DATE: Wednesday, October 1, 1997            TAG: 9710010468

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JOHN MURPHY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:  107 lines

COMMUNITY TALKFEST STIRS BEACH RESIDENTS CITIZENS SHARE FEELINGS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT.

You talk. We'll listen.

That was the order given to about 75 Beach residents Tuesday night by Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf and the City Council during the city's first ``community conversation.''

Over subs, pizza, cookies and soda, a group of citizens - handpicked by the mayor and council members - sat shoulder to shoulder and shared their feelings about the Beach.

``What are your dreams for the city?'' asked Lyle Sumek, a consultant hired by the Beach to lead the 2 1/2-hour event. ``Where do you see the city by 2002?''

The participants responded: They applauded the city's recycling program, improvements along the Oceanfront, and the agricultural reserve program, which preserves open areas by paying farmers not to develop their property.

Looking into the future, some see the Beach attracting a professional sports team, a major theme park or someday sending the city's garbage to New York.

``This channeled a lot of energy and put it in the right direction,'' said Rubin Sanders, who has lived in the Beach for 20 years. Sanders said he was ``amazed'' by how much information was gathered.

The conversation is the city's latest effort to gauge the feelings of its citizens. Over the years, the city has sponsored telephone surveys and meetings for residents to come and tell City Council what's on their minds.

But the surveys are not personal, and the meetings were poorly attended, officials said.

Beach officials found themselves searching for new ways to bridge the gap with citizens.

The evening did not focus on a particular problem or issue. Rather, Sumek asked the citizens a series of questions about the city's successes, resources, future direction and possible pitfalls.

``It's really aimed at reaching out to citizens and getting their input on where they see their community, what they see as opportunities, where would they like to see their community in five years,'' he said.

Many council members were pleased that the people's responses were fairly similar to their own.

``I think it shows that people have a good understanding of what's going on in their city,'' said Councilman Louis R. Jones.

Virginia Beach City Manager James K. Spore said he has been searching for a way to assess public opinion other than public hearings, which are often divisive.

``The typical experience in public hearings is people show up because they have an ax to grind on a particular project or some grievance with the city,'' he said. ``Part of the value of this is to provide some balance and create different ways for the council and the citizens to communicate.''

A second conversation will be held Oct. 21, involving boards and commissions and their invitees.

Both conversations are invitation-only events. The mayor and 10 council members were each allowed to invite up to 10 people.

Sumek said this was not meant to make the meeting exclusive, but was an effort to get a larger turnout.

``What I've found is that if you just throw it open and say `come one, come all' you get very small turnout,'' Sumek said.

Sanders, however, said that, as much as he enjoyed participating in the conversation, he hoped the city would find ways to include other city residents.

He described the participants at Tuesday's meeting as generally ``middle or higher income.''

The input the council received from residents on Tuesday will be used to come up with a final list of priorities for the city in November.

``Today is not an end,'' Sumek said. ``It is only a beginning.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Virginia Beach City Councilman Louis R. Jones, foreground, writes on

a flipchart some ideas presented by citizens seated at a table

behind him at Princess Anne High School during a brainstorming

session Tuesday night.

Graphic

HOW PARTICIPANTS SEE THEIR CITY

1. What are some of the city's successes in the last two years?

The Agricultural Reserve Program, Virginia Marine Science Museum,

the GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater, renewal of the Oceanfront, the

Lake Gaston pipeline, road improvements, preservation of Oceana

Naval Air Station, the recycling program, the city's Lake Ridge

property.

2. What are the city's assets?

Schools, tourists, housing options, parks and recreation, natural

resources, religious opportunities, libraries, its positive image.

3. What are the forces shaping the city's future?

Controlled growth, tourism growth, water supply, regionalism,

increasing and aging population, aging housing stock, quality

educational system, transportation, world class attractions

4. What does success in the year 2002 and beyond mean?

Mass transit, healthy financial standing, commitment to the

agricultural reserve program, maintaining top-notch schools, safer

city, open space preservation in the northern portion of the city,

healthy environment

5. What are the key issues for action in 1998?

Light rail, library and school referendum, preserving the Green

Line, finalizing the comprehensive plan, better handicapped

accessibility, attracting high tech businesses, building the

Southeastern Expressway.

6. What are the opportunities?

A professional football team, ecotourism, a convention center and

hotel, a University of Virginia Beach, a major theme park, a

seasonal ``share a cop'' program, promotion of sport fishing, a film

festival, gambling and more quality hotels.

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