In a time of rapid global change, Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, must also redefine its position in the competition between cities and regions. The conditions for this are good in Mainz. Admittedly, the city of Mainz also has financial difficulties that make it impossible to maintain the entire range of services and implement everything that would be desirable. Rather, the difficult financial situation makes it necessary to pool resources, set clear priorities, and pursue new models.

As the regional center of Rheinhessen, with a balanced economic structure and a good mix of industries, Mainz is a vital part of the Rhine-Main region of the future. With its excellent range of educational institutions, Mainz is well equipped with qualified young talent for trade, industry, and science. The citizens of Mainz can look to the future with confidence.

The future development of our city is at the heart of the urban concept, the first step of which is this urban mission statement. A mission statement should be understood as a guide for the future. As part of the image analysis conducted by Mainz University of Applied Sciences under the direction of Prof. Dr. Ursula Funke at the beginning of 1998, a representative sample of around 1,700 citizens of Mainz, visitors to the surrounding area, and commuters, as well as 2,000 German citizens, were personally interviewed.

The results of these surveys form the basis for the work of more than 200 personalities from business, science, culture, public life, council and administration, who have developed the present city mission statement. It is a joint effort that was adopted by consensus across party lines: all personalities were called upon to state their interests, get involved and actively participate in the public affairs of the city of Mainz. Six specialist working groups on the topics of shopping, transport, urban design, economy, highlights, tourism, communication, environment and housing, culture, education and sport, social affairs, youth and health, as well as the mission statement commission, compiled the results and proposed the goals, the implementation of which will help determine the actions of the council and administration in the coming years.

In May 1999, after intensive discussion, the city council unanimously adopted the mission statement with one abstention. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to everyone who helped shape Mainz's mission statement. My special thanks go to the spokespersons of the working groups, who acted as moderators and pacemakers for the process, as well as to the scientific support team.

The tradition of our city is the foundation for future development. The goals are ambitious, and achieving them will require a great deal of commitment from all of us. The real work is only just beginning. However, as this is the result of joint efforts by citizens, we want to do everything we can to achieve the goals that have been set in the near future. Of course, the city mission statement is not static. It is process-oriented and was developed in partnership with a holistic approach.

To supplement the mission statement, the working groups will agree on concrete measures in a second creative period. These proposed measures will emerge directly or indirectly from the mission statement; however, insofar as they concern public funds, they require approval by the city council. Thus, the city mission statement in its current form is a kind of interim result, a suggestion: citizens, politicians, and administrators must actively participate in the implementation of the goals that have been set. Only then can the future viability of the city of Mainz be guaranteed.

Jens Beutel Former
Mayor

All topics covered by the city's mission statement can be found in the navigation bar on the left (shopping, transportation, etc.).