Description

This project foresees four new actions to build together the city of tomorrow. 

The Citizens Initiative Referendum: this is basically not provided for by French law, but which can be desired by the municipality. A municipal referendum is therefore automatically organised if 10% of Carpentras citizens request it. 

It is possible to file a citizen petition (on subjects related to the competences of the municipality), on the dedicated platform. If this petition is signed by more than 10% of the voters, within 9 months, the Mayor undertakes to include the organisation of a decision-making referendum on the agenda of the Municipal Council. 

The citizen's amendment : propose a modification to the draft deliberations presented during the Municipal Councils. Two weeks before each Municipal Council, the summary note is published on the City's website. If citizens wish to propose a modification, they can do so via the dedicated online platform. The draft amendment is then put to the vote of the citizens and they will have until 48 working hours before the meeting to vote. If 2% of voters support the proposal (i.e. 380 people), the amendment will be presented to the Municipal Councillors and will then be debated. Like the amendments tabled by elected representatives, it can be adopted, rejected or referred back to committee. 

The Citizens' Convention: this is an initiative that makes possible to set up a representative panel of the town's inhabitants, made up of 35 people drawn at random, under the supervision of a bailiff, taking into account the criteria of representativeness (residence, age, sex, etc.). 

The members of the Citizens' Convention are selected for a period of one year starting in April 2021. Their role consists, among other things, of informing the City of the needs of citizens, selecting projects for the participatory budget and taking note of the draft resolutions submitted to the City Council. The citizens' convention takes note of the draft resolutions submitted to the City Council and can question the mayors if necessary. 

It contributes to the development and evaluation of participatory democracy actions. It ensures that the participatory budget runs smoothly and that its rules are respected. To this end, it examines the admissibility of the ideas submitted in the framework of the participatory budget, participates in the study of the technical and feasibility aspects and ensures the implementation of winning projects and evaluates the projects.  

The 35 members will be given an information session on the functioning of the municipality. They are invited to meet for various occasions (City Council, launch of the participatory budget, etc.) once a month. Finally, they are not remunerated for this time of reflection but have the legal status of occasional collaborators.

The participatory budget it's a sum of money dedicated to projects and ideas from citizens. This budget amounts to €700,000 per year, which represents €25 per inhabitant (i.e. a sum five times higher than the average budget of other municipalities offering this type of scheme). Open to all residents of Carpentras over the age of 16, the participatory budget allows everyone to express their creativity for the benefit of the community. Above all, it allows people to vote to choose which projects will be carried out.

1. The admissibility criteria for the projects are
2. To be within the territory of the city of Carpentras and to benefit all Carpentrassians free of charge 
3. Be coherent with the municipal project and respect the environment
4. Not be related to the normal and regular maintenance of the public space 
5. Be part of the available municipal heritage (no acquisition or rental of premises) 
6. Be at the project stage (not in the process of being completed or executed)
7. Annual maintenance should not exceed 5% of the investment budget 
8. Be sufficiently precise to be legally, technically and financially accessible and achievable within one year

The Citizens' Convention, in collaboration with the municipal services, then examines the admissibility and feasibility of the proposed projects. The selected proposals will then be submitted to your votes. On the Ma Ville Facile platform or in the dedicated ballot boxes, it is possible to see which projects you would like to see succeed. The proposals with the most votes will be included in the city's budget, and the city will commit to carrying them out within a year.

Sources (in french) : 

Website Le Big Bang de la démocratie Municipale de carpentras 

The four tools of Municipal Democracy 

Video explaining the process