Electoral Support Programme

Electoral Support Programme

Citizens nearby - multi-store garage in Ohrid

This initiative will monitor the implementation of the electoral promise related to the construction of a multi-store garage in municipality of Ohrid and the level of citizen participation and inclusion in the process of urban planning. This will enable the public to get better insight in the current developments, the dynamics and the remaining activities of the local self-government regarding this issue. Community mobilization activities will include: meeting with relevant representatives of the local self-government and requesting the feasibility study for construction of the garage to be shared; public outreach and presentation of the findings on the local media and similar.

The subject matter of the local monitoring is the construction of a multi-store garage in Ohrid.

Implementer
Association for multicultural integration - Inclusion Ohrid
Location
Ohrid
Budget
300000 denars
Status
Active

MONITORING MATRIX

November 2022

December 2022

January 2023

February 2023

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023

June 2023

  • I. Status of the monitored item
      Monitoring criteria Status Brief description and comments Source of information
      1 Implementation
      1.1 A decision has been reached to start the implementation of the monitored item Nо A decision has not yet been made to begin the implementation process Mayor of the municipality of Ohrid and Head of the urbanism department
      1.2 A procurement process is being/has been carried out related to the monitored item Nо There have been no new procurements during February in relation to the project Head of the urbanism department
      1.3 Informative meetings and gatherings with stakeholders have been held Nо The municipality has not held meetings with stakeholders, however, Inkluzija, the organization which monitors the issue, held meetings with: ZZ Zadruga, ZZ Gorica, Ecolag, Archrid, architect-experts Inkluzija, the organization which monitors the issue
      1.4 An implementation plan has been prepared for implementation of the monitored item Nо There is no preliminary plan for the implementation of the project Head of the urbanism department
      1.5 Necessary prerequisites to start with the implementation have been provided (e.g. permits, preparatory activities, staff, etc.) Nо The mayor of the municipality of Ohrid responds to media questions regarding the approval for a multi-store garage, which was received/ 13.02.2022 Concerning providing of the necessary documentation, the head of urbanism notes during the conversation. During the meeting with the mobilizer in December of 2022, the mayor Dr. Kiril Pecakov notes that approval is expected and awaited on the construction as well as from the UNESCO Committee. Regarding the provision of the necessary documentation for beginning the project's implementation - the Multi-store garage, the head of the urbanism department also emphasized this point during an informal conversation, meanwhile meetings were held with stakeholders, the community mobilizers and the project team, all of whom learned about unresolved legal property relations. Interview with the mayor of the municipality of Ohrid (https://ohrid24.mk/?p=24194&fbclid=IwAR1vQxb__J-aV32lpfPuZyo6yz0sqwJdfpH8rzPkmRlrjEeMuB0PpsXlIuo) Meeting with the Mayor and the head of the urban planning department.
      1.6 The municipality is implementing specific activities from the implementation plan Nо No visible activities have been implemented from the plan. Media text https://tvm.mk/news/ohrid/katnata-garaza-zaglavena-vo-birokratska-lavirint/
      1.7 Initial results from implementation of the monitored item are visible Nо There are no visible initial results from the implementation of the project. Media text https://tvm.mk/news/ohrid/katnata-garaza-zaglavena-vo-birokratska-lavirint/
      2 Stagnation
      2.1 Lack of funds in the municipal budget Yes In the budget, funds are envisioned only for the development of land construction. Municipal budget for the year 2023 https://ohrid.gov.mk/%D1%98%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD-%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%86%D1%80%D1%82-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%86%D1%80%D1%82/
      2.2 Lack of one/some of the basic prerequisites Yes Unresolved legal property relations and other irregularities The mayor and the head of the urbanism department.
      2.3 The implementation of the monitored item is no longer a priority Nо The mayor emphasizes that the multi-store garage represents one of the top 3 priorities of the municipality of Ohrid, which is also recognized by the municipal councilors, the head of the urban planning department, as well as the stakeholders. The program of VMRO-DPMNE for the local elections of 2021 (https://vmro-dpmne.org.mk/%d0%bb%d0%be%d0%ba%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%81%d0%b0%d0%bc%d0%be%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%b0?fbclid=IwAR26NRVyn3b6Dcw03fs1ENwKibRSg7lL7EGNnIXzEi0toNcd_egXMWSyd-A) Mayor of Ohrid The mayor emphasizes that the multi-store garage discussed during meetings with the citizens now represents one of the top 3 priorities of the municipality of Ohrid, which by way of conversation with the initiative's implementers is also recognized by the councilors of the municipality of Ohrid, all of whom are in opposition as well as the head of the urban planning department.
      2.4 Halted due to an inspection, investigation, etc. Nо The project has not been canceled due to those reasons
      2.5 The reasons for the stagnation of the implementation of the activity are unknown Yes There is no public information available regarding the reasons behind the project's stagnation, although based on recent discussions, administrative obstacles have been deduced, and legal property relation obstacles at the location. Mobilizers

  • II. Transparency and accountability of the municipality related to the monitored item
      Monitoring criteria Status Brief description and comments Source of information
      1 Information about the status of the monitored item is available on the municipality's website and social network Nо There is no information available on the website of the municipality regarding the project's status. website of the municipality of Ohrid (https://ohrid.gov.mk/)
      2 Information about the status of the project is obtained through a Request for Access to Public InformationInformation about the status of the monitored item is obtained through a Request for Access to Public Information Yes Up to this moment, the community mobilizers and the project team have submitted an official request to the municipality of Ohrid to obtain the feasibility study for the multi-store garage, which has been submitted in a timely manner. An official request was submitted to obtain the feasibility study for the multi-store garage, archive number 22/2 2022 under number. 03-16243/1 starting 22.11.2022 which was submitted as a CD containing the electronic version of the feasibility study on justifying the construction of a multi-store garage in Ohrid with reference number 03-186/19 dating March 2019 and processed by the Agency for material testing and the development of new technologies "Skopje" AD Skopje.
      3 Information about the status of the monitored item is shared with stakeholders by municipal officials (via e.g. interviews, focus group discussions, meeting requests etc.) Yes Information regarding the status of the election promise can be obtained from competent persons in the municipality, however no such requests were submitted in February. Local mobilizers from the Inkluzija organization by means of meetings with stakeholders.
      4 There is practice of informal information sharing by the municipality with affected citizens (e.g. via informal discussions etc.) Yes Yes. The mayor is constantly with the citizens and openly discusses the problems of the municipality. Citizens, non-governmental organizations, stakeholders.

  • III. Citizen participation in decision-making related to the monitored item
      Monitoring criteria Status Brief description and comments Source of information
      1 The municipality has involved the citizens in decision-making related to the monitored item Nо The municipality did not involve its citizens in the decisions regarding the monitored issue, but the municipality of Ohrid has a mechanism in place for citizen involvement in the decision-making processes, such as through open days, public sessions, etc. https://powerinfo.mk/%d0%be%d1%82%d0%b2%d0%be%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%bd%d0%b8-%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%b8-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%be%d0%bf%d1%88%d1%82%d0%b8%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%be%d1%85%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%b4-%d0%b7%d0%b0-%d0%bf%d1%80/
      2 Citizens have filed an initiative for participation in decision-making related to the monitored item Nо The citizens have not submitted an initiative to participate in the decision-making processes regarding the monitored issue, although the issue was often discussed at public tribunes and meetings with the citizens. The mayor of the municipality of Ohrid. Citizens.
      3 Citizens participate in the implementation of the monitored item with their input and resources Nо The monitored issue represents a serious capital investment for the municipality, for which various financial sources have been established and the citizens have not participated by dispensing their own contribution and resources. The financial sources for the project (https://ohrid.gov.mk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Sluzben_glasnik_2021_17.pdf)
      4 Mechanisms utilized by the municipality to ensure citizen participation, specifically as related to the monitored item:
      4.1 Public gatherings, debates and forums Nо No public events were held in February on this matter Citizens
      4.2 Possibility for e-participation via mobile apps, website(s), electronic templates, etc. Yes The section - report a problem on the website of the municipality of Ohrid (https://ohrid.gov.mk/%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%bd%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%ba%d1%82/)
      4.3 Open days of the municipality Yes The municipality has established a mechanism for open municipal days, however there is no available information on whether this issue was raised during these events. Media announcement for municipal open days (https://www.ohridnews.com/otvoreni-denovi-na-opshtina-ohrid-za-predlozheniot-bu-et-za-2023-godina/)
      4.4 Citizen initiatives Nо There is no information on other civic initiatives on this matter. The citizens have not submit an initiative to participate in the decisions relating to the monitored issue, although the issue was often discussed at tribunes and meetings with citizens. Website of the municipality (https://ohrid.gov.mk/) The mayor of the municipality of Ohrid