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CASE # CONSIDER DRAFT RESIDENT SURVEY By: Beth Malaby, Community Development Intern Background: A group of high school students from Anoka High School has proposed to create and administer a survey of Ramsey residents, as part of their community service efforts. As they have proposed it, the concept of the survey is to explore residents' vision for Ramsey in 2010. Attached for your review is a draft version of the survey. The students have agreed to distribute copies of the survey by going door-to,door to Ramsey households. They are requesting funds from the City to pay for return postage for the surveys, and also are requesting that the City make copies of the survey in-house. The students have been working with staff to produce a survey document which will provide useful information in terms of planning for Ramsey's future. Observations: The survey is a one-page questionnaire which can be folded up, taped shut, and dropped in the mail. Postage cost per survey would be $0.32. Assuming the survey is distributed to half of the households in Ramsey, and (optimistically) 33% of those households respond, return postage would cost no more than: 2250 households x 33% x $0.32 ............................................ $240 An alternative to mailing the completed surveys might be the placement of drop boxes at frequented locations (such as gas stations and the grocery store). However, the survey is likely to get a drastically lower response rate using drop boxes. Chances are good that the response rate would not be high enough for the survey to be considered a valid indicator of opinions within the community. Copying the survey in-house would require 4-1/2 reams of legal size paper, at a cost of approximately $24 (assuming 2250 households are surveyed). It is certainly feasible to distribute the survey to a smaller sample of households. The total number of surveys received is less important (statistically) than the response rate and a lack of bias in selecting a sample. Postage and copying costs could be absorbed within the existing administrative budget. At the end of the year, any overages could be covered through reallocation from the contingency fund. Committee Action: Recommend Council authorize necessary expenditures up to $264 for completion of the Survey. Reviewed by: City Administrator Community Development Intern Finance Officer Copies distributed to: Park Commission FC: 05/23/95