At the Mayor & Council meeting on Tuesday, we voted to approve a purchase order for substantial renovations to the first floor of City Hall. These include things like carpet replacement and reshuffling office space, but most notably they involve building walls around the lobby and installing key-card doors. When the work is complete, you won’t be able to go into the office area or up to the second floor unless let in by staff or if there’s a public meeting. You’ll interact with the front desk staff through a service window.
I voted for approval despite having some reservations, because it wouldn’t be right to neglect the safety of the City staff when there are indications that we should do something to improve it. People who are upset or in crisis have occasionally come into City Hall, and right now there is no serious barrier protecting staff from anybody who might do them harm. We, as citizens, need to take care of the people who work for us. If it was my family member in there, and something happened, I wouldn’t care what reservations about a renovation some city councilman had.
Because it matters in the long run, though, my main reservation that too much focus on security can reduce public trust. Being confined to a lobby and having to talk through a window can make citizens feel like they’re being kept at arm’s length. There’s a lot of that already in facilities for higher levels of government. Local government is in many ways the last level that feels open, and, but for the times we live in, I’m reluctant to diminish that.
City staff understand that concern, and they said at the meeting that they plan to make sure City Hall doesn’t feel like a fortress. For instance, as I understand it, you won’t need to talk through an intercom and the front door will remain open during business hours. Those things will help, though there’s no avoiding the fact that City Hall will feel different after the renovation.
We can still build public trust in other ways, though. I trust City Hall staff will remain personally welcoming and open to any citizen who comes in there. And when you’re asking something of them through that window, I suggest striking up some small talk. Get to know them a bit and let them get to know you. That’ll help local government do its thing, and do it well.
Click here for background on the item up for vote.