About social dialogue and participation

PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS are a process in which government authorities (e.g., national government, local government) seek the opinions of citizens regarding planned decisions, projects, or changes in the law. It is a form of dialogue between representatives of local authorities and residents. They provide an opportunity to hear what residents need and what concerns they have about planned actions. It is a way to gather various perspectives and take them into account when making important decisions. Through consultations, people can express their views, make comments, or propose alternative solutions. The goal is to better tailor plans to the needs of the community and ensure that decisions are more understandable and accepted by residents. Consultations can also help resolve conflicts in the city.

Public consultations may be:

• MANDATORY: e.g., with residents of a municipality before merging two administrative units, or adopting a municipal development strategy or the statute of a subsidiary unit,

• OPTIONAL: in matters affecting the life, work, or earnings of residents of a given municipality, county, and province.

If required by specific laws, local governments may conduct public consultations on matters important to local communities. Various legal provisions apply to the implementation of public consultations. Public consultations may be conducted, among others, in the following areas:

• MATTERS IMPORTANT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY, including changes in the boundaries of administrative and subsidiary units (consultations at the initiative of the president, city council, or residents), as follows from the Act on Municipal Self-Government of 1990. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU19900160095/U/D19900095Lj.pdf

• CONSULTATIONS WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS, as follows from the Act on Public Benefit Activities and Volunteering of 2003. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20030960873/U/D20030873Lj.pdf

• STRATEGIC PLANNING - i.e., consultations on municipal strategy projects, as follows from the Act on the Principles of Conducting Development Policy of 2006. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20062271658/U/D20061658Lj.pdf

• SPATIAL PLANNING - i.e., local plans and studies of the conditions and directions of spatial development, as follows from the Planning and Spatial Management Act of 2003. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20030800717/U/D20030717Lj.pdf

• REVITALIZATION - consultations on the municipal revitalization program, or the designation of a degraded area, as follows from the Revitalization Act of 2015. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20150001777/U/D20151777Lj.pdf

• ENVIRONMENT - i.e., consultations on investments affecting the environment, as follows from the Act on Access to Environmental Information, Public Participation in Environmental Protection and Environmental Impact Assessments of 2008 and the Environmental Protection Law of 2001. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20081991227/U/D20081227Lj.pdf; https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20010620627/U/D20010627Lj.pdf

In the Municipality of Stalowa Wola, public consultations are conducted by the City Office, through specific units or departments, depending on the issue being consulted.

In Stalowa Wola, there is no single common resolution that comprehensively regulates the rules for conducting consultations with the residents of the City of Stalowa Wola. For this reason, the process of public consultations on a given topic requires the adoption of an appropriate resolution of the Stalowa Wola City Council each time. Resolutions in this regard are adopted in accordance with current needs, e.g. in the development of assumptions for the city's development strategy, the development of a revitalization program, etc.

Many methods of conducting public consultations can be distinguished, such as:

• WRITTEN CONSULTATIONS - residents can submit their opinions, comments, or proposals in writing, e.g. by e-mail, online form, or traditional mail.

• OPEN MEETINGS - public meetings are organized where residents can directly talk to government representatives, ask questions, and share their opinions, e.g. using business breakfasts, non-governmental afternoon teas, etc.

• WRITTEN AND ONLINE SURVEYS AND POLLS - residents are asked to complete surveys or participate in polls, which help gather opinions on a given topic.

• WORKSHOPS AND DEBATES - these are meetings where residents can jointly discuss specific topics, propose solutions, and discuss planned actions.

• CITIZEN PANELS - these are special groups of residents who are selected randomly or based on certain criteria to represent different social groups and work on specific problems.

• ONLINE CONSULTATIONS - can take the form of video conferences, live chats, or discussions on online forums, which makes it easier for people who cannot be present in person to participate.

• INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS - a "one-on-one" conversation between the interviewer and the participant. The purpose of such a conversation is to obtain detailed information on a given topic. Because the conversation is private, the participant may feel more comfortable and open to sharing their thoughts. This is particularly useful when the topic is difficult or requires a deeper understanding of individual experiences and opinions.

• GROUP INTERVIEWS - often called "focus groups", this is a conversation with several people at once. People participating in such a conversation can exchange ideas, discuss and react to the opinions of other participants. Thanks to this, the interviewer can see how different people think about a given topic and what their mutual influences are. This is a good method when it is important to understand a variety of perspectives or when you want to see how a group of people can jointly solve a given problem.

• DIAGNOSTIC WORKSHOPS - meetings during which residents of a given place, experts, and decision-makers work together to understand the problems and needs of the community. During such workshops, participants share their opinions, observations, and ideas, as well as analyze various issues that affect their daily lives. The goal of these workshops is to gather information and understand problems in order to better plan and implement projects in the future that will meet the real needs of the community.

• PARTICIPATORY BUDGET - this is a way for residents to decide on a portion of the money allocated for projects in their area. In short, it is a process in which residents can submit their ideas for local investments or actions, and then vote on those that they believe are most important.

• RESEARCH WALKS - involve a joint walk with residents, officials and experts around a given area to talk about its problems and needs. During such a walk, participants can see live what needs improvement, e.g. the condition of roads, sidewalks, lighting or greenery. Thanks to this, it is easier to understand what needs to be changed, and together find the best solutions. This is a form of dialogue where everyone can express their opinion and influence the planned changes in their area.

• STATIONARY AND MOBILE CONSULTATION POINTS - places where residents can come and talk about important matters concerning their community. These are "point" places where you can get information, ask questions, share your opinions and submit ideas or problems. The aim of these points is to better understand the needs and opinions of people and to jointly seek solutions to local problems. These points can be stationary or mobile, e.g. in the form of meetings under a tent in a given estate or during city events. Points can operate under an interesting slogan, e.g. "coffee and cake for an idea for the city".