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2.02: Review Resident Survey Results <br />Asst. City Administrator /Economic Development Manager Brama presented the staff report, <br />indicating this is the City's first significant resident survey and the purpose of this Case is to <br />review the results, take amendments the Council would have, take general feedback, authorize <br />the survey to be published, and to complete the survey. Asst. City Administrator/Economic <br />Development Manager Brama reviewed the documents contained within' the staff report <br />including the Community Livability Report (easy to read /follow comprehensive overview of <br />survey results), Dashboard Summary Findings (condensed version of the survey), Technical <br />Appendices (all technical survey information, raw survey results, and materials utilized), and <br />User Guide (information on how to utilize and understand the survey results). <br />Asst. City Administrator/Economic Development Manager Brama stated the survey found <br />Ramsey is a great place to live and raise a family and would be recommended to others; has <br />quality and diverse stock of housing including affordable; recycling opportunities; overall <br />economic health is rated highly; and, is a safe place to live. Challenges are overall <br />image /reputation of Ramsey and outsider's opinions of Ramsey is perceived to be low; quality of <br />business services; vibrancy of downtown; volunteers ranking below national averages; and, low <br />number of citizens actively engaged in the community. <br />Asst. City Administrator/Economic Development Manager Brama explained how this <br />information can be used by the Council and that it will become valuable as training data is <br />received. It is anticipated that another survey will be considered in 2016. Asst. City <br />Administrator/Economic Development Manager Brama stated once in final version, the <br />information will be placed on the City's website and included in a future edition of the Ramsey <br />Resident. <br />Councilmember Riley stated the responses relating to business and shopping opportunity are not <br />a surprise and areas on which the City is working. He stated he was surprised about the response <br />relating to volunteering and volunteer opportunities being low and would like to address how to <br />promote volunteer opportunities. Councilmember Riley noted that in the raw data, a section <br />included `I don't know' responses but another does not include that response so it gives a <br />different result, which he found interesting. <br />Councilmember Backous stated when the Council was debating whether to conduct a survey, <br />some felt the voters decide so a survey was not needed. He stated he found that this survey was <br />done well and shows areas on which the City can work. He liked the way the data was <br />presented, makeup of the answers through use of color, and thought it was interesting that the <br />term `fair' is considered to be below the national average of other cities. Councilmember <br />Backous stated the City is concentrating on `good' and `excellent' but if you include the `fair' <br />responses, then Ramsey comes out very well. He stated this data will provide a good layout of <br />what the City needs to work on, which is good to know. <br />Councilmember Kuzma stated he was surprised with the response on how you rate Ramsey <br />government, which fared low so, is something the Council needs to work on. <br />City Council Work Session / November 12, 2014 <br />Page 5 of 9 <br />