More than 35 residents of Germantown, Mount Airy and Nicetown attended a Citizen Voices forum Thursday, Jan. 28, at Germantown Friends School. The moderators were Harris Sokoloff, Dick Gross, Michelle Charles and Louise Giugliano.

In an introductory period in which participants stated what they liked about Philadelphia, the qualities included the city's diversity, cultural riches and public schools.

As they discussed policy options in small groups, one of the more unusual suggestions came from Bill Leatherbee, an architect in Center Center, who proposed that the property-tax system be changed into a tax on the potential value of the land if put to its highest use -- which he said would spur development.

Eric Knight expressed a opinion frequently heard: that incentives for economic development need to be spread more throughout the city, rather than concentrated on Center City.

Small groups held discussions to answer the question: How did Philadelphia become America's ''most-livable'' city by 2010? The priority areas where the city changed, according to the groups:

Education

The economy

Infrastructure

Human services

Here are some of the specific suggestions made by leaders of the small groups:

Needs-based funding for public schools.

Expanded after-school programs, which cut crime.

Tax dollars were not put into ''school vouchers.''

Improved job training.

Concentration on business development beyond Center City.

City services made more customer-based.

Improved public transportation.

Improved services for drug addiction, the mentally handicapped, victims of domestic violence.

A police phone line other than ''911'' for nonemergencies.

Rapid city response to abandoned housing.

No tax dollars for sports stadiums.