THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503040651
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: IN THE CITIES
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
For the record, the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations recently voted 29-4 to support a proposed amphitheater in the resort city.
But something else occurred that night: Citizens deliberated public policy.
Buddy Dupree, a past president of the council, reported his research about the amphitheater. City Council members William Harrison and John Moss engaged in public debate. Several folks in the audience contributed comments and questions.
Civic leagues and coalitions of neighborhood groups have involved themselves in public-policy discussions for years.
But if it's not new, it is significant: Scholars say public life is too important to be left to government alone.
Local leaders say they are concerned, too. Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim says strong grass-roots groups are ``fundamental to the functioning of local democracy. Citizens coming together in communities to express their concerns, and express their concerns to the government, I'd like to have more of that.''
But it's not just the quantity of community gatherings. How those discussions work - and what they are used for - illustrate strengths and potential weaknesses.
A benefit is bringing first-hand information and involvement closer to the people; the system breaks down if civic-league delegates fail to take the information to their neighborhoods, said Leslie K. Fenlon, president of the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations.
Some civic-league coalitions hold thorough discussions before taking positions. Last fall, the Chesapeake Council of Civic Organizations held three meetings about the City Council's list of General Assembly priorities. The coalition also sent a newsletter and other mailings to member civic leagues, said president Gene Waters.
``We make it a point not to vote on issues that come up at meetings for the first time without there being any research. Quick votes are not necessarily good, educated votes,'' Waters said.
Some value consensus above a simple majority vote that might alienate large factions. At the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations, there's almost a gentleman's agreement not to take a public stance unless there's overwhelming concurrence, Fenlon said.
The Norfolk Federation of Civic Leagues once had a similar policy, said Betty East, a former president. ``We tried to go not with just a simple majority but to maybe take a second look,'' she said. ``You have to get across the feeling that every person has merit.''
But Eloise LaBeau, the federation's president, said the policy now is ``a majority is a majority, whether it's 40-2 or 22-20.'' There haven't been any recent close votes, she said.
Sometimes, civic-league coalitions form partnerships with governments.
Dupree represents the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations on his city's Resort Area Advisory Commission. That gave him direct access to information on the proposed amphitheater. He also accompanied the committee on a fact-finding trip to Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh.
Virginia Beach City Hall also helps by videotaping some forums sponsored by the council of civic organizations. They air on the municipal cable channel.
Yet, some civic activists worry about becoming too dependent on City Hall.
Civic-league coalitions try to police themselves from straying too far into politics, ``like the separation of church and state,'' East calls it.
It's not easy. Most have candidate forums but also prohibitions against endorsing anyone. Civic-league officers can support their favorites as long as their work isn't tied to the civic organization.
``You can say you're not going to be political, but you have to be,'' LaBeau said. ``If you aren't political, you can't achieve anything. One of the things we were for was making Paul Fraim the mayor. We discussed that. Maybe we shouldn't say that, but it's true.''
Federation members who supported Fraim agreed to work on his behalf outside the auspices of the organization, LaBeau said. They lobbied other City Council members to vote for Fraim for mayor. The Norfolk council chooses the mayor.
East warns that too cozy a relationship could undermine the federation's independence and credibility.
LaBeau defends aggressive politicking as giving the federation more clout at City Hall. ``We do work with the city more to get things done, but when we are opposed to something, we certainly let them know.''
As civic-league coalitions become more involved in municipal issues, they also must contend with being perceived as ``just another special-interest group.''
Fenlon, though, doesn't mind the comparison because special-interest status gives civic leagues equal footing with traditional power groups such as the Chamber of Commerce and the tourist industry.
``We're a special-interest group, yeah. Our special interest is the citizens of Virginia Beach,'' Fenlon said. ``And we try to make sure they have all the information they need to make informed decisions.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
NORFOLK MAYOR PAUL D. FRAIM
by CNB