62 deliberations were on the agenda for the last municipal council of 2024 in Arles, which took place on Thursday December 19.
The last municipal council of 2024 in Arles took place on Thursday December 19. After a start to the session marked by the demonstration of support for the Human Rights League recently excluded from the House of Associations in Arles, 62 deliberations were examined. Among the topics on the agenda, the motion to support Symadrem sparked some debate. The State wishes to reduce the number of kilometers of Petit Rhône dikes to be secured to 16, instead of the 56 initially planned. All municipalities and communities of municipalities are therefore invited to vote on a motion of support for the initial plan.
The municipal council lasted more than 6 hours. • Louise Gal
“If we listen to the State, this would mean protecting only 12,000 people compared to the 30,000 initially planned. This is unacceptable. A choice is required between those who will be protected and those who will not.“, Mandy Graillon protested. “The door is opening a little”, rejoiced Pierre Raviole, who sits at Symadrem. “The prefect will send us a second letter. The fact that we are all coming together to contradict the state's vision seems to make the administration react. But we remain very suspicious.“The two elected officials from Changeons d’Avenir have decided to abstain.”You have always been on the side of growth and moving forward. You have chosen to live in a world of more degrees. In this world, there will never be dikes high enough, never developments sufficiently titanic, never technologies so revolutionary to allow young people to live like their parents, grandparents.“, began by explaining Virginie Maris.
The municipal councilor deplored that the initial Symadrem project which aimed to “protecting people while looking for new avenues of adaptation, playing with the forces of nature rather than fighting against them, has been planed“. “The ACCM and the Camargue Regional Natural Park should have worked upstream on adapting the territory to climate change. But nothing was done. In this motion written by Symadrem, you stir up fears while refusing to take your responsibilities“, she lashed out. “If the sea rises it will invade our territory, with two consequences: it will become a salt desert, and it will chase away human activity. But the Camargue is made by the hand of man. Not protecting this economic activity is not doing nature a favor.“, retorted Patrick de Carolis. Nicolas Koukas for his part supported “with strength and conviction” this deliberation.
Opposition elected officials. • Louise Gal
What restrictions for 2025?
On the occasion of the decision to modify the main budget for 2024, Nicolas Koukas questioned the mayor of the city about the 2025 budget, with regard to the efforts which will certainly be required of the municipalities. Patrick de Carolis thus shared his “red lines“, concerning budgetary restrictions. He is committed not to touch the field of culture. “It is the vital economy of Arles and it is more than that, it is something which seems very important to me.“He also pledged that these restrictions would not have an impact.”the continuity of services, the preservation of structuring projects and the quality of life of residents.“Several deliberations then focused on price updates, justified by the mayor as being an adaptation due to inflation. “We will have to update prices which often exceed the inflation rate.“, lamented Nicolas Koukas, taking the example of funeral directors. “There are things that increase more than inflation, others not, like bodegas. We do not understand why some who have commercial activities are exempt from the increase and why it is the associations, the people of Arles with the price of the canteen, the funeral directors, who pay the bill“, added Cyril Girard.
Prior rental authorization
The municipal council also returned to the deliberation of the community council of December 5, 2024, which established the prior authorization for rental, known as “rental permit”, on the perimeter of the planned operation to improve the Housing and Urban Renewal (OPAH-RU) of Arles. Carole Guintoli castigated a device “ultra restrictive and totally off the mark“. “There are a very small number of perfectly identified slumlords in the city center of Arles. Most substandard housing is found with social landlords in priority areas of the city where this system will not apply.“, she lamented. Cyril Girard agreed with her position, adding that there are also unworthy housing conditions for seasonal workers in rural areas. Patrick de Carolis indicated that he heard their reservations but justified the choice of this perimeter.The rental license was born after the tragedy of Aubagne in 2018, in an old center. It's heavy to manage. It is better to start only in the old center” he said.
And also…
Elected officials voted to adopt an exceptional grant of 15,000 euros to help the victims of Mayotte.
Municipal councilors also voted for a deliberation aimed at purchasing camera traps in order to avoid illegal dumping of waste. “We have already raised awareness. We have also worked to facilitate alternatives with more than 4 million euros invested in recycling centers. Now we move on to the last act and we have warned: the sanction“, affirmed Mandy Graillon. Thus, 4 or 5 cameras could be installed. Cyril Girard abstained, explaining that he wondered about the effectiveness of the system if a sign indicates the presence of cameras and alerted “on the risk of finding waste in places even further from the roadsides and more complicated to access.“Mandy Graillon clarified that traps could also be installed without an explanatory sign.
The creation of a municipal youth council was also voted for by elected officials. Nicolas Koukas welcomed the initiative and called for remaining vigilant so that “this initiative is not just a showcase but a real democratic tool.“Marie Andrieu and Cyril Girard wondered why young people are selected and not elected or drawn by lot.”The draw makes it possible to seek out people far from public discussions. By choosing we take the risk of taking the best students, etc.“Jean-Michel Jalabert explained that it was because they had opened to all middle school students in the city, not just those attending school in Arles. For the moment, the town hall has received around thirty applications. This council will have a operating budget of around 5,000 euros with additional amounts allocated for the realization of projects which would be validated.
