CITY MAY CREATE OFFICE DESIGNED TO SET UP NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

A City Council panel called Wednesday for the city to draft plans for creation of an Office of Neighborhoods, which would help set up a network of citizen councils throughout the city.

City officials disagree on whether neighborhood councils should be appointed or elected, and whether they should be only advisory to the council or have power to make decisions on local planning and budget matters.

However, Councilman Joel Wachs, who chairs the committee, said he believes differences can be worked out based on the recognition by most city officials that some form of neighborhood council system is required to address the disenchantment people feel about their government.

``Most people in this city have something to say and don't feel they have a real opportunity and a meaningful way to say it,'' Wachs said. ``They don't feel they have a real way to participate in their neighborhood and on a citywide basis.''

The council's Government Efficiency Committee voted unanimously to ask Chief Legislative Analyst Ron Deaton to develop a report on the staffing, budget and role of an Office of Neighborhoods.

Council members Wachs, Mark Ridley-Thomas and Laura Chick, who make up the committee, said the new city office would also be expected to play a key role in creating a network of neighborhood councils.

Wachs said he would initially like to look at creating advisory councils appointed or elected by the community, because it would not require going to voters for a change in the City Charter.

``As an advisory group they become very powerful forces by the sheer fact they involve themselves on a regular basis,'' Wachs said.

However, Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg said the only way to get people to participate in a meaningful way is to have the councils elected, full-time paid positions with power to make local decisions.

``If we appoint people and limit their power, people will stay with it for a very short period of time. They won't stay with it,'' Goldberg said.

The council panel hopes to get a report back from Deaton in about two weeks. As a result, the City Council may be able to put a network of neighborhood councils in place before two Charter Reform Commissions complete their deliberations on the same issue.