Mika Kasonen elected as Chairman of City Executive Board of Vantaa
The Vantaa City Council held its first meeting of the autumn term on 21 August. At the meeting, Mika Kasonen of the National Coalition Party was elected as the new Chairman of the City Executive Board for the 2023-2025 term of office, following the departure of the current Chair, Sari Multala, as Minister of Science and Culture. In addition, Maarit Raja-Aho was elected as a Member of the Board.
Mika Kasonen is the new chairman of the Vantaa City Executive Board
The Council also discussed a number of councillors' initiatives on electricity sales and prices, local government and inclusion, teachers' salaries, the welfare of rainbow youth, considerations for neurodivergent people, restrictions on fireworks, video surveillance, social housing production and school transport.
EUR 1.2 million per year for participatory budgeting
The Council noted the new participatory budgeting model for 2023–2025. Participatory budgeting is a way of operating that includes residents in the discussion, planning and decision-making that concerns shared tax money. In Vantaa, regional implementations have been executed in 2019–2022. This year, the budgeting expands to concern the city, and, in the future, it is realised city-wide twice per council term.
A budget of EUR 1.2 million per year is reserved for the participatory budgeting. The Council will decide on the funding in connection with the budget discussion. Of the allocated amount, EUR 800,000 would be the annual investment budget for the Urban Planning Department and EUR 400,000 would be reserved as an additional budget for the Urban Culture and Wellbeing Department. The funding is divided to the seven major regions based on population. Regional targeting of funds supports quaint regions and strengthens flourishing urban centres.
Vantaa tram converting blocks into streets in Pakkala and Veromies
The City Council approved the change in urban planning for Pakkala and Veromies. It will go towards extending the street area on Osuustie by converting some blocks into streets. The plot division of the blocks will be changed, and the plots will get new plot numbers. New full access controls will be indicated in the blocks and existing driveways will be modified.
