Agenda - Council Work Session - 07/28/2020

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CC Work Session 2.2. Meeting Date: 07/28/2020 By: Colleen Lasher, Administrative Services Information Title: Discuss 2020 Citizen Survey Purpose/Background: PURPOSE Review 2020 draft survey questions and survey method. BACKGROUND (resident survey): As a result of the 2013 Council strategic planning process, the City initiated a regular, statistically significant, resident surveying process (one survey every two years). Generally, survey results benefit the City in a wide range of applications (E.g., the budgeting process, policy discussions, capital improvement plan, strategic plan, and the comprehensive plan,). The City has conducted a resident survey in 2014, 2016, and 2018 (see attached). PROCESS Please see attached timeline. We are anticipating this survey to be completed by residents in August/September of 2020, and for results to be back to Council in October. Notification: NA Observations/Alternatives: This item was considered at the Council work session on June 23, with the consensus to move forward with a survey in 2020. NOTES/for consideration: Question 15: Add Zoom and WebEx Question 17: Revise to reflect current strategic plan initiatives Question 19: Road Maintenance Funding: Consensus to keep questions and update Franchise Fee proposed rates and miles of road (180). Consider listing % tax increase. Online versus mailed response rate. NCS says that they see less of a response to the online -only survey, yes.and it varies from community to community, but as a general guide, they say to expect somewhere between 20-40% fewer responses when conducting the survey online only. Also, it's worth noting that the NCS Basic Service automatically includes an online response option (a URL is provided in the cover letter); however, in the past, Ramsey has chosen to omit the URL and collect responses via paper surveys only. As such, it's especially hard for us to predict what the online -only response rate would look like. Comparability to previous mailed surveys would not be valid and would distort any trend data from previous years. Online Survey available after completion of mailed survey NCS will make the survey available online (at no additional charge) and can segregate results from the mailed survey. This is done after the mailed survey is complete and all responses have been tabulated. Individual questions can also poised to the public, if the Council desires, as part of this platform, at no additional cost.