Big changes coming to Norfolk Council

Local, Norfolk, Politics 1 Minute

Last August, I wrote this:

Norfolk’s council should consider meeting just twice a month and only in the evenings. Such a change would serve multiple purposes.

First, it would broaden the pool of applicants. While the number of candidates in this past May’s elections was the largest in 40 years, typically Norfolk’s elections draw fewer than the surrounding cities, the result being that incumbents are re-elected without opposition.

[…]

Second, it would allow the citizens to be more informed and more engaged.

Let’s face it: not many citizens have the ability to take time off from work to attend council meetings in the middle of the afternoon. And that may not even be the biggest hurdle to citizen engagement.

[…]

Finally, consider what such a move could do for the members of council themselves: They could be better informed and more engaged.

And last November this:

Things such as council meetings in the middle of the afternoon and the lack of televised work sessions — both activities that Norfolk engages in — have a way of reinforcing the premise that government does not work for us. I guess we should be grateful: Norfolk has recently decided to televise the afternoon formal meetings. Unlike Virginia Beach, though, which streams its council sessions live, Norfolk’s are recorded, edited and aired the next day.

Tonight, City Manager Marcus Jones proposed what I – and others – have been asking for.

In a presentation to council (below the fold), Jones proposed that council:

  • Hold council meetings – both formal and informal sessions – twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, with the informal sessions beginning at 5pm and the formal sessions at 7pm
  • Televise and live stream informal and formal council meetings along with the work sessions

Wow.

The Young Turks – Tommy Smigiel and Andy Protogyrou – have been pushing hard for these reforms. I am absolutely thrilled that Jones has proposed these and other reforms for our council.

This, my friends, is what “Winning the Future” looks like.

Published

14 thoughts on “Big changes coming to Norfolk Council”

  2. Excellent news!! From one citizen to all others, thanks for your diligence and determination. Let’s hope that this is but one of many needed changes to come.

  3. This is excellent news!
    I’d still love to see a transcript of at least the formal meetings…that may be asking too much 🙂

  4. Wow! This is great progress if adopted.

    What’s interesting about this and hits me from initial reading–“Data Driven”. That’s what I called Mitt Romney in the last primary.

    I knew there was a reason why Marcus Jones is a popular pick for City Mgr. Perhaps he can take away the black eyes suffered by my beloved Mermaid City.

    My only question is this: Will City Council propose a real estate tax increase when dealing with this budget? Which council members will vote for it? The same ones who voted for the Tivest office building?

    You can expect vociferous opposition to a tax increase of any kind.

  5. Pam, I think the Council has to look at a rate increase for the real property taxes. That can be done with an almost net zero effect on the taxpayers, as a whole. I wouldn’t mind paying the same tax in fiscal year 2011/2012, or even a little more, as I am paying in 2010/2011.

    To do that there has to be a rate increase. Most of the folks at the budget meeting I attended felt the same way. We cannot do the same with less.

    1. I have a really, really hard time with an increase in the real estate tax rate for a couple of reasons. First, council left the rate too high for too long (when property values were increasing) and basically spent the over-collected money on holes in the ground. (Search back through my blog – you’ll find posts enumerating millions of dollars they gave away.)

      Second, I’ve already given more than my share. For the last three years, my assessment hasn’t dropped one penny and this year’s dropped a paltry $10,100. My property is at least $100,000 over-assessed. (And yes, I plan to appeal.)

      So while I understand council’s need to look at it, I’m having a hard time supporting it.

    2. Doug,

      I would rather see what Marcus Jones proposes on some re-org of city depts and services to accomplish savings. Mr. Jones powerpoint above indicates just that–“same for less”. I am very impressed so far with him just based on this.

      Until the City of Norfolk restores some credibilty, the city cannot justify taking any more of my hard earned money.

      The school system needs to wake up too and save money like Va Beach is doing…or better yet, actually educate kids. I don’t think this is happening. I hope Dr. Bentley can do some good….but I see no message about any progress in that regard. I have not been blessed with any children, but if I did they would not attend Norfolk Public Schools.

      I already pay enough…and use little or nothing of public resources in the city.

      1. At the budget meeting at Norfolk the other night Marcus Jones was talking about how the normal process for the budget is to have each department come in and give a presentation and coordinate with the manager and others on their budget.

        He said that for what appears to be the first time ever, he brought every department into one big meeting and had a joint presentation. Through this process they found out there is a whole ton of duplication going on and a whole lot of things that don’t add up. I’d say that’s a pretty good start.

        As for Dr. Bentley, he’s quite possibly the most competent person I’ve ever seen. The way he conducts himself in meetings, his level of preparedness and depth of knowledge is just amazing. It’s a shame our school board isn’t up to the same par, but I’m working on fixing that one.

  6. Vivian,

    As an aside…I most certainly appreciate the posting of this powerpoint and other content related to Norfolk City Council agendas & info.

    I do subscribe to the city listserv, but the info is pretty dry and uninformative.

    Pam

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