Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Packet 03-21-1995 SpecialPLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1995 6:00 P.M. Council Conference Room I. Review of 1995 Citizen Survey DATE: March 16, 1995 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Kathy Lueckert, Assistant City Manager &_ SUBJECT: City Council Study Session Review Draft Citizen Survey Questions During the past weeks staff has worked with Dr. Elizabeth Fuller, of Motivation Dynamics, to develop the questions for the 1995 Citizen Survey. We very much want your comments on these draft questions, which are attached. Some general observations. The survey will be a telephone survey. Four hundred Plymouth residents will be selected at random to participate. The survey should last about twenty minutes, which is a standard time frame for surveys of this type. Our goal is to keep the number of questions under 100. The survey will be conducted during April. Preliminary data analysis will be available at the end of April. A complete report will be ready by mid-May. Many of the questions, in particular demographics and those rating city services, were asked in the 1982, 1985, and 1987 citizen surveys. Repeating these questions allows us to track responses over time. The questions have had extensive review by staff. Staff added new questions, to reflect issues about which we would like citizen feedback, such as speeding, planning for Northwest Plymouth, etc. We look forward to discussing the survey draft with you on Tuesday evening. We will provide supper! 1995 Plymouth Citizen Survey Proposed Questions 1. About how long have you lived in Plymouth? _less than 1 year 1 - 2 years 3 - 5 years 6 - 10 years more than 10 years don't know/declined 2. In what city and/or state did you live just before moving to Plymouth? 3. What attracted you to Plymouth? 4. As things stand now, how long do you expect to continue living in Plymouth? less than 1 year 1 - 2 years 3 - 5 years 6 - 10 years more than 10 years don't know/declined Tell me, now many people in your household are in these age groups ... we'll start with the oldest. 5. First, persons over 55 0 1 2 3 4 5 6. How about 36 - 55? I 1 2 3 4 5 7. ...and 19 - 35? 8. . An the 13 - 18 group? 9. Anyone 6 - 12? 10....or0-5? 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 11. How do you rate the quality of life in Plymouth --excellent, good, fair, or poor? excellent good fair W-12 12. What do you like most about living in Plymouth? 13. What do you like least about living in Plymouth? 2 14. Over the next five years, do you believe the quality of life in Plymouth will remain about the same improve decline don't know/no opinion 15. How much pride do you take in the City of Plymouth as a place to live? a great deal quite a lot some very little don't know/no opinion 16. Would you like to move away from your neighborhood in Plymouth? yes no if yes, ask 17. Where would you like to move? say, to another neighborhood... in Plymouth in another suburb in City--Mpls/StPaul away from Twin Cities out of Minnesota don't know/no answer 18. Do you consider property taxes in Plymouth to be... about average comparatively low relatively high excessively high As you know, property taxes are divided between the City of Plymouth, Hennepin County, and your local public school district. 19. For each dollar you pay in property taxes, about what percentage do you think applies to Plymouth city government? under 10% 10% to 20% 21% to 30% 31 % to 40% 41% to 50% 51% to 60% 3 61% to 70% over 70% don't know/no opinion 20. Do you feel your municipal water and sewer charges are comparatively high, about right, or comparatively low for the Metropolitan area? Comparatively high About right Comparatively low Don't know/declined 21. Overall, do you consider park and recreation facilities in Plymouth Excellent Good Fair Poor Don't know/no opinion Here is a short list of government services; please tell me whether you are generally satisfied or dissatisfied with that particular service: Satisfied Dissatisfied Both/Neither Don't Know 22. Park Maintenance 23, Snow Plowing 24, Trail Plowing 25. Police Services _ 26. Fire protection 27. City street mtce 28. Drinking water qual. 29. Animal control 30. Recreation programs 31. Recycling 32. For any "dissatisfied" response in 22-31, ask: Why are you dissatisfied with ? 33. Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? _Yes No El 34. Are there safety issues which particularly affect you? des no What are they? 35. How concerned are you about speeding on your street? Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not concerned don't know/no opinion 36. Would you like sidewalks in your neighborhood? des no don't know/no opinion Let's talk about Plymouth City Government for a moment. 37. How much first-hand contact have you had with the Mayor and the City Council? A great deal A fair amount Very little don't know/declined 38. Based on your own knowledge or what you have heard, how would you rate the performance of the Mayor and City Council? Excellent Very good Adequate Poor Don't know, declined 39. Do you believe Plymouth residents have an adequate opportunity for input when decisions are made by the City? Adequate Somewhat adequate Inadequate Don't know/declined 40. How much first-hand contact have you had with the Plymouth city staff? A great deal A fair amount Very little don't know/declined E 41. Using your own knowledge or what you have heard, how would you rate the performance of City staff? Excellent Very good Adequate Poor Don't know/declined 42. Have you contacted anyone at the City of Plymouth for information, services, or to register a complaint in the past 12 months? Yes No Don't know/decline 43. What was the nature of your most recent contact ... that is, what did you need or want? 44. In general, were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way your need was handled? Satisfied Dissatisfied Don't know/declined If answer in 44 is "dissatisfied," ask 45. What was it that left you feeling dissatisfied? 46. Do you find the present mix of Plymouth recreational facilities, including parks and trails, sufficient to the needs of your household and its members? Yes No Don't know/declined If no in question 46, ask 47. What additional opportunities would you like the City of Plymouth to consider? Ce 48. What age group(s) do you think need(s) additional facilities? Pre-school (0-5) School age (6 - 12) 13- 19 Other Don't know/declined In the past, the possibility of building a community center has been discussed. This center might contain an ice arena, pool, senior citizen center, or general recreational facilities. 49. Would you like the City of Plymouth to study a possible center? Yes No No opinion/declined 50. What do you consider your principal retail shopping area? 51. Do you find the current mix of commercial/shopping facilities adequate for the members of your household? Yes No Don't know/declined If no, ask: 52. What additional facilities would you like to have available? 53. Do you or other members of your household work within the boundaries of the City of Plymouth? Yes Number No. don't know/declined 54. Should the City of Plymouth try to create an identifiable "downtown" area? Yes No Don't know/declined h 55. In your opinion, is the general appearance of your neighborhood... Excellent Good Fair Poor Don't know/declined Let's consider the City's enforcement of codes: 56. Concerning enforcement of city codes on nuisances such as animal control, garbage disposal, junk cars and noise, do you feel the City of Plymouth is: Too tough About right Not tough enough Don't know/declined If answer is "too tough" or "not tough enough," ask: 57. What is the reason you feel that way? 58. Have you had City of Plymouth employees come to your residence? des no don't know/declined If yes to 58, ask: 59. What was the purpose of their visit(s)? 60. How would you rate the overall performance of these employees? Excellent Good Fair Poor No opinion/declined 61. Does the overall development of the City of Plymouth seem well planned for the future of the community? Well planned Somewhat well planned Not well planned No opinion/declined 62. Do you think that the development of Plymouth has been environmentally sensitive and responsible? Yes No Don't know/declined 63. Plymouth should actively support affordable housing as part of City development. strongly agree agree disagree strongly disagree don't know/declined 64. Plymouth should continue to support a mixture of housing in terms of sizes, types, prices. strongly agree agree disagree strongly disagree don't know/declined 65. Growth should continue in the Northwest area of the City. strongly agree agree disagree strongly disagree don't know/declined 66. Growth in the City of Plymouth over the past few years has been... too fast too slow about right don't know/declined 67. Other than voting, do you feel you can have a say in the way decisions are made for the development in the City of Plymouth? yes no don't know/declined Managing solid wastes (garbage, recyclables, yard waste, and hazardoud wastes) is a challenge. Please answer the following: E 68. Which of the following recycling services and/or facilities has your household used in the past 12 months? Inconvenient Yes _NO City Curbside recycling pickup Yes No City recycling drop-off center Yes No Special Recycling Collection Days Yes No City Yard Waste Drop-off site Yes No Hennepin County Household Haz. Waste Drop off Yes NO If all answers to questions 68 are no, ask: 68a. Which of the following reflects most closely your reasons for not recycling: Unaware of available programs Yes _No Inconvenient Yes _NO Do not produce enough waste to use services Yes _No Service is unreliable Yes _No Seems unnecessary Yes No 69. Are there additional materials you would like to see included in either the curbside or drop-off recycling program? Recipes for alternative to hazardous products Please do not read through the list, check after each of respondent notes choice) Cereal, cake, cookie and cracker boxboard Yes Plastics Yes Household batteries Yes Milk cartons/drink boxes Yes Motor oillbatteries Yes Other Yes 70. The monthly fee for the current level of recycling services is $2 per household per month. Would you be willing to pay more per month for these materials to be added to the recycling program? Yes No 71. Would you like to see more information about: Recycling Yes no Waste Reduction Yes no Disposal methods for household haz. wastes yes no Recipes for alternative to hazardous products yes no Safer lawn care and composting yes no Energy conservation yes no Water quality des no Others 10 72. State law requires that communities recycle 45% of waste by 1996. State and regional planners are discussing mandatory recycling for residents and business. If state law required it, would you change your recycle habits? Yes No Don't know/declined 73. Does the fertilizer applied to your lawn contain phosphorus in it? Yes No Don't know/don't apply 74. Do you or any other household members own automobiles? Yes No If yes, ask 75. How many automobiles are owned by those in your household? One Two Three Four or more don't know/declined 76. Do you or others in your household use public transportation? daily weekly occasionally never 77. Do you currently use Park and Ride services des no occasionally don't know/refused 78. Is the public transportation available (Plymouth Metrolink and Dial a Ride) adequate for the needs of you and others in your household? des no don't know/declined 79. What additional transportation service would you like offered? more busses more service hours 11 downtown service light rail other (name) Examples: 80. Dial a Ride presently serves the city of Plymouth, Ridgedale, Downtown Wayzata, and Golden Vally Center. Should other areas be added? Yes No Don't know/declined 81. In your opinion, what areas should be added? 82. What is your primary source of information about city government and key issues in the City of Plymouth --newspapers, radio, television, city publications, neighbors, or some other means? Newspapers radio television city newsletter neighbors other don't know/declined If specific media are named in question 81, ask: 83. Would you tell me which (newspaper, radio, TV station, city publication) comes to mind first? 84. Do you read: Weekly News _yes _no _occasionally Plymouth Sun Sailor des no _occasionally Star Tribune des no _occasionally 85. Do you watch City Council or Planning Commission meetings on Channel 37? frequently occasionally not usually don't know/declined 86. How would you rate the City's overall performance in informing residents about important local issues? excellent 12 good only fair poor don't know/declined 87. Do you recall receiving the monthly city newsletter called thePlymouth News? des no Not sure don't know/declined If yes to 87, ask: 88. Do you or any members of your household read the Plymouth News? des no don't know/declined 89. What types of articles or information are you most likely to read in the Plymouth News? 90. Are there topics or kinds of information you feel should be in the "news?" Every two months, the "news" features a Park and Recreation Program booklet. 91. Do you use it? des no don't know/declined 92. Would you like this Park and Recreation booklet to be separate from the Newsletter? yes no don't know/declined 93. Now, about improving water quality... would you be favorable to the idea of a small fee... say, a few dollars per month ... for improving water quality in Plymouth's lakes and ponds? yes 13 94. How important is open space to you? no don't know/declined very important somewhat important not important at all don't know/declined 95. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: The City of Plymouth should use public funds to acquire land to preserve open space. 14 strongly agree agree disagree somewhat strongly disagree don't know/declined