500,000 Euros for a New Tourism Information System? and Other Topics - Naumburg City Council Meeting

It’s after 6 p.m., and I welcome our Mayor to the city council meeting, which I hereby open. I greet the present councilors, the employees of the city administration, our Naumburg residents and those from the districts, and of course, the invitation was duly sent to you. The agenda is before you. Are there any requests for changes to the agenda? Mr. Ghoff, good evening. First of all, I would like to move agenda item 15 to the A-list, and if I may make a second request, I would like it to be discussed before agenda item 7, as the first item to be addressed. So, item 15 should come before item 7. Exactly. Are there any further requests for changes? No further requests? I don’t see any. So, item 15 will be placed on the A-list. However, I ask for a vote on whether to amend the agenda. Those in favor, please show your voting card. I ask for the vote count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Abstentions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Against: none. Thus, we amend the agenda as proposed by Mr. Ghoff. I would also like to inform you that we are recording a video of today’s meeting. The video recording must first be approved. It must not interfere with the proceedings, and I ask that only matters pertaining to the public session be made public. We now move to agenda item 3, the public question time. There is a lady with a child who has a question. Before you ask your question, briefly: every resident of Naumburg, including the districts, has the opportunity to ask a question to the city council. The question will be answered immediately by the Mayor. If that’s not possible, the questioner will receive a response within one month. Only questions concerning municipal matters may be asked. Please state your question. We have a microphone. Please provide your name and place of residence. Does the microphone work? Yes. Dear ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak here. My name is Annelika, I am a citizen of Schulpforte, and I have brought four other students whom I have the honor of teaching. I will now pass the floor to these students to ask the actual question, as it arose during our lessons. We have been discussing politics and democracy, and this question needs to be addressed here to make our lessons meaningful. I now pass the floor to Livia, who also has a secondary residence in Schulpforte. My name is Weiser, and I am here representing the student body of the Pforta State School and some residents we surveyed as part of our project. We would like to submit a request for a pedestrian crossing, specifically from the boarding school at Klosterschulpforte across the federal road. We have fully prepared the request and reviewed the legal basis, but it’s not entirely clear where we should direct this request. Our question to you is: who exactly is our contact person, and where exactly should we send this request? First of all, thank you for your question and your commitment. The issue of pedestrian crossings, as you mentioned, is not entirely straightforward because, as you said, it’s a classified federal road. This means the city of Naumburg is not the road authority; ultimately, that’s the state road authority, which has a branch in Halle and is otherwise based in Magdeburg. If you’ve done some legal research, you know there are certain conditions under which a pedestrian crossing can be established, including distances to intersections and a required number of pedestrian crossings. I don’t have the exact numbers in mind, but I recall something like 200 crossings. Without certainty, the state road authority would need to assess this conclusively. However, as a city, we are happy to support you and would forward a concrete request to the state road authority to simplify the process. It’s important, as mentioned, to analyze the number of crossings. I drive past that spot twice a day and indeed see students crossing the street frequently, so I understand the need for such a request. However, there are definitely hurdles, and it’s not as simple as installing a pedestrian crossing immediately upon request. It also involves costs. But I repeat, we will accept the request, and our traffic authority, Mr. Teilemann, is the contact person. I would task our traffic authority to perhaps discuss further with you, the students, and then jointly approach the state road authority. Can we agree on that? Is that okay? I just want to point out that we’ve already reviewed this and noticed that you’re not responsible, and we’ve already spoken with the road authority. They told us there are special regulations that would definitely apply in our case because we are a boarding school and because the road is built up on both sides. The person I spoke with said he doesn’t believe the numbers would be an issue for us. We’ve also checked the crossings, and they would definitely work. Since we have special regulations for pedestrians, there shouldn’t be any obstacles, at least based on what we know so far. We just wanted to ask if we could get concrete support from you and whether there might be people at the road authority who could advocate for us or guide us through the various committees involved, where we could count on your support. We will definitely support you with our experts. I cannot guarantee or make any statements about whether the request will be successful, but we should definitely try together. As I said, it makes sense to me that there’s a risk with the many vehicles. We also need to consider the curves and where such a crossing could be placed. It definitely has some challenges, but as I said, we have experts in both the traffic authority and the planning department who can assist. Okay, then thank you very much. Are there further questions? Oh, yes. At the westernmost edge of Naumburg’s city area, in the incorporated district, we, the citizens, have heard that a wind farm is planned in the Hausen-Frenkenau-Müller area, specifically from Frenkenau toward Hassenhausen. My question to the city administration is whether anything is already known about this. It would likely need to be documented in a land use plan, or is there already information regarding investors or anything else, as rumors are circulating? Indeed, something is supposed to happen. It would be great if I could get some clarity. City administration: Thank you, Mr. Leibiger. We have another agenda item concerning a concept for managing photovoltaic systems. You just mentioned wind power. We will definitely respond in writing. Ms. Freund, as the building director, just signaled to me that she knows nothing about it, but we will send you a written response. My second question is about a 30 km/h speed limit zone, which was implemented through signage. The head of the traffic authority, Mr. Teilemann, assured us after the 2024 Cherry Festival that one would be set up. This has not happened yet, despite my requesting information twice by email. I think nothing will happen anymore; we’re heading into 2025, and years pass like this. Our children will probably be grown before this is done. I’d like an answer from Mr. Teilemann or his superior so I can get some clarity, and our traffic group will also respond in writing. I don’t know the details, but just to clarify, this isn’t about a photovoltaic system or control but about a warning system, like a smiley face indicating if you’re driving too fast or not. Okay, in Rüthmen, it’s set up and taken down again. We will respond in writing. Thank you, Mr. Leibiger. Mr. Zeugner? Good evening, my name is Michel Heiklau. I’m a participant at a sports facility in the former savings bank, and for about two weeks, the parking spaces have been reorganized. My question is: is that private, or why hasn’t the city installed parking meters or something? Currently, the parking spaces can’t always be used because they’re occupied. Thank you for the question, Mr. Heiklau. I wanted to park there on Sunday when I was at the Kösen Christmas market and saw that it’s indeed marked as private, with barriers in place. We know that the savings bank sold the building to a private owner. I believe there are still discussions with the owner about how to handle these parking spaces in the future. We will also respond in writing, but currently, parking there is not possible. Thank you, Mr. Heiklau. Now, Mr. Zeugner. My question relates to the protocols of the council of elders. Committee and city council protocols are published for citizens to stay informed about what’s discussed in the city and current topics, but the council of elders is not included. I’m explicitly not questioning the body itself but asking whether it would be possible to publish matters that are not confidential, like contracts or personnel issues, through the system so citizens can be informed. The alternative would be that anyone interested has to file a request under the Freedom of Information Act, which would create administrative effort. So, the question is whether that’s possible. Mr. Zeugner, I must disappoint you. The council of elders is an informal body that does not prepare or decide on proposals but is a roundtable I invite to discuss topics and gather opinions. It has no decision-making authority, so there are no protocols for the public. Similar informal events, like the district mayor’s breakfast roundtable, don’t have public protocols either. Thank you, Mr. Zeugner. Are there further questions? If not, I close this agenda item, and we move to agenda item 4, confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting. However, before we proceed, we are 32 councilors plus the Mayor, so we are quorum-capable. Now, to the minutes of 06.11.2024. Are there any comments? I don’t see any. Then I ask for confirmation of the minutes. Thank you. Are there abstentions? 3, 4, 5. The minutes are thus approved. We move to agenda item 5, the Mayor’s report. Mr. Mayor? Dear ladies and gentlemen, councilors, colleagues from the administration, esteemed guests, citizens, and press representatives, I will keep my oral report brief, as agreed with the council chair, because we have 17 agenda items today and a deadline regarding time. We saw last week in the main committee that we got close to 10 p.m., so I’ll focus on the most important information. You will, of course, receive further details in the RIS or with the minutes. I want to address a few topics, particularly construction projects. In Bad Kösen, we have a joint construction project with the AZV for road and sewer construction on Richard-Kanzler-Straße and Galenberg. I can report that we are essentially done with the roadworks in that area. We are currently completing the sidewalks and fully renewing the street lighting in the entire construction area. I believe when we complete this project next year, both Kanzlerstraße and Galenberg will have a completely new appearance, which is very pleasing. On the other hand, in connection with our investment planning for the upcoming budget year, we still have further road sections in Bad Kösen that require sewer rehabilitation. I can already say we won’t be able to fully rebuild every street; we can’t afford that financially. The sewer rehabilitation alone involves an investment of around 10 million euros. In Naumburg, we have a joint construction project on Teinburgstraße, the access road to the Teinburg Bridge, where we’ve made significant progress. Weather permitting, we aim to complete the paving work by the week of December 20. I think this is also a very important construction project, close to completion. I also want to inform you about a significant issue that has been a topic all year: the noise barrier on Posttangente. We have a finished road there but can’t open it because the noise barrier is missing. Thanks to the Finance and Procurement Committee, which decided on the contract award last night, we plan to commission the company next week on December 18. Construction is scheduled to start in February, and I think four weeks later, we’ll finally be able to open the Posttangente road, which is long overdue. Another important measure. Regarding high-rise construction, the theater in the former slaughterhouse on Rosbstraße 12 has been handed over to the theater as the user at St. Nicholas. In the coming weeks and months, the move from the current location at Salztor to the new theater location will take place. As we know, the premiere of Hamlet is planned for April 25 at the new venue. I’m very pleased and grateful that we are fully on schedule. Other construction measures can be found in the minutes. I want to point out the upcoming federal elections, likely on February 23, 2025. We are in full planning mode as an administration. We need 250 poll workers in Naumburg, a significant number, and I can only appeal to councilors, citizens, and those present today to consider volunteering as poll workers. We will have 25 polling stations in Naumburg and the districts, plus six mail-in voting stations, which we will open early. We need support from our population, as we can’t manage this election with city administration staff alone, most of whom are already involved. I’d be especially pleased if district mayors and councils could take charge of organizing their polling stations. Please support us; elections are the highest good in democracy, and we should ensure our polling stations are well-staffed. Before Christmas, I’d like to highlight upcoming events and invite you to them. We can draw a very positive interim conclusion about our traders at the Naumburg Christmas market and Naumburg on Ice. This weekend, we’re celebrating the vaulted tower chapel Christmas in Naumburg, with many things open in the city center. There’s also a second open shopping Sunday on December 15, and I’d be delighted if you’d visit our city center and shops. I’d also like to point out, looking toward our Schulpforte friends, that there’s a small but fine Christmas market in Schulpforte this weekend, with concerts in the church. I think that’s outstanding, and I warmly invite you to attend. On the fourth Advent weekend, there’s Advent in the Vineyards in Rossbach and Naumburg, with open wineries, so another warm invitation. Finally, in my oral report, I’d like to thank the council for the excellent cooperation. Since the summer, we’ve had a new body with new councilors who have settled in well. I wish for equally good cooperation next year. I’ve placed our Christmas letter on your desks, a long tradition, which has been finalized and sent to 760 former Naumburg residents scattered across all continents. The letter recaps the topics we’ve addressed this year. I think we’ve advanced many projects, had great events, and I draw a very positive interim conclusion for our year and cooperation. I wish for the same in the coming year. The tasks won’t diminish, and we’ll be in preliminary budget management next year, which has its peculiarities. We’ve already held our budget retreat, and in March, we’ll approve an investment plan rather than a full budget, which we’ll discuss extensively. We’ll also need to update our budget consolidation concept throughout the year. We have numerous resolutions today, in January, and February to ensure progress on budget consolidation. Nevertheless, there’s a small Christmas gift from the city administration for you all, and I’d be pleased if we could gather for a small drink afterward in the adjacent room to review the year. Many thanks, especially to our young questioners, for having the courage to ask questions today. That’s how democracy lives, with our young population engaging. I encourage you to explore the youth parliament in Naumburg. Maybe it’s interesting to participate in such a body. The doors are open, and there are contact persons in the administration to ask about involvement. I’d be thrilled if we could get more young people involved, especially with the 1000-year celebration in four years, where you should play a significant role. I wish you a peaceful Christmas season and thank you. If there are questions, I’m happy to answer; otherwise, let’s proceed with the agenda. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Are there questions? Dr. Bröcker? Thank you for the report and the Christmas letter. I’d just remind you to post the Christmas letter as a PDF on the city’s website; the 2023 one is still there. I checked, and the 2024 one should be added. Any further questions or comments on the Mayor’s report? I don’t see any. We close this agenda item and move to agenda item 6, district matters. Are there any requests or statements? I don’t see any. Oh, yes, Mr. Kessler. This isn’t directly about district matters, but I’d like to say something. It’s been brought to my attention several times that the toilet situation at Advent in the Vineyards is a bit inadequate. Perhaps the organizers could improve it next time. If I understood correctly, Mr. Kessler, it’s about the toilet facilities at Advent in the Vineyards? Exactly, there are just too few. I’ll raise this with the administration. We’ll evaluate these major events anyway. Thousands of people were in the city both days, which creates bottlenecks. Still, we must offer public toilets that are clean and usable. I’ll check on this, and if necessary, we’ll set up additional containers next year. We’ll address this in the administration. For example, at Marienplatz, a guest has to go to the market to use a toilet, assuming they know one exists. Another example: the toilet at the Dom parking lot was closed at 6 p.m., even though the event continued. No further requests on district matters? Then we close agenda item 6 and move to agenda item 7, the amendment to the theater fee ordinance, fee increase for adult theater as of 01.04.2025, proposal number 120/24. Mr. Ghoff? Dear Mr. Mayor, dear councilors, dear attendees, we’re getting a new theater, a black box with movable audience stands. The theater is flexible and can adapt to any production idea. In contrast to these creative possibilities, the development of theater fees is straightforward: everything is getting more expensive, except the idea that those who go to the theater now will pay more, and those who don’t go won’t be enticed by lower prices either. There’s no alternative. Theater is, and you don’t have to share this idealistic view, an educational institution. It tells stories of a better life through art and participates in public discourse. The theater’s story must be accessible to all. We need a truly low-threshold opportunity to enable theater participation. The proposal we’re voting on today doesn’t provide that, despite some suggestions in the culture committee and subsequent emails. There’s also no information on planned subscription prices for the evening program. That makes me sad. Thank you, Mr. Ghoff. Would our director like to comment? Yes, preferably at the microphone. Is it on? Welcome, dear councilors, dear guests. That’s not exactly an ideal introduction after the preface. Indeed, prices are being increased; the last increase was, to my knowledge, five years ago. Secondly, we have a new venue. You all know this new venue offers much more than the old one. In our current venue, someone on stage can’t be seen from the fifth row if they’re lying down due to poor sightlines. The new venue has much better sightlines because the stage is designed so that everyone can see everything, no matter where they sit. The entire building is more spacious. You can visit an art exhibition parallel to a performance or stroll in the theater garden. It’s fully accessible, unlike the current venue. There’s a much better parking situation, and for visitors from outside, accessibility is significantly better as it’s right by the station. We haven’t massively increased prices. For students, from €8 to €9—we’re talking about €1 after five years, which I think is moderate. Starting next year, you’ll be able to buy tickets online, which costs the city money. The modules for this need to be acquired, and there are additional costs of about €1 per card for processing. We can’t just ignore that. For adults, we wanted to go from €20 to €24 but settled on €22 due to the equipment costs for online sales. For concessions, we went from €12 to €14, which I don’t think is excessive after five years. The change discussed in the committee concerns pensioners. Some pensioners earn well, others less. Those with less would fall under concessions. In the committee, we discussed whether to set their price at €20 or €25, and €25 was agreed upon, treating them the same as adults. That’s the state of affairs. I’m happy to answer further questions. One more thing: it’s our task to reach more people. We have more seats, and we’ve done model calculations, which you’ve likely seen. In the 23/24 season, we had a 76% occupancy rate—not great, but many theaters are similar or worse post-Corona. If that stayed the same in our new venue, we’d have €16,000 more revenue. This season, we have a 97% occupancy rate, which translates to significantly more revenue. We need to generate more revenue; we’re getting more funding from the city and state, and we can’t just freeze prices. Thank you, Mr. Neugebauer. Mr. Mayor? I can only agree with our director. First, I note that we initiated a comprehensive opinion-forming process on this topic, with members of your faction present at the preliminary discussions. We didn’t just go to one committee but two, plus an informal event where we presented the city administration’s plans. I’m glad and grateful that we have a theater in Naumburg at all and that we’ve built a new one. To my knowledge, no other city in Saxony-Anhalt has taken this path. The issue with fee ordinances, which we must revisit periodically, is that after five years, the conditions, income, and expenses change so much that significant increases are inevitable. We can’t adjust the fee ordinance every year by 3 or 4%; that doesn’t work. So, we end up discussing whether it’s appropriate after four years. I fully agree that theater has an educational mission, which is very important to me. However, it’s a voluntary task, and I don’t need to tell you that we’re not at 6% in Naumburg for voluntary tasks but well over double that, at 13-14%. The municipal supervisory authority will keep reminding us to either cut expenses or increase revenue. We can look at the plans to see the theater’s annual deficit. We heavily subsidize every theater ticket. If we calculated to break even, a ticket would cost over €80 per person, which we don’t want. I don’t want to compare us to Halle’s theater, but I think we can compare to Stendal and Eisleben, where ticket prices are similar or higher. We’re not outliers with our ticket prices; we’re in the good middle or average range. We’re not raising prices beyond reason, but culture costs money. I ask for approval of this proposal. I believe we’ve had thorough discussions in the committees over the past weeks. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Any further comments on this topic? Yes, briefly. It’s not about someone who can afford it paying a fair price for a good theater ticket—that’s clear. It’s about creatively differentiating prices for those living in precarious financial situations, for whom even €9 isn’t affordable, and those for whom €25 is normal. That’s the concern. If some in our faction agree, it’s because we need a new fee ordinance, no doubt, but the suggestion is to think more creatively about pricing next time in the committee. Thank you, Mr. Ghoff. For people in truly precarious financial situations, we usually raffle off free tickets before the premiere. Many people take part in that. It’s not permanent, but it’s not like we have nothing for those who are very poor. Thank you, Mr. Wenzel. I’d like to note that this was discussed twice in the culture and tourism committee, and every faction agreed. I don’t understand the discussion here now. Thank you, Mr. Wenzel. Ms. Bach? It was discussed extensively whether we could create additional offers like last-minute tickets or a monthly reduced price for all, so the poverty line wouldn’t play a role. I wanted to add to the director that the dress rehearsal is indeed free and publicly accessible, which is a good offer that should be better promoted for the larger theater. Thank you, Ms. Bach. Any further comments? I don’t see any. We move to the resolution proposal: the city council approves the attached amendment to the fee ordinance for theater ticket prices. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Thank you. Are there abstentions? Three. Against? Four. Who abstained? Who voted against? That was 1, 2, 3, 4. The resolution is approved with 33 votes in favor and four abstentions. We move to the next agenda item, the designation of a special wedding venue. Any statements or comments? None? Then we move to the resolution proposal: the city council designates the historic tramcar of the Naumburg Tramway GmbH with vehicle number 17 29 38 51 as an additional wedding venue for marriage ceremonies conducted by the Naumburg (Saale) registry office. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Thank you. Are there abstentions? One. Against? One. The resolution is approved with one vote against and one abstention. We move to the next agenda item, the introduction of a new tourist guidance and information system for the city of Naumburg. I’ll pass to the Mayor; there’s an amendment proposal from Dr. Böcker. Dear ladies and gentlemen, we’re presenting a new tourist guidance and information system for Naumburg. If we look at the current system with Mr. Isig from Atelier Isig, we’ll see it’s quite outdated. Our municipal guidance system was established in the early 90s and supplemented over time. Many conditions have changed. We have many more guests in our city who need to be guided. We don’t just have a World Heritage site with the cathedral but also a state-recognized recreational area and the Saale cycle path, which continues to attract more visitors. I think it’s absolutely legitimate to advance a new guidance system with different qualities in the coming years. This proposal includes a self-commitment to costs of about €500,000, and we want to move this forward for the 1000-year celebration only if we secure 90% funding. I think it’s important that Mr. Isig takes us on this journey for 10-15 minutes, and then we’ll discuss further. I’ll pass to the department head, Mr. Pritz. Thank you, and a warm welcome, dear councilors. I’ve prepared a brief presentation, which we discussed intensively in the committees on 27.11 and 04.12. I warmly welcome Atelier Isig, who has accompanied us closely, and thank you for the excellent cooperation in city planning. As Mr. Müller mentioned, the current tourist system is outdated. We have a signage system that often combines multiple signs, with different fonts, sizes, and colors, and no distance indications or alternative route guidance. These are essential today and demanded by visitors. Feedback from the tourist information and Naumburg Cathedral staff confirms that tourists struggle to navigate the city. Experts accompanying other construction projects in Naumburg also noted that the tourist guidance system needs an overhaul. This extends to the city entrances, which are also in need of improvement. It’s not an inviting system, and we need change. Atelier Isig conducted a feasibility study, including a stock analysis, developing a new corporate design, evaluating route connections, and creating new products. The current logo used in tourism lacks distinctiveness and recognition; it’s outdated. Mr. Isig analyzed what’s typical for Naumburg and its surroundings, focusing on the Romanesque arches at the market and cathedral, integrating them into the new design. He worked on color schemes—cathedral roof red to orange, cathedral roof turquoise, and Naumburg’s coat of arms red—creating a distinctive design. The new logo incorporates “Naumburg (Saale)” with Romanesque arches, resulting in a modern, timeless design. We also aim to overhaul our tourism brochures, integrating the new logo for better recognition. Here’s an overview of our current brochures; they get lost in the multitude due to lacking distinctiveness. The new corporate design stands out with a clear brand character and fits well with other current designs. Mr. Isig also explored additional products beyond the current signage, guiding tourists not just from A to B but offering thematic routes. I’ll pass to Mr. Isig for further details. Thank you, and a warm welcome. Currently, Naumburg has a guidance system but no information system. We want to expand it to provide information, not just directions. We propose a three-tier system: large information steles with city maps and general information, smaller steles positioned locally for specific buildings or places, and a cubic system for flexibility. This modular system reduces production costs, addresses accessibility with tactile QR codes, and mitigates vandalism by allowing individual module replacements. The two-tone system—orange for pedestrians, green for cyclists and hikers—ensures clarity from a distance. The new signs are smaller but more prominent and integrate well into the cityscape. We’ve also mapped a route from the station to the market square, highlighting alternative routes and accessibility. Digital components, like steles at the station, cathedral, and tourist information, are crucial for digital inclusion laws. We’ve also considered Bad Kösen, mapping a route from the station to the cycle path via the spa park, replacing orange with blue for Bad Kösen while keeping turquoise. The goal is to harmonize both systems. Thank you, Mr. Pritz and Mr. Isig. Dr. Böcker? Thank you. I’ll try to take on the role of the frugal Swabian housewife, known for economical management. Half a million euros is a lot of money, even if funded. These are tax funds we all contribute to. I’d like to request that the proposal be referred back to the tourism, culture, and other committee to give the administration a chance to answer two questions: first, a cost comparison between introducing this new system (€500,000) and upgrading the existing one, which I don’t think is so unsuitable that it must be completely discarded. I suspect upgrading would be cheaper. Second, what follow-up costs will the city face after the funding is used? If a stele is damaged or colors fade due to weather, what are the costs? My request is personal, not from my faction, so it requires a vote. Thank you, Dr. Böcker. Mr. Bmeister? My question is whether the existing system’s inclusion of restaurants, cycle paths, swimming pools, campsites, and hotels is retained in the new system, or do they fall away? Can they participate, and what about outlying districts like Punschrau or Flemmingen? Is the system designed to include them, or is it just for the city? If it’s only for the city, the districts are left out. Thank you. First, regarding upgrading the old system, some signs are in such poor condition that a complete overhaul is needed. The current system lacks the information component the new steles offer. The signage costs are similar to the old system, as they’re aluminum poles with coated signs. For durability, we have a guarantee of 7-10 years. Replacement costs are low—€80-90 for a new print, €150 for a damaged sign. The old signs’ poor condition doesn’t present a good image for tourists. Regarding the €500,000, it includes everything: routes from the station to the market square, Bad Kösen, Blütengrund to the market square, signage, steles, QR codes, audio/video files, and dismantling the current signs. It’s a complete package, but we’d implement it gradually, starting with key routes. Regarding hotels and restaurants, the pedestrian guidance system focuses on attractions and connections to cycle/hiking paths, not affecting separate hotel/restaurant signage. That’s a separate issue we should discuss next year. Bad Kösen is included, and the system is expandable to other districts. Mr. Andres? Our faction discussed this proposal controversially and critically for two reasons: the design and structure don’t convince us, and we question whether we have more urgent priorities. We have budget consolidation and many problems. The current system isn’t great but functional. Tourists often ask for directions despite signs. Improvements are needed, but do we have more pressing tasks? Our administration is busy, and important tasks are delayed due to limited resources. I support Dr. Böcker’s request to refer this back to the committee. It’s not mature enough, and our faction views it critically. Thank you. A key point: this tourist guidance system is part of our economic and tourism concept, approved by the council, with a mandate to create such a concept to improve tourist guidance. Ms. Freund? Good evening. I personally think modernizing the guidance system is good; Naumburg lives off tourism. I see the costs critically and align with my predecessors. My question is about the new logo. The old one included Bad Kösen, but the new one doesn’t, which I find unfortunate as Bad Kösen gets lost. The task was to develop an overarching logo for Naumburg. Bad Kösen’s signage will use blue, ensuring its presence, but the Naumburg logo should remain prominent. Mr. Ghoff? If we get a new logo, it creates a corporate design, requiring updates to all letterheads and city appearances, leading to significant follow-up costs. I align with Dr. Böcker; we can’t forgo €16,000-€21,000 in theater revenue but plan to spend €500,000 on a tourist system we don’t urgently need, as the current one works. I’d prefer to postpone until we can afford it. Mr. Vogel? As a Naumburger, I find the logo questionable. The orange doesn’t represent me; I’d lean toward red. The “Naumburg” font and color are controversial and not well-chosen. Mr. Weiser? The number of comments shows there’s still discussion needed. Dr. Böcker’s request has merit. The concept is necessary for a World Heritage city, not the piecemeal signage of the past 30 years. It’s in our 2019 tourism concept, and we’re in 2024. We must act, especially in the funding preparation phase. We should take the opportunity, decide what’s urgent and affordable, and find a middle ground between the old and new logos. Mr. Thü? There’s clearly much to discuss. Many questions raised today were answered in the committees, so why have committee meetings? Nonetheless, with so many questions, we should support Dr. Böcker’s request. I ask the faction that spoke up today to raise these questions and proposals in the committees. Mr. Schleife? The administration has put much effort into this concept. It’s unfair to say this work isn’t worthwhile. We can’t please everyone. I believe we don’t need to refer it back if we secure funding; it’s an expandable concept. Mr. Fritsche? It sounds like Bad Kösen costs a lot, but it doesn’t. The aluminum steles from 30 years ago are well-preserved and can be updated with stickers or plates. Bad Kösen needs less. Due to incorporation, our postal code (06628 Naumburg) causes navigation issues for visitors to Bad Kösen. Now we’re also disappearing from the logo, which isn’t great. Mr. Kessler? Regarding the €450,000 funding (90%), if we implement this gradually, please check if the funding will still be available in 4-5 years. Mayor: We haven’t applied for funding yet; this is a foundational decision. We’re not naive. This week, we spoke with Mr. Schuckelt and Mr. Sewig about GRW funding, with €30 million available for structural change in the district. They encouraged us to apply for 90% funding. We aim for 2028 to have the new system in place for city entrances, the Saale, cyclists, pedestrians, and locals. It will take several years, as we can’t afford it in one year, and it’s not feasible time-wise. If we had no funding chance, I wouldn’t propose this today. Ms. Weiland? Before our city’s major anniversary, we urgently need to improve the tourist guidance system. Some councilors were involved in the new tourism concept, and I can confirm it was a broad demand. The concept is modern, and after 30 years, we should adapt to the times. We now vote on Dr. Böcker’s amendment to refer the proposal back to the committees. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Abstentions: four. Against: none. With 17 votes to 15, the proposal is referred back to the committees. We move to the next agenda item, noting that if we don’t finish today, we’ll continue tomorrow. It’s about establishing a municipal enterprise. Dear ladies and gentlemen, I’m presenting the establishment of a municipal enterprise, asking you to issue a review mandate to convert municipal services, broadly the construction yard, from a regie operation to a municipal enterprise. This is a foundational decision to initiate further steps. Dr. Schubert from GRT, who joined the main committee last week, is here. We don’t want to repeat the full presentation but discuss with you. Dr. Schubert, could you briefly clarify the difference between a regie operation and a municipal enterprise, what it means for the 50+ construction yard employees, the council’s role with decisions in a works committee, and what kind of leader we need? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Dear ladies and gentlemen, councilors, I’ll pick up the baton and address the questions with Mr. Erhard. A regie operation and a municipal enterprise are somewhat juxtaposed. The proposal outlines some arguments. In 2019, an organizational review of the construction yard, specifically the municipal services department, showed it has specific requirements due to its size and tasks. With over 50, even 60, employees, it’s worth considering whether it could benefit from economic autonomy. Currently, it’s embedded in the core administration, like the citizens’ office or public order department. With this size, it’s better organized as a business. A municipal enterprise remains part of the city administration, offering the best of both worlds. Employees and citizens see no change in services, but councilors have more targeted influence through a dedicated works committee. The enterprise has a separate budget, ensuring economic autonomy. Resources and costs become transparent, and a leader is accountable for economic performance. Unlike typical administrative processes focused on legality, a municipal enterprise emphasizes economic efficiency. Mr. Erhard? It’s clear this process takes time—about two years to separate accounting cycles, install software, and prepare the construction yard for economic management. No one should fear rushed changes. Compared to a regie operation, a municipal enterprise has clear advantages. In a regie operation, unspent funds revert to the general budget at year-end. In a municipal enterprise, unspent funds remain as special assets, motivating cost efficiency. Internal billing in a regie operation doesn’t fully cover costs, so we can’t accurately assess service costs. With rising personnel costs, we’ll need to decide whether to keep services in-house or outsource them, requiring economic management. This doesn’t hinder operations; every trade business operates this way. Internal billing ties up significant personnel resources, so a municipal enterprise offers clear advantages: greater autonomy, a stronger enterprise leader, retained budget, and better planning through multi-year subsidy contracts. I’m confident we can succeed within the municipal family. Mr. Thü? We discussed this in the main committee, and upon further reflection, I struggle to see the advantages of a municipal enterprise over the current situation. Tax aspects aside, many issues could have been addressed in the past, like budgeting or committee oversight. The leader’s role could have been stronger before, and I doubt a future enterprise leader, still a city employee, will bring significant change. The staff’s concerns, raised in the main committee, suggest direct interventions by councilors won’t change. Trying it might cost a lot in preparation, and I don’t see the benefit yet. Mr. Bmeister? If the enterprise can issue invoices, will prices for associations rise? Dr. Schubert: It depends on the setup. The subsidy contract will define the construction yard’s tasks. If included, no payment is needed. If not, it’s a separately billed service. This is a review mandate, not a final decision. If it’s not worthwhile, we can stop. Mr. Weiser? The subsidy contract would need to cover every association interacting with the yard. The subsidy will match past costs, prioritizing municipal tasks. Additional services depend on the budget. Mr. Schumann? A municipal enterprise operates like a business, requiring detailed budgeting for hundreds of items with specific considerations, like mowing in Punschrau versus Rossbacherstraße. How long will budgeting take? Dr. Schubert: Within a two-year timeline, budgeting is a parallel task. Alone, it might take six to nine months, but it’s integrated into the preparation process, using existing data without burdening individual workers. Mr. Schleife? I agree with Mr. Weiser. This is a review mandate, and we should carefully assess what’s sensible, ensuring the council is involved in defining tasks early. I’d like the council to have a say in what the yard does, not just receive a finished plan. Employees must be fully involved, and after thorough review, we can decide if it’s worthwhile. €40,000 and 2-3 years isn’t too costly. Mayor: The implementation phase will include a working group with councilors and the staff council, meeting quarterly to update employees. We’ll report progress to the council. The enterprise is only established once the council approves the ordinance, and we can stop if issues arise. Mr. Andres? I struggled with this proposal, as did our faction. I understand the need for reform, but I’m not convinced this is the only way. I’ll agree because it’s a review mandate, but next time, I need clearer, more transparent reasons to be convinced. Mr. Schütze? There’s no conflict of interest here; it’s just a review mandate. All can vote. The resolution proposal: 1) The city administration reviews reorganizing municipal services (department 69) into a municipal enterprise. 2) The chief administrative officer is tasked with preparing the establishment, including drafting an ordinance and subsidy contract for council approval. 3) Necessary funds for restructuring are to be included in the 2025 budget. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Abstentions: four. Against: one. The resolution is approved. We move to the compensation for poll workers for the 2025 federal election. I noted in my report that we received six additional mail-in voting boards from the district, increasing costs from €3,000 to €3,750. Any discussion needed? None? The resolution: the city council sets the compensation for the 2025 federal election as follows: €50 for poll supervisors, €40 for other poll workers. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Abstentions: none. Against: two. The resolution is approved with two votes against. We move to the 2020 annual financial statement. Any discussion needed? None? The resolution: 1) The Mayor confirms the completeness and accuracy of the 2020 financial statement based on the audit report of 12.11.2024. 2) The council approves the audited 2020 financial statement with a balance sheet total of €189,957,355.36; the annual surplus of €1,385,521.20 is allocated to the results reserve. 3) The council grants the Mayor discharge for the 2020 financial statement. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Abstentions: three. Against: none. The resolution is approved with three abstentions. We move to the tax rate ordinance. Due to the property tax reform, we must set new rates to ensure revenue neutrality. New property tax assessments have been issued, and we’ve calculated to maintain the same revenue. We propose differentiated rates for B1 (480%) and B2 (893%) based on property types. Ms. Töpfer? Thank you. The goal is revenue neutrality, not increased revenue. The current assessment period ends 31.12.2024. If we kept the old rate, we’d lose €700,000, which is significant. Attachment 2 shows the proposed rates: 480% for B1 (rental properties, single/two-family homes, undeveloped plots, other built properties, assessed by income value) and 893% for B2 (partial ownership, commercial, mixed-use properties, assessed by asset value). The total assessment base is lower post-reform, so these rates ensure the same €3.57 million revenue. There may be corrections due to data errors, but we must set rates for 2025. Any questions? Mr. Ghoff? Sorry, I couldn’t send the email as assigned yesterday. Can we use variable rates to tax vacant properties more to generate revenue? Ms. Töpfer: That requires detailed review and isn’t feasible short-term, but it could be considered for future assessments. Ms. Bach? What percentage of assessments are available? Ms. Töpfer: About 90% in Naumburg, though there are gaps, especially in agricultural property tax due to complex ownership issues. We’ll adjust if needed. Ms. Bach? What’s partial ownership? Ms. Töpfer: It’s properties used commercially, like shops or workshops within buildings. The resolution: the council approves the ordinance on property and trade tax rates for 2025. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Abstentions: one. Against: one. The resolution is approved with one abstention and one vote against. We move to the ordinance on assessment contributions for the maintenance associations for 2025. Any discussion? None? The resolution: the council approves the ordinance for contributions to the Middle Saale-White Elster and Lower Unstrut associations for 2025. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Abstentions: one. Against: none. The resolution is approved with one abstention. We move to the information security guideline for the EU NIS-2 Directive. This protects against cyberattacks. Communes now fall under NIS-2, requiring a security management system to review policies and create emergency plans. We’ve had minimal incidents and good experiences with cyber insurance. The proposal includes €50,000 for potential equipment needs. We’re well-positioned but must adopt this guideline as required by law. Any questions? None? The resolution: 1) The council adopts the information security guideline. 2) The administration is tasked with implementation. 3) Necessary funds are provided in the budget. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Abstentions: none. Against: none. The resolution is unanimously approved. We move to the comprehensive spatial concept for photovoltaic open-space systems. The resolution: 1) The PV concept (November 2024) is approved as a municipal development concept. 2) It guides the administration in evaluating planning applications for PV systems. Those in favor, please show your voting card. Abstentions: one. Against: three. The resolution is approved with one abstention and three votes against. We move to the final public agenda item, miscellaneous. Any requests? None? I close the public session and bid farewell to those leaving, wishing you a merry Christmas.