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