|
<br />Minneapolis Star and Tribune/ Thursday/June 18/1987
<br />
<br />.7A
<br />
<br />
<br />Anok@_QQ~__ ___,
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />,
<br />I
<br />,
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />,
<br />Ramsey Co. I
<br />,
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />t
<br />I
<br />, t
<br />, _ _t
<br />
<br />I
<br />I
<br />,.
<br />,
<br />,
<br />,
<br />I
<br />I
<br />r
<br />I
<br />,
<br />, .-
<br />',-,II'
<br />
<br />Mississippi
<br />AiVer~
<br />
<br />
<br />, \
<br />I . ,
<br />
<br />Shoreview
<br />
<br />Continued from page lA
<br />
<br />fitness center and whirlpool baths,
<br />surv~y respondants said.
<br />, \
<br />Decision Resources President
<br />William Morris said that Shoreview's
<br />civic joy is not matched by nine
<br />other Twin Cities communities he's
<br />surveyed, and that its city
<br />government received the highest
<br />ratings recorded in the metropolitan
<br />
<br />The 98 percent positive view of their
<br />quality oflife is "stunning,u and the
<br />fact that 78 per~ent approve of the
<br />job done by their local officials bodes
<br />well for its city council's political
<br />future, said Morris. \
<br />
<br />"Shore view's positive ratings tend to
<br />be 15 to 20 percentage points higher
<br />Hlan other suburbs. In a second-ring
<br />suburb we'd exPect 25 percent of the
<br />people to say they dislike nothing.
<br />The difference between that and 40
<br />percent isa quantum leap," he said.
<br />
<br />Mayor Dick Wedell said he and other
<br />council members are flatte-red, if
<br />somewhat surprised, by the
<br />outpouring of warm feelings for city
<br />hall.
<br />
<br />"If animal controlis the biggest
<br />prolllem ',;,:;'ve got, that's good news.
<br />Wi.: ~H do something about that, and
<br />Vle illklld to," Wedell said. "But
<br />....hat do you do tor an encore? This
<br />(,UlVCy) inakes it awfully tough."
<br />
<br />So what makes the 20,500 Shorcview
<br />residents s,o happy?
<br />
<br />City government must be doing
<br />many things right, but it's more than
<br />that, said Morris.
<br />
<br />It'!> also the combination ofthe city's
<br />n01~~~;iJ ~menities and development
<br />histvi'Y with a pupulation that fits
<br />
<br />Shorevlew Mayor. Dick Wedell: "What do you do for 8n encore? This
<br />(survey) makes it awfully tough." .;'../'
<br />
<br />social scientists' definition of the
<br />"postindustrial society."
<br />
<br />Such a community has many high-
<br />income, high-education residents
<br />who are professionals or business
<br />owners and managers who place a
<br />high value on their environment and
<br />health, and are willing to invest in
<br />schools and city services. ,
<br />
<br />Shoreview fits the description to a
<br />"1'," according to his survey, said,
<br />Morris.
<br />
<br />It has a $41,500 median family
<br />income, 42 percenl of its residents
<br />have college degrees, and 63 percent
<br />of its \\age-earncIs are professionals
<br />and businessmen.
<br />
<br />The survey also discovered that
<br />residents have an extremely high
<br />concern for the city's environment
<br />and for personal well ness, he said.
<br />
<br />Said Morris: "['ve never seen the
<br />wellness movement so strong in
<br />terms of what people expect in a city
<br />n;creation center. We're literallv
<br />talking about a municipal health
<br />
<br />spa."
<br />
<br />Familarity with city hall might breed
<br />contempt in some cities, but Morris
<br />said the survey indicates that
<br />Shoreview officials could make
<br />residents even happier through better
<br />communication.
<br />
<br />Residents overestimated the pel cent
<br />of their property taxes that goes to
<br />support city services, and the city
<br />staffs overall approval rating of 65
<br />percent jumped to 83 percent with
<br />residents who had contact with citv
<br />hall. .
<br />
<br />What Shoreview residents c:cm lllust
<br />worried about, besides aninl,11
<br />control, is that too much
<br />development will ruin their haven.
<br />
<br />Wedell has a similar concern.
<br />
<br />'''One of the problems we can
<br />envision is that the survey is too
<br />glowing and too many people will
<br />want to move in."
<br />
<br />6+
<br />
|