Residents' meeting on 15 October 2021

In your election programme, you declared the issue to be a top priority. What measures have been and are being taken to support the economy?

Good economic development is essential for the city. Immediately after taking office, the Business and Digitalisation Unit was established and the Economic Advisory Board was appointed. Intensive consultation takes place there, and many discussions are also held with potential investors. Among other things, the aim is to make the administration more business-friendly. We are now exchanging ideas with restaurateurs at regulars' tables. Another new feature is the procurement conference, where we discuss future city contracts with participants from the business community. There are many entrepreneurs who want to be active in the city and recognise its potential. We want to support them. In general, it is also important to not only think within the city limits, but to work together regionally with the surrounding area and position ourselves together as an economic and technology region. We are in dialogue with the neighbouring districts in order to manage structural change and to cope well with current changes, e.g. in the automotive industry.

Chemnitz is receiving 60 million euros from the federal government for a major hydrogen research project. What do you hope to gain from the hydrogen centre?

It's a great success for Chemnitz to be among the winners. This is very important for Chemnitz as a centre for technology, research and development because it will enable us to attract researchers and pilot projects to Chemnitz. The area next to the TU and the Fraunhofer Institutes is very well suited and there is hope that the hydrogen centre will attract further business, production and research companies. Chemnitz can be proud to be successful again in a nationwide competition after the Capital of Culture.

What are the next steps, what will happen here?

The city of Chemnitz is contributing the property to the project. In addition, a working group in the administration is creating the framework conditions for the next steps. It is now important to coordinate the specific scope of the possible construction measures with the available financial resources together with the federal government as the financial backer. Originally a hydrogen centre was planned, but now there are a total of four locations in Germany where the funds will be distributed. An operator concept will be drawn up over the next few months. I am confident that the first measures will be visible on the ground by 2024. I also hope that the formation of a new government at federal level will give a new boost to this process. The hydrogen centre fits in very well with the Chemnitz location, the TU, the Fraunhofer Institutes and the Technology Campus right next door.

A lot is happening in our city. As exhausting, loud and time-consuming as the many construction sites are, a lot of beautiful and new things are also being created. Which major construction projects have we been able to complete this year and which ones await us in 2022?

Large cities like Chemnitz have a lot of infrastructure maintenance work to do. This means that we have to carry out around 150 to 200 construction projects on municipal buildings and 5,000 roadworks per year, sometimes simultaneously. This is also noticeable in everyday life, but we cannot let up here, because the need is great and we still have a backlog of renovation work to catch up on. For this reason, the following are a few examples that will also provide relief in the future:

One focus is on roads and bridge construction: the renovation of the railway arch on Zschopauer Straße was completed this year. Deutsche Bahn is planning to complete four further bridge construction projects on Augustusburger Straße, Bernsdorfer Straße, Reichenhainer Straße and Stollberger Straße in the coming year. This will bring noticeable traffic relief. The renovation of the viaduct over the Chemnitz at Annaberger Straße will then begin and should be completed by 2024. The viaduct in Rabenstein is also due to be completed next year.

The further expansion of broadband is still a priority and will involve numerous smaller civil engineering measures. Telekom and other providers are active here. The city itself is also active and is building in underserved areas where the commercial providers are not pushing ahead with expansion. In the north of the city, especially in Wittgensdorf, Chemnitztal and Borna, many measures will be completed this year. In other districts such as Euba, Adelsberg and Einsiedel, over 5,000 households will benefit from the expansion from the end of this year. Construction projects will also drive broadband expansion next year. There is new funding for a second expansion stage of broadband 2.0 to carry out the expansion for 2,600 addresses and to make preparations for 3,800 more addresses.

In terms of school building construction, work will begin on the Adelsberg primary school in 2022, while the Heinrich-Heine primary school was completed this year. The primary schools on Jakobstraße and Weststraße, the interior refurbishment of Georg-Weerth-Oberschule and the Ernst-Wabra-Straße speech therapy school will be completed next year.

In the daycare centre sector, major construction work will be completed at the facilities on Schloßstraße and Michaelstraße.

In the sports sector, the speed skating rink and the gymnastics hall were completed this year, and work on the multi-purpose athletics hall will be finished in the near future. The first construction phase in the main stadium will be completed next year.

The zoo will get a new service yard next year and, as soon as we receive the funding, the renovation of the park railway station will begin in early 2022.

We have received requests from several Chemnitz residents for more and better cycle paths to enable both children and adults to reach their destinations in a safer and more environmentally friendly way. The cycle lane and cycle highways were praised in this context. What plans are there to expand the city's cycle path network in general or to create new cycle lanes or cycle highways?

This is an ongoing issue and all major construction measures are planned and implemented with new cycle traffic facilities. We are pleased about the lively utilisation and the associated relief of the roads. The Lugau - Wüstenbrand cycle path is due to be completed and the Wüstenbrand - Küchwald cycle path is due to start at the end of this year as soon as the funding has been received. It is very important to close further gaps, which are to be completed throughout the city centre. The most important point, however, is the city centre. Many cycle paths arrive here but do not continue well. This will be remedied in the coming years with the construction of the city centre ring road as part of the Chemnitz model. The issue of cycle lanes is also a high priority. Compared to other large cities, Chemnitz has around 20 % more traffic area per inhabitant, which needs to be managed and maintained. A major focus is therefore on the existing infrastructure and the partial conversion of roads into cycle lanes.

When will the digital pact reach Chemnitz schools? When will the schools finally have a broadband connection? When will there be WLAN in the schools?

Chemnitz has received federal funding from the Digital Pact. The expansion began in 2020, but it will take until 2024 for all schools to be fully connected and equipped. This rather long duration is due to a variety of problems. We have made good progress in connecting broadband to the buildings, with 25 schools already fully connected. In 26 schools, broadband is connected to the school but still has to be laid inside the building. These construction measures are being delayed due to the high workload of specialised companies and because this work cannot be carried out during active school operations. 30 schools are not yet connected, but this year at least the buildings will be connected to broadband. Parallel to this broadband connection by 2024, we will also be starting to roll out Wi-Fi. This topic is a high priority for us. Due to the cost increases, particularly in the construction sector, we will provide additional funding for this. Next year, schools will be connected with 1Gbit/S. In future, digital end devices for pupils and teachers, interactive whiteboards, digital class registers, etc. will also be part of the equipment. We are certainly not pioneers in Germany, but we are continuously working through the tasks and are making good progress.

Many social and cultural activities had to be cancelled during the lockdown. Children and young people in particular were forced to spend a lot of time at home. What is the city doing for our youngest citizens?

Everyone has probably experienced from personal experience or from their own environment the restrictions that children and young people in particular have had to put up with, and in some cases still have to. The city is trying to do something for children and young people within its sphere of influence. During the summer holidays, we offered various activities, particularly in the areas of sport and education. Many clubs were active. A wide range of activities are also planned for the autumn holidays, and we will continue to do so in the coming holidays if required. There are extra swimming courses for the cancelled dates. The city provides financial support and assistance with the bureaucracy and supports the clubs. We recently held talks with the city's clubs about this. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage parents and grandparents to take advantage of the clubs' programmes with their children and grandchildren. We are committed to ensuring that daycare centres and schools remain open in order to provide a good education.

How can we help children from a medical perspective to mitigate the effects?

It is very important to keep the needs of children in mind and to ensure that they are protected with concepts. Particular focus should be placed on the places where children spend time, especially schools and daycare centres. The effects of the lockdowns are very clear. From a medical point of view, social distancing works very well. But this is not a measure that can be maintained in the long term. We cannot easily make up for educational deficits and social impoverishment. Medical professionals also have a duty to support policymakers in making the places where children spend time safe through good testing concepts, for example.

How can Chemnitz residents get involved at the moment?

The Capital of Culture GmbH was founded and a few weeks ago we appointed Stefan Schmidtke as Managing Director. The big task now is to prepare the planned programme as described in the application book. This application book is our contract with the EU and at least 80 % of the activities it contains must be implemented. However, this also means that 20% are still open. All previous proposals will be bundled in Kulturhauptstadt GmbH, and new ideas will be gladly accepted. Applications for micro-projects are currently open until 15 November; ideas selected by a jury will be funded with 2,500 euros. You can find more information at www.chemnitz2025.de. Next year, we will also be calling for further project proposals. Until 2025, there will still be many opportunities for everyone in Chemnitz to get involved.

Can we look forward to a Christmas market this year?

We are determined to realise the Christmas market and the mountain parade as we remember them from previous years. This requires a hygiene concept, a little more distance between the stands and some personal responsibility on the part of visitors. We are in close dialogue with the stall operators about this. There will be a Christmas market without fences, without contact tracing and without 3G regulations. Some changes are necessary, e.g. the stage programme will be slightly shorter and mulled wine stands will not be positioned in narrow areas. We are committed to ensuring that we experience an atmospheric Christmas market and a traditional mountain parade.

What is the situation in Chemnitz hospitals?

Unfortunately, the numbers are rising continuously again. It is up to us to manage the current situation and counteract the current trend. We must continue to try to persuade people who are unsure whether they should be vaccinated. That's why we will continue to offer vaccination programmes, as these are extremely important in order to overcome the pandemic more quickly. Corona is also not the only problem; respiratory infections are generally more common in winter. Many people are also hearing about discussions on RS virus infections, which occur mainly but not only in children. There are also fears that the influenza wave will be more severe this year. For all these reasons, I would like to appeal to all citizens to educate themselves and get vaccinated. There is a vaccination centre at the hospital and other mobile vaccination teams. The dates can be found at www.chemnitz.de.

Apparently there are a lot of people in hospital who have been vaccinated twice, so does the vaccination not protect as well?

That's not true. Unfortunately, bad rumours often spread very quickly without being checked. Around 20 % of patients on a normal ward have been vaccinated. The proportion of vaccinated people in the intensive care unit is only 5%, meaning that 95% of patients with severe cases are unvaccinated. The fourth wave of the pandemic is primarily a wave of the unvaccinated. However, we must also accept that no vaccination against respiratory pathogens is 100% effective. The effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccination is being tested on a weekly basis together with the State Research Centre. It protects well over 90 % against symptoms of the disease and 98 % against death. These figures may sound abstract. In other words, 14 immunised people prevent one case of illness. In the case of influenza, 30-70 people need to be vaccinated. 400 vaccinated people prevent one coronavirus death. Extrapolated to the whole of Saxony, the vaccinations to date have already prevented around 5000 deaths. These figures perhaps better illustrate the effectiveness.

How can children who cannot be vaccinated be protected in the best possible way?

We adults have a huge responsibility towards children. Children have already had to accept considerable restrictions during the course of the pandemic. The most important protection option is the cocoon strategy - in other words, all adults around them should at best be vaccinated. The same is successfully practised for whooping cough, vaccinating pregnant women and close relatives to protect newborns. Another option is frequent testing in schools and daycare centres, which provides considerable protection against the unnoticed spread of the disease. Restricting contact to a fixed core, e.g. your own class group at school, also provides very good protection. This has been practised very successfully in parts of professional sport, such as the American basketball league, since the start of the pandemic. It is up to adults to help protect their children by vaccinating them themselves.

In my case (age 42), the second vaccination was more than 6 months ago due to professional prioritisation (medical staff). Why am I not getting a booster vaccination and therefore cannot protect myself in the coming winter season?

We often hear that immunity deteriorates and weakens over time. Currently, this mainly affects people over the age of 70 or people with a compromised immune system, e.g. due to previous illnesses or congenital immune deficiencies. In these cases, it is assumed that the vaccinations already given have not yet provided a correspondingly high level of protection. There is currently a booster recommendation for these people. All other vaccinated groups of people still have sufficient protection. However, the recommendations for booster vaccinations are constantly being reviewed and adapted to the current situation. It is hoped that these will lead to a long-term increase in immunity and a broadening of the immune response. This should also be able to cope with virus changes. Serious vaccination breakthroughs are currently very rare and are mainly due to weakened immune systems, old age or previous illnesses. A booster vaccination is therefore currently only recommended for these groups of people. In the coming year, a booster recommendation will certainly also be made for other groups of people, with future vaccine classes also playing a role. The aim is to achieve long-term, robust immunity, as we don't want to have to booster every six months.

My doctor advises me not to have the vaccinations at the same time, but you read the exact opposite in the media. What is your opinion, what interval should there be between the two vaccinations?

In principle, the flu vaccination does not protect against coronavirus and the coronavirus vaccination does not protect against influenza. You have to be vaccinated against both to be protected. Both vaccinations can be given at the same time without causing increased side effects. There is now a lot of experience with this in the UK and the USA. The 14-day interval between the flu and coronavirus vaccinations, which was often mentioned in the past, is not necessary. However, the timing of the two vaccinations is also not a must; the individual decision should be made with your GP.

The Chemnitz model already connects many regions - what has developed so far and what can we look forward to in the future? What are the next steps?

There are still many steps to be taken in this major project, but some expansion stages have already been realised or will be completed by the end of the year. Stollberg, Burgstädt, Mittweida and Hainichen are already directly accessible from Chemnitz city centre, the route via Technopark in the direction of Thalheim and on to Aue will be opened by the end of the year. Stage 3 towards Niederwiesa and further on to Olbernhau and Cranzahl is currently on hold. Stage 4 will be brought forward instead. This will run through Chemnitz city centre via Hartmannstraße, Leipziger Straße, Küchwald, Röhrsdorf to Limbach-Oberfrohna. This section requires the most new construction work. Several route options have been developed and discussed with many citizens at various events, both online and on-site at the Carlowitz Centre. A preferred route variant is to be presented to the city council for approval in November. The planning approval process could then begin, which usually takes around 1.5 - 2 years. Once this has been completed, building rights are in place and implementation can begin.

Last year, there was extensive participation in the Chemnitz Mobility Plan 2040. What is the current status and where can I find out more?

The suggestions from the participation of experts and citizens have been incorporated into the mobility plan. Information on the mobility plan and the current processing status can be viewed online at www.chemnitz.de. The aim is to submit the Mobility Plan 2040 to the City Council for approval at the end of this year.

Many people in Chemnitz are concerned with the topic of the city by the river and how a possible design can be realised as part of the Capital of Culture process. It is certainly important to ensure a harmonious interplay between people and nature. What considerations and design plans are there in this regard?

Several sections are being worked on at the same time; these are located on the Chemnitz and the Pleißenbach in Altendorf. Not only cultural objectives have to be taken into account here, but flood protection, nature conservation and monument protection also play a role, which requires a sensitive approach. Fortunately, we are seeing a positive natural development, with beavers, black storks and otters returning to the Chemnitz. At the same time, people want to experience their river again and get closer to it. Many interests must therefore be brought together. The focus of the plans for the Chemnitz is the southern section around the old river baths up to the confluence of the Zwönitz and Würschnitz rivers, the source of the Chemnitz, and also up to the railway viaduct. We want to present these plans in January and discuss them with citizens and take up further suggestions.

The Pleißenbach area at the old goods station in Altendorf is another focal point. There has already been a lot of public participation here, the plans have been roughly finalised and the detailed planning will now begin. Here, too, there will be further opportunities for citizens to get involved. In particular, we want to involve children, as play facilities are also planned for the area.

Are we in Chemnitz well prepared for heavy rain and flooding? How do I find out whether my house is at risk?

We are well prepared. Experience to date, including in Chemnitz, shows that after the flood is before the flood. In general, we have to look at floods and heavy rainfall separately.

For flood protection, the city administration has set up an internal water defence service, in which various offices and departments take care of water inspections, flood protection systems, pumping technology, the provision of sandbags and hazard prevention measures. Precautions were also taken by keeping areas free as flood reduction and inundation areas. Certain construction bans were also introduced in these areas. After the 2002 floods, protection concepts were developed for the Chemnitz, Würschnitz and Zwönitz rivers and measures were derived; since 2008, the Free State of Saxony has been responsible for this. The Free State has since invested 70 million euros in flood protection and flood defences in the city. The city administration of Chemnitz continues to work on flood hazard maps and risk management plans for 2nd order watercourses, such as the Kappelbach and Pleißenbach. In addition, a "Chemnitz 2030" flood protection concept is being developed for smaller streams, for example in Wittgensdorf, Glösa and along the Gablenzbach.

We are most concerned with heavy rainfall events. The level of protection here has not been as high to date and the measures are more difficult to implement, as heavy rainfall often occurs very locally in different places, as was the case in Röhrsdorf a few years ago. But here too, the Environmental Agency, City Planning Department, Civil Engineering Department, Fire Department and Waste Management Company of the City of Chemnitz are working on an overall concept and want to carry out an audit.

However, personal protection is also important. According to the Water Resources Act, people who could be affected by flooding are obliged to protect themselves and their own buildings as far as possible and reasonable. The environmental and civil engineering authorities will be happy to advise you on precautionary measures. You can also find out from the Environment Agency whether your own house falls within these areas. The insurance industry also offers natural hazard checks and further information can be found on the Internet at www.chemnitz.de or www.wasser.sachsen.de.

Do we have sirens and warning systems that work? How are we warned?

We have twelve electronic sirens and six motorised sirens in the city. In addition, as announced by the Free State and the Federal Government, there will be a further expansion. Our fire brigade colleagues continuously monitor the weather conditions and also use information from the German Weather Service. The sirens are activated in the event of imminent danger. Modern sirens are already installed in the catchment area of Chemnitz and Würschnitz, which do not warn with siren noises but with specific announcements.

In such an event, help and support is provided primarily by the professional fire brigades with 388 officers, as well as 15 voluntary fire brigades with 371 active members, the medical task force with 147 emergency personnel, the water rescue service with 20 emergency personnel and the personal information centre.

How high is crime in the city centre? What is the administration doing to make the city centre safer?

Together with the public order office, we are in regular dialogue with the police department, which is the first point of contact for the issue of crime. The crime situation has decreased in recent months, partly due to the joint efforts of the city and the police. Last year, this was certainly also due to coronavirus, as significantly fewer people were out and about in the city. A comparison of 2019 and 2020 shows no increase, and in 2021 there was even a decrease in crime. Since 2020, there has also been an increase in patrols by the police and the city security service. We have the security situation in the city centre and in Chemnitz in general very well under control.