Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 11/14/2019

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The National Citizen Survey" (The NCSTM) is a collaborative effort between National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The survey and its administration are standardized to assure high quality research methods and directly comparable results across The NCS communities. The NCS captures residents' opinions within the three pillars of a community (Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation) across eight central facets of community (Safety, Mobility, Natural Environment, Built Environment, Economy, Recreation and Wellness, Education and Enrichment and Community Engagement). This report discusses trends over time, comparing the 2°18 ratings for the City of Ramsey to its previous survey results in 2014 and 2°16. Additional reports and technical appendices are available under separate cover. Trend data for Ramsey represent important comparison data and should be examined for improvements or declines. Deviations from stable trends over time, especially, represent opportunities for understanding how local policies, programs or public information may have affected residents' opinions. Meaningful differences between survey years have been noted within the following tables as being "higher" or "lower" if the differences are greater than six percentage points between the 2°16 and 2°18 surveys, otherwise the comparisons between 2°16 and 2°18 are noted as being "similar." Additionally, benchmark comparisons for all survey years are presented for reference. Changes in the benchmark comparison over time can be impacted by various trends, including varying survey cycles for the individual communities that comprise the benchmarks, regional and national economic or other events, as well as emerging survey methodologies. Overall, ratings in Ramsey for 2018 generally remained stable. Of the 94 items for which comparisons were available, 78 items were rated similarly in 2o16 and 2o18 and 16 showed an increase in ratings; no items showed a decrease in ratings. Notable trends over time included the following: No items trended down from 2°16 to 2°18. In the pillar of Community Characteristics, Ramsey residents were more likely in 2018 than in 2016 to give positive ratings to the city as a place to retire as well as to employment, fitness and cultural/arts/music activities. Residents in 2o18 tended to give higher ratings to Built Environment -related services than in 2oi6. Survey respondents were more likely in 2018 to favorably rate aspects of government performance such welcoming citizen involvement and overall confidence in City government. Respondents were more likely in 2018 than in 2016 to believe the economy would positively impact their income. They were also more likely to have attended a City -sponsored event. 1