CITY OF BRATISLAVA ANNUAL REPORT 2006 CITY OFBRATISLAVAC I TY O F ANNUAL REPORT 2006 20 20 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CAPITAL CITY OF SR BRATISLAVA CONTENT Introduction Foreword by the Mayor 4 Bratislava: Mission, vision and development priorities 6 Local government 8 Internal affairs 12 Sections City planning and development 22 Environment 24 Transport 28 Construction 34 Heritage conservation 38 Culture, sport and free time 42 Education and youth 48 Social assistance 54 Public order 58 Tourism 66 International relations 72 Financial annual report Balance of income and expenses of the City of Bratislava for 2006 82 Formation and release of off-budget funds 86 Transfers 86 Overview of balance and development of debt 87 Business activities 87 Offsetting of financial relations to city budget 88 Arrangement of economic results of the City of Bratislava for 2006 89 Bratislava 2006 in figures 90 FOREWORD BY THE MAYOR For Bratislava and its local government the year 2006 was the last year in the four-year period of office, a year of municipal elections, and so naturally, also a year for taking stock of the Bratislava Development Priorities Programme. At the very beginning of this period, we did not exactly have it easy. When just before Christmas in 2002 I took over responsibility for the administration and future development of our city, Bratislava was a quarter of a billion in debt, which was due to be settled in the sum- mer of 2003, but with only one quarter of this amount available to cover it. In such an atmosphere it was not exactly the best of times to think about development constructions. In order to ensure that Bratislava would programmes. Paramount was that we almost immedia- not today be on the verge of transport collapse, and, in tely had to restructure the debt service of the city very fact, to make sure it was prepared for the huge boom quickly to make sure the city was literally not brought to that awaits it in the coming years, we went ahead with its knees. We managed to achieve this also thanks to the about forty large and small transport construction pro- understanding and support of the city councillors. jects in the past three years worth several billion koruna. These include the new Apollo Bridge, the expansion and Not only did we manage to revive the city’s financing, reconstruction of various thoroughfares, a parking navi- but very quickly in the autumn of 2003 we were alrea- gation system, traffic lights and signs, camera surveillan- dy able to agree on combining our election manifestos ce at crossroads, and not forgetting motorway sections and for the first time since 1990 prepare a medium-term with the assistance of the state. We reconstructed rare three year programme of development priorities for the historical monuments, expanded social facilities for the city and at the same time acquire real funding for it. elderly and disadvantaged people, and re-launched the Bratislava thus had a vision of its future development, programme of council flat construction. We protected which came from the impetus of its citizens, public opi- and developed the forest park so that it may continue to nion polls, and the election manifestos. It contained be a favourite place for relaxation, sport and recreation. various projects that in the past had either been persis- We managed to do all this with a balanced budget and tently pushed aside or were neglected simply because of without digging into the pockets of citizens. This was the a lack of money. necessary “hardware” of Bratislava, so that it can now concentrate also on its “software” – the quality of life. In the Programme we focused on the most crucial as- pects: transport and transport constructions, housing, Quality of life – these will be keywords in the develop- public order and development of the city. More than 40 ment priorities of Bratislava in the coming years. tasks from a 68-point programme concerned transport Bratislava and its people are, understandably and legi- QUALITY OF LIFE – THESE WILL BE KEYWORDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES OF BRATISLAVA IN THE COMING YEARS. CAPITAL CITY OF SR BRATISLAVA timately, fairly demanding; in Bratislava today it is not the capital. Bratislava is a city of Bratislavians, but it is enough to speak about securing public transport, as in also the capital of the Slovak Republic and if it is to be other regional centres. We have to talk about and per- capable of facing the anticipated strong competition ceive a quality, comfortable and in particular, time and from other metropolises in the European Union, it must financially feasible, core public transport system, which be capable of adopting and creating the conditions for will ensure the spread of capacities in favour of more several tens of thousand new inhabitants to the city, ecological municipal public transport. mostly young people of a productive age with a univer- sity education. We want to create quality, and above all accessible, pro- ducts and city services for all ages and target groups, Municipal elections were held at the turn of 2006. They from mums on maternity leave spending their time in were the fifth successive free municipal elections to play centres, for instance, to the elderly actively taking take place after a change of the socio-political status in part in the life of our city in pensioners clubs. the country in 1989. I am thankful to my fellow citizens that they put their faith in me to serve Bratislava for We want to prepare a vision of Bratislava for the next yet another four years. With the strong support of our 15-20 years and present it to the public, and get the partners in the City Council and other local government public to voice their opinion on it, also by utilising the bodies, we will try to finish off several things that we amazing potential of our universities, scientific instituti- started together in Bratislava. ons and civil initiative groups. In October 2006 in Munich they announced the results In the upcoming period we want to concentrate on cre- of the annual award European City of the Future. Brati- ating modern leisure facilities for sport – professional slava made it into the shortlist for the first time, joining and amateur – recreation and active relaxation. We the ranks of cities like London, Berlin, Hamburg, Istan- have already started some of the projects, by which I am bul, or Moscow. Even though it did not win the award in referring chiefly to the Bratislava forest park, but also the end, for us Bratislavians, it is definitely already the Tehelné pole and allowing the start of the construction city of our future. of large projects like the new national football stadium and multi-purpose arena with an outlook to the World Ice-Hockey Championships in 2011 and beyond. We are preparing an extensive plan of renewal for the city’s greenery, with a special focus on parks. Bratislava is a green city, but we still have reserves especially in the quality of maintenance of city parks and roadside greenery. FOREWORD BY THE MAYOR Andrej Ďurkovský, 2006 What’s more, we plan legislatively to reinforce the po- Mayor of Bratislava sition of Bratislava as the country’s capital. We want to promote a model of functioning for Bratislava that will bolster a fairly new phenomenon – the growing sense April 2007 of healthy local patriotism among Bratislavians, while not insulting or harming our friends in neighbouring ANNUAL REPORT districts, as this represent an important background for 4 5 BRATISLAVA IS A MODERN EUROPEAN CAPITAL, THE PROUD CENTRE OF SLOVAKIA AND THE CAPITAL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC. BRATISLAVA: MISSION, VISION AND DEVELOP- CAPITAL CITY OF SR BRATISLAVA MENT PRIORITIES MISSION contributes to the overall satisfaction and pride of all The quality of life that our residents experience in this the people of Bratislava. modern prosperous European capital is important to us, as are the corresponding ecological parameters. We DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES OF BRATISLAVA hope every visitor leaves Bratislava with a feeling of con- IN 2006 – 2009 tentment, and with the knowledge that they will come To create greater quality, safer and more comfortable back one day. We endeavour to make sure Bratislava is transport a balanced centre of education, with work and business To increase the level of safety continually and opportunities, and a wealth of possibilities for sport, re- systematically, and protect the life and property laxation and entertainment. of citizens, public order and cleanliness in the city To ensure a high standard of services and easy access VISION to the services that the city extends to its residents Bratislava is a modern European capital, the proud centre To create the conditions and opportunities for active of Slovakia and the capital of the people of the Slovak and enjoyable leisure time for the people of Bratislava Republic. We work toward making sure that everyone To generate the conditions for a more active and working, studying or doing business in Bratislava, or fulfilling life for the elderly and disadvantaged who is welcomed here as a visitor, perceives the high individuals and their increased participation in the quality of life that Bratislava enjoys. The atmosphere life of the city of our city, the spirit of which reflects the history of To create a more human, healthier and greener Europe and which nowadays prospers with knowled- urban environment ge, science and modern technology, caters for various To protect and enhance the cultural heritage people whatever their needs, endeavours, desires and of Bratislava systematically and to utilise it in social standing and creates the requisites for them for development activities of the city self-achievement in a healthy environment.