THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503070072
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Mayor Paul D. Fraim and his civic-league advisers say they want to build on the momentum of their first Citizen Workshop on fighting neighborhood blight.
They're still seeking the best forumla.
Fraim and several members of his civic-league advisory committee met Monday to analyze the Citizen Workshop held on Feb. 25. About 200 people attended the session, ``Community Partnerships for Effective Neighborhood Code Enforcement,'' held at the Lafayette-Winona Middle School.
While generally pleased with the turnout and mood at the February workshop, they agreed that their new-found partnership needs further cultivation and direction.
``My sense is that we have a pretty good rapport. We have something to build on,'' Fraim said.
Roy Graeber, president of the Riverfront Civic League, added: ``We all left with a good feeling. How do we take that energy and activate it in our daily lives?''
Fraim offered some ideas. He said:
City agencies must follow up on complaints and concerns that some individual citizens voiced at the workshop. Several listed specific problems, such as discarded mattresses, blighted mobile homes and houses reputed to be havens for criminal activity.
``We want to be making sure that we follow up on the things that were said, the advice we got and the comments that were made. . . so people feel the city is responding to something,'' Fraim said.
Complaints are welcome, but the quarterly workshops should not be turned into full-flegdged gripe sessions about municipal services. The mayor wants to encourage citizens to share responsibility for solving some neighborhood problems. ``The dialogue is very important,'' he said.
James Janata, president of the East Ocean View Civic League, agreed. The first workshop proved ``that if the city reaches out to citizens they will find (citizens) already holding their hands out,'' he said.
But he also cautioned the mayor not to let City Hall back off from its services.
Others points during Monday's meeting included:
Graeber said federal and state cutbacks may force cities to reduce services or raise taxes. City governments will need strong relationships with local citizens to continue making progress.
Janata urged the mayor to include citizen participation when the City Council devises its annual list of priorities for the General Assembly. He noted that Chesapeake shares its legislative agenda with the Chesapeake Council of Civic Organizations.
Andrea Clark of Diggs Town urged that teens be invited to workshops, especially on issues such as crime and education.
B.J. Stancel, president of the Park Place Civic League, suggested that houses of worship be invited to workshops.
The mayor and his advisers have not decided the topic for the next quarterly citizens workshop. However, they have scheduled the next workshop for April 29, at a site to be announced. by CNB