the right to use all that is located above and below the surface of this parcel unless otherwise provided by a statutes or it violates the rights of other persons. The owner of a land parcel, on condition of observance of city planning and construction norms and rules and also requirements on the use of the land parcel, may erect buildings and structures on it, may conduct their reconstruction or removal, and permit construction on its parcel by other persons. Unless otherwise provided by a statute, the owner of a land parcel acquires the right of ownership to those constructions.

ď&#x201A;ˇ

Land registry, cadastre

The two main laws regulating state registration of property in Armenia are the Civil Code (1999) and Law on State Registration of Property Rights (1999). In 2006, Law on Alienation of Property for the State or Community Needs was adopted. The state registration of rights to the property is implemented by the system of state unified cadastre of real estate, which consists of the national body within the government of Armenia and its territorial subdivisions. Unified cadastral system is the main system of Land and other real estate Registry and database, and all transactions related to the immovable property can be done only according to the official information obtaining from the cadastre All rights and transactions related to land and buildings are subject of state registration in territorial cadastral departments. Rights to the property are considered registered from the moment of registration. Rights originating from real estate transactions, such as the right of ownership, right of use, mortgage, hypothec, servitude, other encumbrances, rights to personal property, and other rights stipulated by law as well as real estate alienation are also subject to state registration within 30 days of the transaction. Immediately after the state registration of rights to the real estate, a certificate stating the registration of ownership (use) and the right to the real estate is issued. The overall aim of the Armenian government to develop property rights registration is: 1. To promote private-sector development by implementing a transparent, easily accessible and reliable registration system for land and other immovable property. 2. To provide a chronological record of property owners and their rights and obligations. 3. To reduce the transaction costs of title transfers and mortgage financing. 4. To reduce the number of procedures and amount of time to register property. The general principles of state registration in Armenia are: a. State protection of registered rights to property. b. Accessibility and objectiveness in updating and centralizing cadastral data.

c. The subjects of state registration are the Republic of Armenia, its communities, citizens, physical and legal persons, foreign states and international organizations, foreign legal and physical persons with no citizenship. The law “On Alienation of Property for the State or Community Needs” regulates all relationships related to the compulsory taking of a land parcel or other property for the state or community needs. The public must retain the right to acquire any property deemed necessary for public use through its power of eminent domain. When such a public need arises, property owners must sometimes part with their land involuntarily and receive a fair market price in return.



Urban planning regulations

The main law in the sphere of urban development is the law “On Urban Development,” which was adopted in 1998 and amended many times. In accordance with this law, there are three levels of necessary documents to be adopted for regulation of urban development, taking into account administrativeterritorial subdivisions of the country. Urban development objectives: On a national level  Habitation master plan.  Master plan of Armenia’s spatial organization. On a regional level  Regional planning documents for marzes or for community level. On a local level  General/master plan of communities.  Zoning plan of communities. There are many other laws and government decisions that directly or indirectly regulate the sphere of urban development, housing and building issues. Some of the soviet-time regulations are approved by the Ministry of Urban Development and are in use now. However, the main problem in the sphere of urban development is not the absence of laws or regulations, but the implementation of these laws and regulations and the principle “Rule of Law.” The Urban Development ministry’s Department for Urban Development Policy and Spatial Planning (including the Architecture Division) is responsible for setting design standards for policies aimed at making buildings more energy-efficient. The Science and Technology Division is responsible for scientific research carried out in all areas within the ministry’s responsibility. The Technical Norms and Standards Division is responsible for the development of norms for the construction industry. This department is responsible for housing construction policy, territorial planning, urban land, and urban development norms. Its objectives are to develop strategies for urban country profiles on the housing sector, to prepare the corresponding laws, to coordinate the preparation of master plans for each municipality and monitor their implementation, and to assist municipalities in the organization of engineering and infrastructure works. Armenia doesn’t have building or zoning codes, but there are a lot of laws and government decisions regulating the sphere of urban development and construction. Apart from growth controls that prohibit residential development altogether, there are many zoning and land-use regulations that specify what type of residential development is permissible (if it is permissible at all). These restrictions take the form of allowable floor-area ratios, plot coverage, height restrictions, and off-street parking and open space

requirements. They essentially dictate the form of high-density residential communities, generally forcing them into high-rise towers surrounded by open spaces. The government has already specified its priorities and main objectives in the sphere of development of urban development documents, from which, three issues are set forth:  Safety of people, along with sustainability and guaranteed operation of buildings, structures and infrastructure.  Formation of a quality urban development environment in the residential areas and the areas being developed outside of them, and the harmonization of it with the natural environment.  Regulation of land use for urban development purposes and effective management of land plots. To fulfill the objectives described above, the following priorities are proposed for urban development:  Spatial development and planning.  Earthquake-resistant design and construction.  Reduced impact of geological hazards.  Improved housing conditions. To make the process of reforms related to development and approval of urban development documentation (general/master plan, zoning plan, land-use schemes, etc.) a reality, the following recommendations were submitted to the Armenian government: 1) Develop simplified master plans for rural communities. 2) To give free of charge basic information on cadastral, seismic, engineering-geodesic, electronic mapping, information as encouragement from the state for communities. 3) Allocate money as a state contribution or co-financing in the state budget for development of urban development documents; systematically reduce it year by year (the size of co-financing should be determined by the possibility of the budget for each year). 4) Develop master plans, zoning plans and land-use schemes as one consolidated document. 5) Establish regional and inter-regional (including more than one community) landscape planning documents, which will also consist of zoning plans. In 2011 the government of Armenia approved the ‘List of Measures on Fulfilling Obligations assumed by the Republic of Armenia under the European Landscape Convention”. The main principles for the implementation of the Convention are ensured in the following:  To consider the territory as a whole/to apply it (the Convention) to the entire territory,  To ensure the protection, management and planning of landscapes (hereinafter landscape activities),  To define and achieve landscape quality objective,  To apply a knowledge based approach to landscape activities,  To involve public into landscape activities,  To consider a landscape dimension in the sectoral policies (to include the landscape considerations in policies if relevant). The national Policy of landscape preconditions to achieve sustainable development based on a balanced and harmonious relationship between social needs, economic activity and the environment.



Building permitting regulations

The government sets forth architectural, planning, environmental and other norms, regulations and standards for buildings, while provision of building permits is the responsibility of the local government according to the documentations adopted by the government. See Point 1.2 for description of the procedure for building permits by the local government.



Heritage preservation and historic areas regeneration

The Law on Preservation and Utilization of Immovable Monuments of History and Culture and of the Historic Environment (adopted on the 11 November 1998) determines the concept of monuments of history and culture, objects of preservation and utilization of monuments, subjects, classification of monuments, powers of the state and local self-government bodies in the sphere of preservation and utilization of monuments and the procedure on the state registration of monuments. It also ensures preservation of monuments and the historic environment and supports the study of monuments and archaeological digs. The Law determines procedures for repair and restoration, ownership, utilization of monuments, financing of monument preservation and utilization, and responsibility in the sphere of monuments preservation and utilization. The law provides that immovable monuments of history and culture are considered state ownership and are not subject to alienation (amended on the 11 April 2003) as well as determines the forms of use of these monuments and the areas they occupy. On this basis, the Government has issued a Decree with approved List of Immovable Monuments Considered as State Ownership and Not Subject to Alienation. Besides, an number of Regulations are adopted on the State Registration, Study, Protection, Repair, Restoration, Utilization of Immovable Monuments of History and Culture, and Transportation of Immovable Monuments of History and Culture regulate the cultural heritage sector.



Environmental planning and protection regulations

The Environmental protection policy is developed and controlled by the Ministries of Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Armenia has joined a number of international conventions in the sphere of environmental protection including the Aarhus Convention, and has adopted many laws on environmental protection and planning. Particularly, according to the “Law on Environmental Impact Assessment”, the EIA is a mandatory activity conducted by the state with the aim of predicting, preventing or reducing to the minimum the hazardous impact of an intended activity or procedure on human health, the environment, regular economic and social development. A number of acts stipulate nature protection and nature utilization payments, which, subject to lobbying, can return to the local budgets of communities for addressing local environmental needs. Important provisions regarding environmental protection are included also in the Forest and Water Codes and in many other laws. The legislation stipulates the rights of citizens to claim and to receive in a timely manner full and trustworthy information about environmental conditions, to receive full compensation for health damage caused by polluted environment, environmental accidents or disasters, right to live in clean environment, and in case it is destroyed, to receive the status of environmental refugee and to get equivalent compensation, as well as the right to participate in a process of developing environmental protection laws and enactment and to control their implementation.



Decentralization of public services

The main trend of the decentralization policy in Armenia (having still quite centralized governance system) is the gradual transfer of responsibilities to local governance units. There are two major impediments slowing down this process. First, the communities are too small and fragmented: there are 440 communities (48%) having less than 1000 inhabitants in each, with very weak financial basis and capacity to govern. For more efficient and targeted decentralization policy it is necessary to enlarge the size of local self governance units by reducing the number of communities and merging them into bigger ones. This is politically very sensitive issue, that is why the government is encouraging the creation of the intercommunity unions as a first important step towards this direction. Second main impediment is the lack of sufficient capacity at the regional and community level to absorb increased transfer of responsibilities and to govern more efficiently at the local level. Therefore the capacity building is the crucial precondition for the success of the further decentralization reforms and this factor is very important not only for Armenia but also for many other former soviet countries. The functions delegated to the local government level largely comprise administrative functions and broad support for central government policies. Notably absent from the list of local government responsibilities (either own or delegated) are a number of key social services that are provided at the local level in many developing, transitional and developed economies, particularly primary and secondary education. Central government is responsible for health care, primary, secondary and higher education, social services, pension and unemployment security. However, the law enables the local self-government bodies to provide similar services on a voluntary basis, provided they have the required financial resources.

1.1.4. National policies regarding spatial – economic development The government of Armenia has adopted an Activity Plan for 2008-2012 which includes also provisions for spatial – economic development. Particularly, activities are planned to reduce spatial discrepancies and improve accessibility to services.

1.1.5. Financing mechanisms for design, permitting and implementation of urban and regional development strategies The government Activity Plan provides for improved financial mechanisms for financial equalization of regions, in the result of which vulnerable communities benefit form increased financial flows. It will become possible to distribute the funds according to the principles of spatial development.

1.2. Local level 1.2.1 Administrative structures: authority, responsibility and functions in the city Armenia has one level of local government system comprising of 915 communities. The community governance structure includes a Community Council and the Head of the Community (city mayor or village head). The main legislation regulating the life of the LG is the „Law on Local Self-Governement” which provides that the council and the head are elected directly by local residents for a four-year mandate through general, equal and direct elections by secret ballot. 97% of communities are rural and represent 36% of population. More than 93 % of communities have less than 5000 population, which

means exessive fragmentation of the local level resulting in fiscal disparities and the lack of administrative and fiscal capacity. This fragmentation is broadly understood to be detrimental to the ability of local governments to effectively deliver local government services. However, the central government is seeking to accomplish consolidation of local governments while avoiding compulsory measures to force amalgamation of local government jurisdictions. The legislative framework for local governments clearly defines the functional responsibilities of central government versus local government. The Law on Local Self-Government provides the assignment of local functions and responsibilities. The law distinguishes between the purely own responsibilities of local governments and those delegated to the local level by the state. Own expenditure responsibilities are financed from the local budget: while most own responsibilities have to be provided by all local governments as mandatory responsibilities, other functions can be provided or discontinued at the discretion of local authorities. By contrast, delegated responsibilities are supposed to be financed by the central government, which keeps local authorities accountable for delivery. The head of a community has mandatory and delegated powers in the following spheres: finance, protection of the rights of citizens, protection of public order, defense, planning, development, construction and land use, public utilities and provision amenities, transport, trade and services, education and culture, public health, physical culture and sport, agriculture, nature and environmental protection (Law on Local Self-Government (Articles 32-45). From among these broad areas of responsibility, the main specific local government responsibilities include:  operation of water supply, sewerage, irrigation, central heating and other systems (mandatory) and community structures;  planting and improving the community;  use and maintenance of non-privatized residential buildings and non-residential premises, dormitories, administrative buildings and other structures owned by the community;  ensuring the proper maintenance of cemeteries,  construction, reconstruction and operation of roads, bridges and other engineering structures under the community’s jurisdiction;  construction, maintenance and operation of sanitation facilities,  regulating the operation of public transport in the community,  construction, reconstruction and operation of the community’s irrigation systems;  collection and disposal of waste;  management and operation of kindergartens;  specialized education (music, fine arts, athletics, enhancing technical and creative potential of children);  libraries, museum, cultural centers;  primary health-care stations;

1.2.2. Legal framework on  Land database – As mentioned above, Armenia has a unified electronic system of land registry which consists of the central and territorial bodies. Although with the introduction of electronic cadastre system, land registry is not connected with territorial divisions, however it is local government’s responsibility to issue land use acts and record land/property inventory documents.



Land use planning and zoning



According to the Law on Local Self-Government, it is local government’s responsibility to elaborate and maintain land allocation schemes, city general plans and zoning plans. However, because of extreme fragmentation of local communities and lack of human and financial resources of most of them, only 47 communities have general/master and zoning plans, including 36 out of 49 urban communities (75 %) and 11 out of 866 rural communities (1.5%). The government of Armenia is also taking necessary actions to direct financial sources from some state budget lines to the development and approval of urban development documentation, such as finance from changing categories of land, or from the alienation of state or municipal land plots by LG bodies. To make the process of reforms related to development and approval of urban development documentation (general/master plan, zoning plan, land-use schemes, etc.) a reality, the following recommendations were submitted to the Armenian government: 1) Develop simplified master plans for rural communities. 2) To give free of charge basic information on cadastral, seismic, engineering-geodesic, electronic mapping, information. as encouragement from the state for communities. 3) Allocate money as a state contribution or co-financing in the state budget for development of urban development documents; systematically reduce it year by year (the size of co-financing should be determined by the possibility of the budget for each year). 4) Develop master plans, zoning plans and land-use schemes as one consolidated document. 5) Establish regional and inter-regional (including more than one community) landscape planning documents, which will also consist of zoning plans.  

Urban planning regulations The policy, norms and regulations of urban planning is determined by the Ministry of Urban Development, however their implementation is the rests with the local authority. The head of local self-government is responsible for urban development and land-use activities of the community and as well as for urban development initiatives.

The responsibilities of the local self-government bodies are mainly determined by the Law on Local Selfgovernment including for the management and maintenance of non-privatized residential and nonresidential buildings, support to property management including assistance to condominium associations, the preparation of urban development plans and land use schemes and the provision of public utilities.

 Building permitting regulations Providing of building permits is the responsibility of the local government according to procedures, technical and normative documentations adopted by the government. The steps necessary for getting a building permit is described above. Below is the brief step-by-step description of the building permit regulations in Armenia: 1. The applicant files an application in the Architectural and Urban Development Department of the municipality to obtain architectural-constructional assignment mentioning the purpose of usage, building type and address, the name(s) and license number (s) of the design firm(s). As part of

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

this process, the owner receives technical conditions from appropriate authorities for drawing, building, and using the building's engineering substructures. Request to obtain approval of technical conditions from water, electricity, telecommunication authorities as well as for ecological expertise Hiring of a licensed expert/company to conduct the expertise of architectural drawings Request to obtain building permit Inspection by municipal construction inspection throughout duration of construction Inspection by State Inspection of Urban Development Ministry throughout duration of construction Request to utility companies (electricity, gas, water, sewage, telecommunications) to connect networks Request and receive final municipal inspection to obtain occupancy permit Register the building with the cadastre

1.2.3. Local strategies / programs regarding spatial – economic development The greatest concern with the current local government structure is the large number of extremely small local government jurisdictions. This fragmentation is broadly understood to be detrimental to the ability of local governments to effectively deliver local government services. However, the central government is seeking to accomplish consolidation of local governments while avoiding compulsory measures to force amalgamation of local government jurisdictions. Similarly, the predominant thought is that it would not be desirable (or possible, under the current constitution) to create an additional local government tier above the community level. In order to achieve a less fragmented local government level, the government is pursuing policies that encourage and provide incentives for voluntary permanent amalgamation of jurisdictions. Alternatively, the government is broadening the options and encouraging local governments to establish community associations and especially ‘inter-community unions’ which could serve as a unified service delivery mechanism for multiple local jurisdictions without the permanent legal dissolution of the constituent jurisdictions.

1.2.4. Financing mechanisms for design, permitting and implementation of urban development strategies / plans As a result of the relatively limited expenditure responsibilities assigned to the local level, the share of local budget expenditures in the total government expenditures is rather small. In recent years, total local expenditures have varied roughly in the range from 6-8 per cent of the consolidated national budget. Compounded by the limited scope of the public sector in Armenia’s economy (the public sector comprises around one-fifth of the economy), this means that local governments in Armenia have an extremely small financial resource base; consequently, they are only able to play a very limited role in delivering services to their residents. About 40% of total community budget expenditures are accounted for by wages and payroll taxes. The main functional categories are the administration of local governments, maintenance of housing stock and public utilities, preschool education, culture and sports. These are areas in which local governments have mandatory responsibilities.

Two main types of resource inflows are available to local governments: own source revenues and intergovernmental transfers. The system of intergovernmental transfers includes formula-based equalization transfers (subventions) as well as a number of discretionary subsidies or donations. The revenue assignments contain three elements: shared taxes and shared revenue sources, true own local revenue sources, and local non-tax revenues (including duties and fees). The laws on Budgetary System and Local Self-government introduce tax revenue sharing in Armenia’s budgetary system.

CHAPTER 2 Republic of Armenia: Assessment of Urban Development Capacity 1. Introduction 2. In November-December 2011 the INTEGR-ABLE Project initiated Cities’ Urban Development Capacity Assessment with the purpose to evaluate the cities’ current urban development condition through information provided by the municipality staff on behalf of the local governments. The UFSD expert conducted the Cities’ Urban Development Capacity Assessment in 14 communities1. These communities representing 7 regions (marzes) of Armenia out of total 102 underwent a selection process meeting various criteria for active public participation, willingness to collaborate, public-private partnership as well as other factors presented in the community. In order to have a comprehensive assessment the entire urban development issues were considered regarding to the functional areas below3:  Urban Planning  Specific Economic, Social, Environmental Issues  Quality of Life  Innovation and Entrepreneurship  Infrastructure  Environment  Labor Force  Citizens participation  Institutional Capacity . The current report presents a summary and analysis of the assessment results. However, since the selection of communities is based on certain criteria that already stand them out of many others, the study does not intend to generalize the assessment findings over the rest of communities This report rather intends to present the bigger picture of 14 urban communities’ urban development needs and help only to three selected cities to plan for interventions on the basis of integrated urban development concept, as well as understand the amount of time and resources necessary to design and accomplish these interventions. It will serve the Project to better plan its further activities directed to strengthening institutional capacities for integrated urban development in selected urban communities.

3. Cities’ Urban Development Capacity Assessment Methodology

See Table 1 below for the list of all 14 communities. Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Tavush and Vayots Dzor regions (marzes) 3 Details of each functional area are given in respective sections of questionnaire in Annex 2. 2

The method of the municipality authorities interviewing through questionnaire has been applied for urban development capacity assessment. The methodology includes the following steps:

Step 1. Listing of all urban communities of the country or of the region of the country involved in the INTEGR-ABLE project, with indication of their population Step 2. Classification of cities by their population numbers All of the cities were classified in terms of their population number into 3 groups: large size cities (more than 30,0 thousand people), medium size cities (20,0-30,0 thousand people) and small size cities (less than 20,0 thousand people). This classification is not the same with the national statistics criteria that is coming from the Soviet Union time (for example, a small size city in Armenia is every city with a population less than 50.000). . Step 3. Pre-selection of cities for subsequent correspondence (by e-mail, fax or other means of communication) Fourteen cities with different population number from each group indicated in the previous step have been selected to which letters and questionnaires addressed to the mayors were to be sent Step 4. Delivery of the letters and the questionnaires to pre-selected cities The letters with attached questionnaires have been sent via post/e-mail/fax to mayors of the 14 preselected cities on December 12th 2011 to inform them on the launch of the project and to invite them to participate the cities’ urban development capacity assessment process. The letters also contained a request to mayors for assigning two municipality staff members who would represent their city in the project. The saple letter and questionnaire are attached in Annexes 1 and 2. Step 5. Cities’ short list development. Responses received from municipalities of 10 cities (Armavir, Aparan, Ashtarak, Dilijan, Hrazdan, Etchmiadzin, Masis, Nor Hachn, Yeghvard, Yeghegnadzor) were analyzed and summarized by the experts of the project. After that the cities’ short list was developed and assessed. Based on the assessment results three cities were selected for subsequent visits, data collection and more detailed analysis for further involvement in the project.. Step 6. Selection of three cities. Based on the assessment results, implemented in previous step, three cities are selected for subsequent visits, data collection and more detailed analysis for purpose to support participant cities to get know-

how in elaborating and implementing local projects by following the principles of integrated urban development.  Three cities are selected on the basis of :the quality and quantity of information obtained from the answers to questionnaire,  the willingness of the Mayor to have his city actively involved in the INTEGR-ABLE project,  the existence (within the municiaplity) of department/specialist responsible for urban development (preferably a City Planner),  the existence of the Integrated Urban Development Plan, recently designed and currently in force,  the existence of an updated Master Plan or in progress of updating,  the existence of additional local development strategies, updated and currently in force,

 integrated urban development best practices already implemented in the city (these practices could become future case studies for the project),  specific needs of the city that can be addressed by integrated urban development projects or programs 4. Assessment results generalization 5. Fourteen letters with attached questionnaire have been sent to the municipalities of the Republic of Armenia (Table 1). Out of fourteen municipalities to whom the letters and questionnaires were addressed, ten (Aparan, Armavir, Ashtarak, Dilijan, Hrazdan, Etchmiadzin, Masis, Nor Hachn, Yeghvard, Yeghegnadzor) municipalities sent back completed questionnaires. Four community municipalities highlighted in the table 1 below (Abovyan, Gavar, Charentsavan, Ararat) didn’t respond on the addressed letters and questionnaires. An assessment of ten cities was implemented on the basis of information obtained from completed questionnaires. Results of assessment are presented in the table of Annex 2 and some of them are analyzed in the paragraph 4 below. Table 1. The list of the cities where the letters addressed to mayors have been sent. ##

Cities

Regions

Population, thousand people 57,5 53,2 46,5 33,8 25,7 25 22,4

Mayor name, surname Karen Grigoryan Aram Danielyan Karapet Guloyan Ruben Khlghatyan Gurgen Martirosyan Hakob Shahgaldyan Dmitri Nazaryan

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Etchmiadzin Hrazdan Abovyan * Armavir Gavar Charentsavan Masis

Armavir Kotayk Kotayk Armavir Gegharkunik Kotayk Ararat

8 9

Ararat Ashtarak

Ararat Aragatsotn

20,8 20,8

Abraham Babayan Gagik Tamazyan

Tavush Kotayk Kotayk Vayots Dzor Aragatsotn

15,6 12,3 10,3 8,2 6,6

Armen Santrosyan Norayr Sargsyan Gagik Matosyan Sirekan Babayan Gor Abrahamyan

10 Dilijan * 11 Yeghvard 12 Nor Hachn 13 Yeghegnadzor * 14 Aparan *

Date of City Master Plan Approval 30 November 2006 2007 2006 11.02.2010 N/A 2005 Under updating since 2011 2005 Under updating since 2011 12 December 2006 9 August 2007 7 November 2001 30 November 2006 September 2008

(*) – The cities marked by asterisk have department/specialist dealing with urban development planning/strategy development/program & project development. The cities/towns shouldn’t be considered for the next step of this methodology, if department/specialist engaged with urban development planning/strategy development/program & project development is not existed within the municipality organizational structure. 6. Assessment Findings 7. As it is mentioned above, the functional areas have been identified by the assessment to look at the urban development capacity from various angles. This section summarizes the assessment findings and describes each of the functional areas based on the data collected during the assessment.

4.1.Urban Planning As assessment identified, most of the cities (up to 79%) listed in the Table 1 above have approved Master Plans. Most of the assessed cities’ municipalities (60 %) mentioned that “Community Development Strategy” is the main strategic document that is in force currently in their cities. However some other urban development documentations than Strategy are currently in force in their cities, in particular Urban Development Integrated Plan (Aparan, Yeghegnadzor, Yeghvard, Ashtarak), Sustainable Development Local Plan (Dilijan). In most of the cities (87.5 %) the implementation of the city development strategy and other urban development documentations is coordinated by the City Planner, excepting Hrazdan and Armavir where it is coordinated respectively by the Spatial and Urban development department and Urban development and housing-communal department. (Annex 2). Significant part of the municipalities (40 %) have indicated that limited financial resources are a major problem/challenge in their city that has to be handled in scope of integrated urban development. Besides other problems/challenges have been mentioned. (Table 2).

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Masis

Armavir

Ashtarak

•

Echmiadzin

•

Nor Hachn

•

Yeghvard

Limited financial resources Implementation of Master Plan Landscaping issues Damage rate of some structures Low level of population welfare Intercity streets poor condition Sewer, water and irrigation network poor condition Electricity Urban Development Law maintenance difficulties Low quality of Master Plan Unemployment Professional-retraining Lack of small and medium business Limited job offers Lack of rain water drainage network Insufficient domestic route network of the city's transport Lack of land for planting Master Plan finalizing Linear infrastructure renovation Separate districts zoning Infrastructure is developed not fully

Yeghegnadzor

Hrazdan

8 9

Dilijan

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Problems/challenges

Aparan

Table 2. The major problems/challenges that each city should handle in scope of integrated urban development.

• • • •

• • •

• • • • • • • • •

• •

• • • • •

• •

The municipalities have mentioned in their questionnaires what type of external support they would like to get in scope of developing and implementing projects targeting integrated urban development in their city. Summarized answers are presented in the Table 3 below.

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

• • •

Masis

Armavir

Ashtarak

Echmiadzin

Nor Hachn

Yeghvard

Yeghegnadzor

•

Hrazdan

Financial support Partnership Consulting Landscaping Provide examples of successful project implementation referred to institutional field Investment projects development (share of experience) Population awareness raising in urban development issues (share of experience) Foreign Experience exchange Roads renovation Parks development Infrastructure integrated development projects Production capacity operation Landfill and waste disposal projects implementation

Dilijan

Type of external support

Aparan

Table 3. Types of external support that municipalities would like to get in scope of developing and implementing projects targeting integrated urban development in their cities.

• •

•

• • • • • • • • • •

All of the municipalities (excepting Nor Hachn) indicated three zones that are prioritized in accordance with city master plan with purpose to use them for residential (Aparan, Ashtarak, Armavir, Dilijan, Hrazdan, Etchmiadzin, Yeghegnadzor, Yeghvard), industrial (Aparan, Armavir, Yeghegnadzor, Yeghvard, Etchmiadzin), public (Aparan, Ashtarak, Armavir, Dilijan, Hrazdan, Yeghegnadzor) and agricultural (Etchmiadzin) development. As some of municipalities pointed, in the last three years their cities have implemented some successful integrated urban development projects like roads covering capital renovation and parks development in Etchmiadzin, drinking and irrigation water supply improvement in Hrazdan, health and culture centers renovation in Aparan, city center modification, new museum and art gallery building and “Old Dilijan” district restoration in Dilijan. Nothing was mentioned on successful integrated urban development projects by the municipalities of Nor Hachn, Ashtarak and Armavir. Municipalities presented their readiness to exchange their experience with partner cities of Romania, Georgia, Moldova in implementation of some urban planning/integrated development projects like ecotourism and Yerevan agglomeration considerations (Ashtarak), improvement programs (Etchmiadzin),

planning and urban development programs (Hrazdan), city four-year development plan (Aparan), city center modification (Dilijan), recreation zone organization (Yeghvard).

4.2. Specific Economic, Social, Environmental Issues The functional area on Specific Economic, Social, and Environmental Issues assesses the municipalities’ concerns/challenges effecting their cities to strategically plan for integrated urban development. It evaluates the knowledge of municipalities on the existing obstacles preventing farther urban development. Eighty percent of all assessed cities’ municipalities mentioned unemployment as a dominant economic concern affecting their cities. Among the social factors, eighty percent of the assessed cities’ municipalities indicated that “creating an efficient healthcare and social service system” is a major factor of concern. Environmental issues in the competence of the local authorities are different in various cities (detailed information is presented in the point 12 of the table of Annex 2).

4.3. Quality of Life The functional area on Quality of Life assesses how essential services are available for people, the level of crime rate in the city and cultural life activity. Almost all of the municipalities (90 %) indicated that all the areas of their city have access to all essential services. The municipalities indicated that crime rate is reasonably controlled (50%) or very low everywhere in their city (60 %). Seventy percent of the municipalities noted that cultural events are frequent, but cultural life at the community level is not vibrant, alternative artistic expressions are rare ????.

4.4.Innovation and Entrepreneurship This functional area generally focuses on two sides of communities’ urban condition – (1) cities businesses successful in bringing new products and services to the market, and (2) the number of start-up businesses that are founded during one year in the city to gauge the urban condition currently existed for entities development. Forty percent of the municipalities designated that there are almost no new products or services, while in 50% of assessed cities domestic firms are pioneering their own innovative technologies and services. In general the number of start-ups is not significant in the assessed communities. In some communities like Dilijan and Yeghegnadzor there are a few start-up businesses with little success, in other communities like Aparan, Yeghvard, Etchmiadzin, Ashtarak and Armavir there are some successful start-ups but mostly in the trade and service sectors, while only in Hrazdan there are some successful start-ups in manufacturing sector in addition to trade and services. 4.5.Infrastructure In the area of infrastructure local governments among other things are responsible for the quality of service provision (including roads and other transport infrastructures, public utilities for gas, electricity and water supply, wastewater treatment, etc.) to the people. In other words, the local government has to provide high quality of municipal infrastructure to be able to ensure the high level life standards in their community. Most of the municipalities (90%) have reported that infrastructures in their cities generally work well but need investment and upgrading to be efficient. Only a few municipalities (Aparan, Ashtarak and Masis) indicated that existing infrastructures are insufficient to cater for all citizens. Besides, in 80 percent of the assessed cities basic amenities (parks, restaurants, gyms) are available, but their number and quality is insufficient. Only two municipalities (Aparan and Nor Hachn) pointed that there are very few amenities and they are in a poor state. Fifty percent of the municipalities of the assessed cities indicated that there are a few comfortable houses in the city. However they are affordable only for a very few people. Only in Yeghvard it was mentioned that the majority of houses in the city centre are old with high rents. However there are many new comfortable and affordable houses in periphery of the city. Hrazdan and Ashtarak municipalities indicated that in their cities there is no adequate and affordable housing offer to all of citizens. Masis municipality pointed that the majority of the houses in the city are not comfortable and the rents are very high.

4.6. Environment In some communities like Hrazdan, Yeghegnadzor, Yeghvard, Nor Hachn, Ashtarak and Armavir the city parks and green zones are generally in a good state, maintenance and protection measures are in place, in other communities like Dilijan, Nor Hachn and Masis the city has many parks or green zones, however, they are suffering from intense urban pressure and their state is deteriorating. Only Etchmiadzin municipality indicated that the city has many high quality parks and green zones and all citizens have easy access to them. Fifty percent of the municipalities (Aparan, Dilijan, Hrazdan, Nor Hachn and Masis) mentioned that their city is neither pedestrian-friendly, nor are there extensive pedestrian zones. Generally in the cities there are no special provisions for bicycle users and only in some communities like Yeghegnadzor, Yeghvard, Ashtarak and Armavir a few measures, such as pedestrian malls, have been taken to make the city more attractive for pedestrians and cycle users. However, the scale of such measures is limited and insufficient to reverse the trend of automobile reliance. Only Etchmiadzin pointed that the city has various popular car-free zones and bike lanes are in place, but these still do not cover important city areas.

4.7. Labor Force The rate of the city’s science and technology education quality indicates the possibilities of skilled and educated labor force provision for the local economy. In some communities it was indicated that education in science and technology is poor (Dilijan) or good (Yeghegnadzor) and the numbers of yearly graduates are very low. In 40% of communities like Hrazdan, Yeghvard, Ashtarak and Masis the municipalities rated the science and technology education as good, however it was noted that research activities have a small impact on the economy. Besides in some communities like Dilijan, Hrazdan, Ashtarak and Armavir the proportion of highly-skilled workers has been growing in recent years, however almost in all of the cities (excepting Yeghvard) they don’t play a very important role in the city’s economy. While some of the cities like Aparan, Hrazdan and Yeghegnadzor do not provide any healthcare system or social life activities to older people and this cause a major social problem, other cities like Nor Hachn, Etchmiadzin, Ashtarak, Armavir and Masis provide some or good quality (Dilijan and Etchmiadzin) of healthcare and social activities for older people, however primarily older people care and social needs are covered by their families. Only Yeghvard municipality indicated that the city provides very good quality of care system and social activities and most of elderly people are able to participate in these activities.

4.8. Citizens participation Some of the community municipalities noted that citizens’ participation in community-based groups is very low (Dilijan, Hrazdan, Nor Hachn), others pointed that there are several (Yeghegnadzor, Yegvard, Etchmiadzin and Armavir) or a lot (Aparan and Ashtarak) of community-based groups and many people participate there actively. In some of the assessed cities like Aparan and Nor Hachn it was noted that majority of citizens are not interested in participating in volunteer organizations, in other communities like Dilijan, Hrazdan and Yeghegnadzor the municipalities indicated that there are only a few citizens who participate in volunteer organizations in their city. Forty percent of communities (Yeghvard, Etchmiadzin, Ashtarak, Armavir) indicated that the level of citizens’ participation in volunteer organizations is around the average. Only Masis municipality pointed that citizens are strongly interested in volunteer organizations and there are a lot of active NGOs which are engaged in national and international networking .

4.9. Institutional Capacity One of the main condition for sustainable urban development is citizens participation in the municipal decision making process. Community councils are responsible to ensure this condition in their communities. In seventy percent of the communities (Aparan, Hrazdan, Nor Hachn, Etchmiadzin, Ashtarak, Armavir, Masis) participated in the assessment the municipalities pointed that the private sector, NGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and local community groups are generally involved in policy-deliberation processes with agenda setting, deciding procedures and monitoring methods, and all opinions are properly reflected in the final decision. However another assessment, where only citizens (but not municipalitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; authorities) have been involved, shows that community councils are not fully performing an adequate work in this area and in most of communities urban policies are being decided by public officials only4. In regard to municipalitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; aid to start-up and new businesses, some of municipalities like Aparan, Dilijan, Yeghegnadzor indicated that the municipalities does not offer any direct support, others (Nor Hachn, Ashtarak and Armavir) pointed that a limited number of resources, including information services, are available to support them. A few municipalities (Hrazdan and Yeghvard) indicated that an extensive network of support exists, extending to the creation of specific business zones and / or science parks.

The assessment was implemented by the bachelor students of Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction in November 2011 under supervision of Professor I .Gh. Vanyan. Report on this assessment is available for all interested people in the UFSD office.

Annex 1. Letter to Mayors

To Mr. _______________________________________ Mayor of ____________________________ City/Town ....................... 2011 Dear Mr. Mayor, You are kindly informed that the Project „Capacity for Integrated Urban Development INTEGR-ABLE” financed by the JOINT OPERATIONAL PROGRAM „BLACK SEA 2007 – 2013” is launched in the Republic of Armenia in October, 2011. The project is implemented by the Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development (Armenia) in conjunction with Romania, Georgia and Moldova partner organizations. The overall objective of the project is to upgrade professional capacity of the municipality staff engaged with integrated urban development issues in the cities of Black Sea, to learn of the European experience and to use the integrated urban development approach in the cities involved in the program. Three urban communities of the Republic of Armenia will be selected for participation in the project. An opportunity to make a study tour to Romania is planned for the municipalities’ urban planning staff members of the selected three cities, as well as they will be provided by consultancy support in some urban development issue. This letter is addressed to you for case, if you are interested to participate in the project with purpose of three cities final selection. You are kindly requested to fill in attached questionnaire and send it back to the UFSD till December 19th, 2011 by fax or post. We will contact to you again after generalization of all municipalities’ responses to get an arrangement about further steps. For getting any additional information, please contact Irina Vanyan by phone at numbers: (093) 56-28-99 (cell phone), (010) 51-20-70 (office), fax (010) 51-20-76 or by e-mail at irinavanyan@gmail.com. We looking forward for your participation and thank you in advance. Yours sincerely, Armine Tukhikyan, Project manager Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development Address: RoA, Yerevan, 0070 Alex Manoogyan, 9 Telephone: (010) 51-20-70, (010) 51-20-72 Fax: (010) 51-20-76 E-mail address:. ufsd@aua.am WEB site: http://www.urbanfoundation.am

a b c d e 3

a b c 5

Updating in work since............................... In accordance with the City Master, please specify what zones of the city offer priority for investments and what categories of land use are proposed in these zones (please indicate at least 3 zones) Zone.................................................... / Land use......................................... Zone.................................................... / Land use........................................ Zone.................................................... / Land use....................................... What are the institutional structures/departments of the local government that coordinate the implementation of the City Development Strategy and/or of other urban development documentations? City Planner

+ +

Masis

Armavir

Ashtarak

Yeghvard

Yeghegnadzor

Hrazdan

Echmiadzin

a b c d e 2

Nor Hachn

I. Urban Planning What kind of urban development strategies are currently in force in your city? When have they been made and how long are they effectual? Sustainable Development Strategy Spatial Development Strategy Community Development Strategy Touristic Marketing Strategy Other strategies (please specify) What other types of urban development documentations than strategy (plans, programs, projects, regulations, etc) are currently in force in your city? When have they been made and how long are they effectual? Urban Development Integrated Plan Sustainable Development Local Plan / Local Agenda 21 Urban Revitalization Plan of Specific Zone Revitalization Integrated Plan of …………………….. Zone Other types of documentations (please specify)............... Land using plan When was the City Master Plan of your city approved? In case the updating of the City Master Plan is currently in work, please specify when the updating works have been started. Date of approval................................/

Dilijan

Aparan

Annex 2. Summarized information obtained from the the Municipalities’ responses.

+ + +

+ +

Answers are summarized in the table 1 above

Answers are summarized in the text of this report

b c d

e 6

a b c

d e f 11

Department of Urban and Regional Planning or similar Department of European Programs & Projects Development or similar Department of Development, Planning and Strategy or similar Other departments (please specify)....................................................................... ........ What are the major problems/challenges that your city should handle in scope of integrated urban development? (please specify at least 3 problems/challenges) What successful projects on integrated urban development were implemented in your city in the last 3 years? What type of external support would you like to get in scope of developing and implementing projects targeting integrated urban development in your city? What local projects or experiences in planning/implementing integrated urban development projects would you like to share with the partner cities from the rest of countries (Armenia, Georgia, Moldova)?

II. Specific Issues In your opinion, which are the main ECONOMIC concerns/challenges affecting your city? (Multiple choice). Creating high-value-added, knowledge-intensive jobs to solve current unemployment & low-paid, lowproductivity economy. Creating fair and just society, to solve current poverty and inequality in wealth and opportunities. Develop high quality infrastructure to solve current shortage and under-maintenance of public infrastructures (roads, rails, bridges, parks, etc.). Create an energy efficient city to solve current unstable energy supply & high prices (including electricity, fuel, gas). Creating a effectively governed city without corruption and fraud.

Answers are summarized in the table 2 above

Answers are summarized in the text of this report

Answers are summarized in the table 3 above

Answers are summarized in the text of this report

b c

Creating an efficient healthcare and social service system to replace current deficient service system

+ +

CommentaČ&#x203A;i In your opinion, which are the main SOCIAL concerns/challenges affecting your city? Creating an open tolerant society without discrimination and/or racism. Creating a safe and secure city without crimes & insecurity.

+ +

d e f 12

Ensuring everybody equal educational opportunities to rectify current unequal educational opportunities. Securing equal opportunities for immigrant population. Commentați

Access to clean water and sewage to everybody as my city so many people do not have access.

Creating efficient waste management & recycling systems as my city remains at small recycling ratio. Effectively preventing deforestation, reduction of biodiversity, and increasing urban green areas, as my city faces serious reduction of greens.

e f 13

a b c d e f 14 a b c d e f 15 a b

In your opinion, which are the main ENVIRONMENTAL concerns/challenges affecting your city? (Multiple choice). Ensuring clean air and water quality by substantially improving the current hazardous level of pollution (including air pollution, pesticides).

+ +

Please describe the level of crime rate in your city. Crime rates are very high in any area of the city. Crime rates are high in some parts of the city . Crime rate is reasonably controlled . Crime rates are low in most areas of the city. Crime rate is very low everywhere in the city. Commentați

Promoting renewable energies and stop excessive energy consumption from non-renewable sources. Commentați III. Quality of Life How many areas in your city have access to all essential services (i.e. water supply, electricity, transportation, etc.)? A very small number of areas have access to all essential services. Houses in a limited areas in the city have access to basic services. Many houses have access to all essential services. Majority of houses have access to essential services. All the areas have access to all essential services . Commentați

+ +

How many concerts, theatre pieces and other artistic events are yearly performed in your city? Cultural events are almost inexistent. City has basic cultural events, but the cultural atmosphere is perceived as not stimulating.

c d e f

Artistic events are frequent, but cultural life at the community level is not vibrant. Alternative artistic expressions are rare. Artistic scene is lively and diverse, including alternative artistic performances. . As in (4) + The city has become a cultural and artistic reference on the international stage. Commentați IV.

16 a b c d e f 17 a b c d e f

a b c d

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

How successful are businesses in you city in bringing new products and services to the market?. There are almost no new products or services.

There are a few new products based on imitation of foreign technologies or replication of services. There are new products based on imported or licensed technologies. There are some new products based on imported technologies which incorporate domestic improvements. Domestic firms are pioneering their own innovative technologies and services. Commentați How high is the number of start-up businesses that are yearly founded in your city?. Small number of start-ups. A few start-ups with little success. Some successful start-ups but mostly in the trade and service sectors. Some successful start-ups in manufacturing sector in addition to trade and services. Many successful start-ups mostly in the high-tech sector. Commentați V. Infrastructure How good is the quality of municipal infrastructures (including roads and other transport infrastructures, public utilities for gas, electricity and water supply, wastewater treatment, etc.) in your city?. Roads and rails are in deteriorated state; utilities services don’t reach all citizens . Existing infrastructures are insufficient to cater for all citizens. Infrastructures generally work well but need investment and upgrading to be efficient.

+ +

Infrastructures are modern, well-maintained and able to provide quality services to all citizens.

e f 19

a b c d e f 20 a b

e f

As (4) + infrastructures incorporate latest technology to protect the environment and reduce costs. CommentaČ&#x203A;i Does your city have good urban amenities, such as parks and open spaces, sport centers, coffee shops, restaurants, shopping malls, etc.? There are very few amenities and in a poor state. City has basic amenities (parks, restaurants, gyms), but their number and quality is insufficient. . City has a good set of amenities, but its leisure offer and night life lack variety. The city has high quality amenities and its leisure and night offer is vibrant. As (4) + city enjoys international reputation for its leisure offer. CommentaČ&#x203A;i

+ +

Does your city offer adequate and affordable housing to all of its citizens? The majority of the houses in the city are not comfortable and the rents are very high. There are a few comfortable houses in the city. However they are affordable only for a very few people . The majority of houses in the city centre are old with high rents. However there are many new comfortable and affordable houses in periphery of the city . Mortgage market has developed enabling may people to buy houses. Public housing are available for lowincome people.. In addition to (4), houses are high quality satisfying diverse life-style needs, energy efficient and well designed for elderly people. CommentaČ&#x203A;i VI. Environment Please describe the quality of parks and green zones in your city. Parks and green zones in the city are few and in a deplorable state. No maintenance or protection measures are in place.. The city has many parks or green zones. However, they are suffering from intense urban pressure and their state is deteriorating. Few protection measures are in place.. The city's parks and green zones are generally in a good state. Maintenance and protection measures are in place. The city has many high quality parks and green zones and all citizens have easy access to them. Every neighborhoods has small open spaces for children to play. Effective protection and maintenance measures

+ +

are in place. e f 22

a b c d

e f 24

As in (4) + Civic investment among residents and businesses to promote preservation of green areas is high.. Commentați Please describe the quality of infrastructures for pedestrians and cycle users in your city The city is neither pedestrian-friendly, nor are there extensive pedestrian zones. No special provisions have been made for cycle users A few measures, such as pedestrian malls, have been taken to make the city more attractive for pedestrians and cycle users. However, the scale of such measures is limited and insufficient to reverse the trend of automobile reliance The city has various popular car-free zones. Bike lanes are in place, but these still do not cover important city areas. The city has popular car-free zones and bike lanes are present in most city areas. The needs of pedestrians and cycle users are taken into account during city planning. Streets are attractive to pedestrians (e.g. landscaping, sculptures, and seating). As in (4) + The city endorses innovative urban planning policies to facilitate non-automobile transport (e.g. light-weight trams, bike sharing schemes) and has suppressed car-traffic in the urban centre. Measures have proved successful in increasing the number of non-motorized trips Commentați VII. Labor Force How high would you rate the quality of the city’s science and technology (S&T) education in universities and colleges?. Education in S&T is poor. Numbers of yearly graduates in S&T are very low. S&T education is good, but numbers of yearly graduates in S&T rest low. S&T education is good. Research activities have a small impact on the economy. Universities contribute to the local economy with high numbers of yearly graduates in S&T ; applied research has a direct impact on local business. As (4) + Universities provide a hub for research and knowledge transfer networks and attract many international students.. Commentați

+ + +

How high is the proportion of highly-skilled workers (i.e. bachelor’s degree or certified higher vocational skills) or above) employed in your city?.

a b c d e f 25

e f

a b c d e f

Most citizens have low-skilled jobs in the working or the service sectors. Some highly-skilled jobs are offered, but the working and service classes remain largely predominant. While still representing a moderate share, the proportion of highly-skilled workers has been growing in recent years.. Highly-skilled workers play a very important role in the city’s economy. As in (4) + the city attracts world-class talented people in different fields of profession. Commentați Are elderly people in your city able to lead a healthy and active social life?. The city does not provide any healthcare system or social life activities to older people and this cause a major social problem. The city provides some healthcare and social activities for older people but primarily their care and social needs (i.e. entertainment) are covered by their families . The city provides to older people good quality of care system and social activities. However, their major problem is that are isolated and they do not have opportunities for social participation . The city provides very good quality of care system and social activities and most of elderly people are able to participate in these activities. The city provides very high quality social activities and health services to the elderly people. There is a system to support voluntary care-givers.. Commentați VIII. Citizens participation What is the level of citizens’ participation in one of the following community-based groups: sports club, youth group, parent association, veterans group, neighborhood association, seniors group, charity, art, hobby, self-help, and other? Citizens’ participation in community-based groups is very low. There are only a few community-groups and citizens’ participation is low There are several community-based groups and many people participate actively. As in (3) + there are a lot of community-based groups and the majority of citizens participate in at least one of the groups.

+ +

Most of citizens participate in at least one communitybased group, and they frequently join such activities.. Commentați

a b c d

e f

a b

e f 29

a b c

What is the level of citizens’ participation in volunteer organizations to pursue common social goals, such as environmental protection, poverty alleviation, helping youth and other vulnerable people, human rights? The majority of citizens are not interested in participating in volunteer organizations. There are only a few citizens who participate in volunteer organizations . The level of citizens’ participation in volunteer organizations is around the average.

+ +

The level of citizens’ participation in volunteer organizations is high and their activities are vigorous.. Citizens are strongly interested in volunteer organizations and there are a lot of active NGOs which are engaged in national and international networking . Commentați IX. Institutional Capacity How active is the city council (or other municipal officials) in promoting the citizens’ participation in the municipal decision making process? Urban policies are being decided by public officials only. Stakeholders participating in policy-making are in the form of consultation and the participants are chosen by public officials.. Stakeholders can participate in policy deliberation processes. However, agenda setting, deciding procedures, and monitoring methods are decided by the public officials; minor community The private sector, NGO’s and local community groups are generally involved in policy-deliberation processes with agenda setting, deciding procedures and monitoring methods. All opinions are properly reflected in the final decision . As in (4) +Community organizations are involved in policy-decisions and budgetary allocation and management in community-based projects. Commentați What kinds of support services (such as business advice, support for intellectual property, financial incentives, grants and subsidies, access to government contracts, technology and business infrastructure) does the local administration provide to support start-ups and new businesses? The municipality does not offer any direct support A limited number of resources, including information services, are available A combination of information services and direct support is provided, including some financial incentives.

+ + +

e f

An extensive network of support exists, extending to the creation of specific business zones and / or science parks. As in (4) + with business zones and / or science parks recognized for their excellence and delivering high business success rates. CommentaČ&#x203A;i