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Councilmember Backous asked if Fire Chief Kapler is moving forward with alternative plans for <br />a temporary location. <br />Fire Chief Kapler stated there are options, but not great options, to find a temporary location. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated staff has looked at scenarios for the fire station to move out <br />quickly should a purchase offer be received. <br />The majority consensus of the Council was to move forward with staff's recommendation to <br />retain BKV, move to the schematic design phase, and to negotiate the fee for that, which is <br />estimated at $20,000. <br />2.02:. Review Proposal for Resident Survey <br />City Administrator Ulrich reviewed the staff report and presented a proposal and prototype <br />survey from The Morris Leatherman Company to conduct a community survey. It was noted <br />that $7,500 is budgeted in the General Fund for 2014, there are State grant funds of $3,400, and <br />questions relating to utilities can be charged to that fund. He explained staff would like to <br />discuss the merits of moving forward with a survey in 2013 to allow for a baseline of <br />information to be used for strategic planning in early 2014. If conducted in 2013, the cost of the <br />survey can be funded by Enterprise Funds, Council contingency, and State grant funds. City <br />Administrator Ulrich reviewed options to reduce the survey cost by reducing the number of <br />questions and indicated staff could obtain quotes or a mailed/newsletter survey could also be <br />considered though it could involve more staff time and may not result in receiving comment <br />from a cross section of Ramsey's residents. He asked for the Council's input whether to conduct <br />the survey in 2013 or in 2014. <br />Councilmember Kuzma supported pushing out the timing for the survey because there is <br />currently a lot of disinformation in the community. He would like the issues currently under <br />discussion to be settled before conducting a survey. <br />Councilmember Tossey suggested the "survey" be the 2014 election and stated he would prefer <br />doing it by initiative referendum or the City's representatives. He stated he thinks residents are <br />using the survey on him so he would not support conducting a survey as a priority because <br />residents are already engaged. <br />Mayor Strommen asked if the City has ever conducted a survey that is not issue specific but <br />more broad in nature relating to City services. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated there has not been such a professional survey to his knowledge. <br />Councilmember Johns stated depending on the thrust of the survey, it could be valuable as a <br />budgeting tool. But, if talking about services and strategic planning, that is set. Councilmember <br />Johns supported delaying the survey but still felt it was important to find out what the priority is <br />for residents. <br />City Council Work Session / October 8, 2013 <br />Page 5 of 7 <br />