In an era of rapid global change, Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, must also redefine its place in the competition among cities and regions. The conditions for this are favorable in Mainz. Admittedly, the city of Mainz also faces financial difficulties that make it impossible to maintain its full range of services and implement everything that would be desirable. Rather, the difficult financial situation makes it necessary to pool resources, set clear priorities, and pursue new models.

As the regional hub of Rheinhessen, with a balanced economic structure and a good mix of industries, Mainz is a vital component of the Rhine-Main region of the future. With its excellent array of educational institutions, Mainz is well-equipped with qualified young talent for commerce, industry, and science. The citizens of Mainz can look to the future with confidence.

The future development of our city is at the heart of the urban development strategy, the first step of which is this city vision statement. A vision statement should be understood as a guide on the path to the future. As part of the image analysis conducted by Mainz University of Applied Sciences under the direction of Prof. Dr. Ursula Funke in early 1998, a representative sample of approximately 1,700 residents of Mainz, visitors from the surrounding area, and commuters, as well as 2,000 German citizens.

The results of these surveys form the basis for the work of more than 200 prominent figures from business, academia, culture, public life, the City Council, and the city administration, who developed this city vision statement. It is a collaborative effort that was adopted by consensus across party lines: All these leaders were called upon to articulate their interests, get involved, and actively participate in the public affairs of the city of Mainz. Six expert working groups on the topics of shopping, transportation, and urban design; Economy; Highlights, Tourism, and Communication; Environment and Housing; Culture, Education, and Sports; Social Affairs, Youth, and Health—as well as the Vision Commission—developed the findings and proposed the goals whose implementation will help shape the actions of the City Council and the administration in the coming years.

In May 1999, following intensive discussion, the City Council unanimously adopted the mission statement with one abstention. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped shape the Mainz City Mission Statement. My special thanks go to the spokespersons of the working groups, who served as facilitators and, at the same time, as the driving force behind the process, as well as to the academic advisors.

Our city’s tradition serves as the foundation for future development. The goals are ambitious, and achieving them will require a great deal of commitment from all of us. The real work is only just beginning. However, since this vision is the result of the joint efforts of our citizens, we are determined to do everything in our power to achieve the stated goals in the near future. Of course, the city’s mission statement is not static. It is designed to be process-oriented and was developed collaboratively with a holistic approach.

To complement the vision statement, the working groups will agree on specific measures during a second phase of work. These proposed measures will stem directly or indirectly from the vision statement; however, insofar as they involve public funds, they require approval by the City Council. Thus, in its current form, the city’s mission statement is a kind of interim result, a suggestion: citizens, politicians, and city officials must actively participate in implementing the goals that have been set. Only then can the sustainability of the city of Mainz be ensured.

Jens Beutel
, Former Mayor

All topics covered by the city's mission statement can be found in the navigation bar on the left (shopping, transportation, etc.).