IDEAS FOR SZCZECIN

Key findings from the 3rd meeting (March, 2, 2010)

1. It is better to focus first on the development, expansion and health of the local economy in order to generate income for local government, to improve business stability, and to generate a feeling of a future in the region.

From overseas experience, businesses which start in a difficult financial climate usually fail in 2-3 yrs. While it is easy to state the problem lies with the business owner, it is possible for local government to monitor and advise on good business practices. Classes can be started for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year business people to come and learn the skills they need to grow. The business to population ratio is high in Szczecin, so the willingness is there. Local government can help by supporting education of the business people. A city which supports local business is much more attractive to investors and residents. The existing paper trail to register/start a business is unnecessary. The motivation behind starting a business should be local promotion rather than control. Too many decisions are left to the hands of a few individuals who have no peer review.

There are many organizations with capital for business development, and local government can promote these without needing to offer tax breaks or other income losing incentives to attract business to the area. An example could be discounted public transport to workplaces.

2. A second focus should be placed on attracting service based industries into Szczecin. Service based industries typically employ 4 to 5 times more people than production based industries. They are more in tune with current educational offerings in Szczecin than heavy industry. Green industry is growing rapidly, solar heating, waste recycling, wind powered generators, and the like. There are ample places to site these in the region.

3. A third focus should be improving integration with schools, universities, polytechnics etc and business needs in the region. If educational institutes produce graduates who are not needed in the local economy, it shows a complete lack of integration between the needs of the region and the education goals. Local government should be placing more emphasis on educating to meet the needs of the local area. Another 500 teachers is pointless for 20 vacancies. If businesses are looking for specific skills, they should be met by local education services. The needs must be matched by the education sector. If they don't talk now to each other at themoment to synchronize their plans, it is up to local government to make sure it helps make it happen. Local government can do a lot to invest in the future of the region by investing in the resources it already has.

4. A fourth focus should be on the teaching of "service" at all levels of society. From a foreign perspective, the word "service" means satisfying the customer. It appears that the Polish perspective means "more hard work for no reward". A complete programme to teach the "western service perspective" of "service" needs to be implemented at EVERY level of society and business. The gains are: co-operative business relationships, trust between people, a tidier city, more respect to clerks and administrators, honesty, recognition of contribution, fair prices for fair work, a shift away from laziness. A typical result would be a complete lack of dog faeces on the streets, much less litter, less graffiti, less vandalism.

5. A final prime focus should be on the maintenance and development of infrastructure in the region. Road maintenance, transport planning, cleaning the Odra River and zalew, matching the needs of the people to the services provided, quality work. For anyone with a car with small wheels or who rides a bicycle will know, the road maintenance plan hasn't worked. The length of time it takes to complete projects is ridiculous by foreign standards. If work starts, it should finished quickly. Instead of 5 open projects, finish just 1, then start the second etc. If there are reasons why work can't continue, the priority is fixing the problem.

Presented at the meeting by Peter Robb

1. Under the objective "Szczecin- a city of a high quality of life" we thought it is most important to concentrate on the revitalization of the inner-city. When “lack of life” is the problem, the solution is to activate the place where city life has its place: the city centre. This matches probably good with the proposed strategic activity "activities related to the development of a socio-cultural centre of Szczecin, based on the existing city centre development and opportunities for the development of the Międzyodrze areas".

The revitalization of the inner-city includes riverside development at the other side of the river. A suggestion was to locate an expo centre (convention centre, fairs) at the other side of river, best vis-a-vis the railway station. Like in Poznan the fairs would be next to the station, instead of at the right bank where presently MTS (fairs) is located.
In the inner-city revitalization an important sub-activity is to improve courtyards within the city blocks. Car parking should be prohibited inside the city blocks. Instead green children playgrounds should be made. In this way living the inner-city could be made attractive again.


2. Another important activity under "Szczecin - a city of high quality of life" would be decent CITY
MANAGEMENT, which is about street cleaning, limiting billboards and advertisements, eliminating put holes, painting facades, etc. A more ambitious heading for this issue could be BEAUTIFICATION.


3. Further it was mentioned that it would be a strategic activity to see if we can offer within city boundaries affordable plots for one-family housing. This to prevent further urban sprawl. The many one-family houses in the municipalities around Szczecin are bit by bit destroying the natural landscape.


4. Under "social capital" it was suggested, inspired by a program from the USA, to offer after-school training for children in team-working. This could be done in schools or community centers. When lack of cooperation is a problem, it would be a good idea to train at least the next generation in how to cooperate.


5. Under "business" some suggestions were made for new activities, one under the heading "preventive medical centre" (as too many people die relatively young), another under the heading "green industry".

Presented at the meeting by Hans van de Sanden

IDEAS FOR SZCZECIN

Key findings from the 1st meeting (October, 13, 2009)

1. Improve the beauty of the city:
• Renovation program for old buildings;
• Limit the number of billboards / ads signs in the city;
• Dog’s mess – make the law executed :
•regulate what animals you can keep in the city centre;
•create the dog toilets;
•educate owners;
•solve the problem of the noise pollution.

2. Create the heart of the city
• New old town – create a “fish market” or any other market instead of parking in the middle of the square;
• Wharf project = floating garden;
• Keep the original spirit of Szczecin - find the features which distinguish Szczecin from other cities and emphasize them;
• Create the relationship between the city and the river:
•develop the river area (housing / offices / shopping / entertainment – an idea for beach bar);
•make possibility to walk around the river;
•the pedestrian bridge in front of the railway station connecting the shores;
•boat river transportation.

3. The information for visitors
• Create a well-known website, incl. a practical guide for tourists and also some useful information for businessmen;
• Organize more events and advertise them outside the city;
• Promote Szczecin in different countries, especially in Berlin.

4. Railway station
• Make the railway station more representative and friendly for visitors;
• Provide information for international passengers (at least in English and German);
• Make the railway station announcements more understandable for passengers;
• Renovate the area around the station (especially the route from the station to the city center (including 3 Maja Str.);
• Make the taxi in front of railway station safer and more friendly;

5. Transport
• Ring road / tunnels;
• Demographics survey;
• Improve public transportation system;
• Improve bus and tram networks schemes and place them at the bus and tram stations;
• Alternative transportation;
• Create more bicycle paths.

6. Education
• Take advantage of the location of Szczecin – close to Berlin and Scandinavia
• Develop an international cooperation between universities, particularly with universities in Germany and Scandinavia;
• Create more exchange programs and new specializations (i.e. the PhD studies in
English);
• Promote higher education of Szczecin;
• Improve the way of teaching (teach students to be more creative rather than delivering tasks and projects, teach them to have goals and how to achieve them);
• Attract graduates to stay in Szczecin (talent leaves!!!);
• Academy of Art.

7. Szczecin, a place to invest
• Develop new core biz for the city in cooperation with universities (skilled labour);
Green technology: i.e. wind farms, science, find success stories (of cooperation)
worldwide;
• Invest in Human Resources and offer skilled labour;
• (still) Cheap labour comparing to other EU countries;
• Take advantage of Szczecin’s location which gives excellent transport connections – motorways to West Europe, ferry connections with Denmark, Sweden and Finland, air connections to practically every place in the world through Berlin airports and Szczecin-Goleniów.

8. Miscellaneous
• Skateboard facilities;
• Children war fun park.

Ze statystyk i dyskusji eksperckich wyłania się trudny i mało budujący obraz szczecińskiej gospodarki. Ostatecznym dowodem słabej kondycji gospodarczej Szczecina jest niska dynamika PKB na mieszkańca – zdecydowanie najniższa wśród dużych miast polskich.