Last citizens' meeting: Gröbenzell takes stock of city hall boss Schäfer!

Last citizens' meeting: Gröbenzell takes stock of city hall boss Schäfer!

There was a lot to discuss in Gröbenzell on November 24th, 2025. Martin Schäfer, the municipality's town hall boss, held his last citizens' meeting and revealed to the citizens both reviews and current challenges. The meeting was well attended, with around 80 listeners who actively participated in the discussion. Schäfer consciously wanted to create space for questions, which is why he kept his report shorter than usual, as merkur.de reports.

Many citizens expressed their satisfaction with life in Gröbenzell. But there are also worries. A survey raised concerns about the community's financial situation, which Schäfer couldn't ignore. He admitted that the municipality is not under receivership, but still needs to operate more economically. Tax increases cannot be ruled out, as there has been no increase for 13 years, as can be read on sueddeutsche.de.

Current challenges and topics

A central issue was the closed Rewe supermarket on Kirchenstrasse. Negotiations are ongoing, but no firm results are yet in sight. During this discussion, citizens expressed their concerns about the redesign of Gröbenbachstraße into a bicycle street and the associated traffic problems. The cycle path in Klosterweg, which has ended for 35 years, was also discussed, as were the parking shortages in Industriestrasse. Here, the citizens wanted time-limited parking spaces and one-sided parking on Alpenstrasse.

Another annoying issue was the road markings on Herrmann-Löns- and Augsburger Strasse. Schäfer promised to check the condition of the sidewalks on the Augsburger corner of Sudetenstrasse, but pointed out that the implementation could be expensive. There were also complaints about noise pollution from young people near the train station late into the night. The police assured that civilian patrols are in action, but video surveillance is currently not possible due to the low level of crime.

Citizen participation in focus

The citizens' meeting showed once again how important citizen participation is for a vibrant democracy. Many citizens often feel powerless and would like to have more influence on political decision-making processes. Formats such as citizens' assemblies are a good start to integrating the opinions and needs of citizens, as [thoughtpolitics.de](https://thoughtpolitics.de/die-meaning-of-buerger participation-in-der-kommunalpolitik-opportunities-und-herausforden/) highlights. However, commitment from citizens and political actors is also required in order to sustainably promote this participation.

A positive example was the lively discussion about the library, whose diverse offerings were praised. A proposal to increase the membership fee to 20 euros was taken up by Schäfer. At the same time, modernizing measures are planned in the leisure center, which should further improve the quality of life in Gröbenzell.

Overall, the citizens' meeting in Gröbenzell was an important platform for exchange between citizens and the municipal administration, which shows that the ears of decision-makers should always be open to the concerns of the residents. This dialogue is crucial to promote a trusting relationship between citizens and politicians.