Better understanding of the role of the Ajuntament in the direction-setting for the Product Team

Proposed agenda item What is the subject that you propose the Coordination Committee should address?

I propose that the Coordination Committee receive a briefing from the Technical Office (probably from Carol) detailing the (historical and current) role of the Ajuntament (City Council of Barcelona) in structuring the strategic direction and work priorities of the Product Team/Technical Office. What are the relevant contractual structures that make up this influence, etc?

Background Please provide any relevant background information on this issue -- feel free to attach documents and/or provide links (to external resources, any referenced Metadecidim debates/proposals, etc.)

In the last two years, the Decidim Association has taken formal steps to increase the extent to which the direction of development for the Product Team is democratically determined by Association members. This direction has been codified by the formal passage of the Technological Governance article of the Internal Regulations of the Association, which states (among other things) how Association members participate in establishing the strategic direction of the project and in proposing new features to be developed with Association funding and afterwards included in the 'core' for Association-funded maintenance.

At the same time, the direction of the project has been, and continues to be, deeply shaped by the requirements of the Ajuntament for decidim.barcelona. The mechanisms through which this influence operates are not transparent to the Association.

Intended outcome(s) What, if any, results do you hope for from the Coordination Committee's deliberation?

The intent of this proposal is to begin moving towards more transparency and openness with regards to who/what sets the technopolitical direction of the project. The ultimate intent is to facilitate more informed deliberations among the Coordination Committee (as stewards of the democratic integrity of the project) and the Association at large.