Alejandro Marichal: “The process is incorporating different voices to improve the regulations and ensure that important decisions are made taking into account those who live in San Bartolomé de Tirajana.”
Ruyman Cardoso: “The participatory process is not limited to a single consultation and will continue with a second round of workshops in other neighborhoods of the municipality.”
The Department of Citizen Participation has concluded the first round of participatory workshops related to the drafting of the new Citizen Participation Regulations, an initial phase carried out over the past month in various neighborhoods of the municipality. A total of five in-person workshops were held in El Tablero, El Pajar, Castillo del Romeral, Tunte, and San Fernando, with the participation of approximately 70 people, either individually or as members of local associations and groups.
This first round of consultations has allowed for the collection of direct input from residents of different areas, ages, and backgrounds, including people who do not usually participate in formal consultation processes. The meetings served to present the draft regulations, answer questions, and create spaces for dialogue where citizens could directly convey their proposals and concerns to the technical and political team responsible for the process.
The workshops were conducted using a participatory, in-person methodology based on group work, guided discussions, and sharing sessions. Each session incorporated active listening and systematic collection of suggestions, fostering an orderly and respectful exchange among participants. This methodology allowed for the identification of commonalities among different neighborhoods, despite the municipality's territorial and social diversity.
Among the most recurring themes addressed during the workshops were the need to improve information and communication channels between citizens and the City Council, strengthen mechanisms for direct participation and consultation, improve the functioning and accessibility of existing participatory bodies, and demand clearer, more accessible, and more consistent processes. Furthermore, a widespread interest was observed in gaining a deeper understanding of the content and scope of the future Citizen Participation Regulations.
Regarding the results of this first phase, First Deputy Mayor Alejandro Marichal highlighted that the initial round of workshops is allowing them to “bring the regulations closer to the public, listen to very different perspectives, and gather proposals that improve the document.” He also emphasized that the process “is not limited to a single consultation” but will continue with a second round of meetings.
Marichal explained that the updated Citizen Participation Regulations aim to ensure that participation “ceases to be a mere formality” and becomes a genuine tool, allowing residents to be involved in municipal decisions from the outset. “We want to open the City Hall to the public and guarantee that important decisions are made with the input of those who live in San Bartolomé de Tirajana,” he concluded.
For his part, the Councillor for Citizen Participation, Ruyman Cardoso, emphasized that “the contributions gathered demonstrate a shared concern for having more accessible and transparent channels for participation.” He clarified that “the process is not limited to drafting a document, but rather aims to bring the administration closer to residents, explain how decisions are made, and facilitate clear and simple citizen involvement.”
The information gathered during this first round will now be systematized by the technical team, with the aim of incorporating citizen proposals into the draft of the Citizen Participation Regulations. Once this work is completed, the process will continue with a second round of participatory workshops in other neighborhoods of the municipality, thus expanding the territorial and social reach of the initiative.
The Department of Citizen Participation remains committed to developing a close, transparent and open process that will allow for the consolidation of regulations tailored to the reality of the municipality and built with the direct participation of citizens.
