Why Attending a Citizens' Assembly in Regensburg is Worthwhile

• You can address questions to the city leadership and administration and directly raise concerns from your district.
• You gain insights into upcoming projects, for example regarding urban development, mobility, climate, education, culture, or the budget.
• You can submit suggestions, which are forwarded as recommendations to the city council and discussed there.

Procedure of a Citizens' Assembly: How the Assembly Works

1. Public Invitation – The City of Regensburg publicly announces upcoming dates with date, time, and location (often organized by district).
2. Report from the City Leadership – The mayor or a representative presents topics and priorities that are relevant for the coming months.
3. Expert Contributions – Responsible departments explain the current planning status and outline the next steps.
4. Open Q&A Session – Citizens can ask questions, provide feedback, and submit suggestions.
5. Recommendations – Recommendations from the assembly are forwarded to the city council and dealt with there.

Legal Basis of the Citizens' Assembly in Regensburg

In Bavaria, citizens' assemblies are regulated in the Bavarian Municipal Code. The citizens' assemblies in Regensburg are held on this basis. Typical core elements are:

• At least one citizens' assembly is held annually.
• Topics concern matters of the city; residents have the right to speak.
• Recommendations are submitted to the city council for discussion.
• Under certain legal conditions, another citizens' assembly can be requested.

Preparing for Participation: How to Make the Most of the Citizens' Assembly

1) Find Upcoming Dates

• Check the official announcements and the official website of the City of Regensburg. Upcoming assembly dates with district reference are published there.
• If the city offers a newsletter or similar subscriptions, you can use these to receive announcements about citizens' assemblies early.

2) Formulate Concerns and Questions

• Formulate your concern specifically: exact location (street/section), expected impacts, and what outcome you wish for the next steps.
• Write down your most important questions in bullet points so you can stay clear within the timeframe of the Q&A session.
• If available: bring meaningful documents (e.g., printed photos or a process/file number from previous correspondence) to facilitate follow-up questions.

3) Submit Questions in Advance (if offered)

• If the city provides channels for advance submission for the next citizens' assembly (e.g., online form or email), use them.
• Questions submitted in advance can help responsible departments prepare documents and provide a reliable answer during the assembly.

4) Speak Up On Site

• Speak up according to the moderation instructions and stick to the speaking time so that many people can ask questions.
• For complex topics, you can request written or subsequent clarification via the mentioned city contact channels if details cannot be fully answered during the session.

Digital Participation and Transparency at Upcoming Assemblies

• If a livestream or digital participation is offered for an upcoming citizens' assembly, you can also follow the session online.
• If agendas or topic overviews are published in advance, you can better plan your participation and prepare targeted questions.
• If minutes/records are provided afterwards, you can track content and recommendations and use them for next steps (e.g., follow-up questions, further participation).

Keep an Eye on Dates

Throughout the year, citizens' assemblies are announced in various districts of Regensburg. To ensure you don't miss an upcoming assembly in your neighborhood, check the official announcements regularly and plan time for travel and follow-up questions early if interested.

Short Checklist for Your Participation

• Check the upcoming date (date, time, location/district) via official announcements
• Note questions and concerns briefly, specifically, and solution-oriented
• Have relevant documents ready (e.g., photos, correspondence, file numbers)
• Use advance submission if offered for the upcoming assembly
• Note how you will follow up on results (e.g., check minutes, use city contact channels)

Sources and Further Information

1. Bavarian Municipal Code (BayGO), Art. 18 – Citizens' Assembly — Legal basis for convening, participation, and recommendations (accessed 2026-03-02)
2. City of Regensburg – Official Website — Official announcements and information on citizen participation (accessed 2026-03-02)