Saint-Étienne Launches Phase 2 of Local Democracy with 20 New Neighborhood Councils

The city is organizing launch meetings in each district to involve residents in shaping their future councils and working groups.

Generic image of a residential neighborhood with green spaces and community buildings.
AI

Generic image of a residential neighborhood with green spaces and community buildings.

Following the success of the Democratic Renewal Day, the City of Saint-Étienne initiated in early October the second phase of its local democracy revitalization, including the establishment of 20 new neighborhood councils.

The initiative aims to bring together interested residents to participate in these councils, facilitate meetings, gather their ideas, and collectively design their operation and thematic working groups. These launch meetings are taking place across the city until November 7.
On Monday, October 12, two initial meetings were already held. In Montreynaud, about thirty residents gathered in the recently built Paganini community hall. For two hours, they discussed the expected role of the future neighborhood council and developed their ideas.
Participants expressed their concerns and identified priority issues for the neighborhood: parking, waste management and illegal dumping, lack of activities for teenagers and young adults, and speeding vehicles endangering pedestrians.
Following this meeting, two thematic working groups were created: one on the living environment (parking, waste) and another on the concept of a community center. These smaller groups will be able to meet and operate autonomously.
The official launch of the Saint-Étienne neighborhood councils is scheduled for early 2027, with a small operating budget allocated. These "pre-neighborhood council" meetings are being organized in the various districts of Saint-Étienne until November 7.
Based on information from the official source: Ville de Saint-Étienne (13/10/2026)