Norfolk Daily News

Tuesday – January 8, 2008
h3. OUR VIEW

_Suggestions for downtown city offices aim for efficiency and effectiveness

What do Norfolkans want to see in their city offices?

Undoubtedly, not anything showy or too fancy. But offices that are functional and user-friendly. Offices that leave visitors with a good first impression of Norfolk. Offices that are adequate in terms of size to allow city staff members to effectively and efficiently go about their jobs.

That’s what was being proposed by some civic-minded Norfolkans who appeared before the coulcil last month and again Monday night to urge members to consider alternatives to buying the vacant First Christian Church on Highway 81 as the site for city offices.

What they were proposing was a concept for city offices that would be accurately described by these adjectives: accessable, efficient, user-friendly and functional.

Wuld Norfolk taxpayers support that kind of city hall? We think so.

Many of those urging caution in regard to the First Christian option also stressed the idea of finding a way to keep the city offices in downtown Norfolk. Such a plan would provide a tremendous boost to efforts to help the downtown area thrive and prosper – a goal that all Norfolkans should support. A city without a viable downtown is not much of a city.

Several members of the council want to continue to explore the First Christian option. That’s fine, as long as other options continue to be considered.

Council members should learn from what happened in recent months regarding Faith Regional Health Services and the ongoing sponsorshop negotiations.

At one point, some of those involved in the talks seemed unwilling to consider any option other than aligning with a large health care system. But support from physicians and others for a 100 percent local option gradually prompted a fresh look at the situation – and that local option now has considerable momentum behind it.

We hope the testimony presented by susiness representatives to city council members last month and again Monday helped provide a broader perspective on the issue.

But it’s also important for Norfolk citizens to understand the need for new city office space.

That should be unarguable. And also keep in mind that no one is suggesting anything that would even come close to being overly fancy. What is being proposed by the businessmen is away to provide city officials with the office space they need, keep the offices in the heart of Norfolk, provide another boost to downtown revitalization efforts and do so in a manner that’s cost-effective, efficient and functional.

Really, who can argue with that?