C. Community Survey
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227,1110
Building Inspections
Phone: 952.227.1180
Fax: 952.227.1190 .
Engineering
Phone: 952.227.1160
Fax: 952.227.1170
Finance
Phone: 952.227.1140
Fax: 952.227,1110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952.227.1120
Fax: 952.227.1110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952,227.1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
1591 Park Road
Phone: 952.227,1300
Fax: 952.227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952,227,1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
Web Site
WWN.ci .chanhassen. mn ,us
t!.-
TO:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
Laurie Hokkanen, Assistant City Manager ftR
FROM:
DATE:
April 5, 2010
SUBJ:
Implement a Community Survey to Help Determine the City's
Strengths, Weaknesses, and Community Needs
BACKGROUND
One of the City Council's goals this year is to implement a community survey to
help determine the City's strengths, weaknesses, and community needs. The City
conducted similar surveys in 2005 and 2007, working with the National Citizen
Survey, a partnership of the International City Managers Association and the
National Research Center.
By using the National Citizen Survey, we are able to compare our results to the
results from 2005 and 2007, as well as to other jurisdictions around Minnesota
and the U.S. The survey is mailed to a random, scientific sample of 1,200 homes.
The scientific nature of the study allows us to generalize results in a way that is
not possible with a self-selection process. The base cost of the survey is $9,900.
This expense is budgeted for in the Cable TV fund.
Staff also proposes that we elect to have the survey available on the web (cost of
$650). This allows residents who are not part of the random, mailed survey to
provide feedback. In the past, we've had a ~umber of residents who wanted this
option. The results of the web survey are not scientific and would be contained in
a separate report. The questions are the same.
The results of the 2007 survey are available on our website, at
http://www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us/comm!survey.htm!.
The proposed schedule for the survey is:
May 4:
June 1-15:
July 27:
August 10:
Selection of three custom questions due to NCS
Postcards mailed
Draft Report of Results Available
Final Report Delivered
The survey includes the option to design three, close-ended policy questions. For
an additional $1,500 we can also ask one open ended question. Please see
attached for the questions that were asked in 2005 and 2007. Staff's suggestions
for the 2010 questions are attached.
Chanhassen is a Community for Life. Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
Mr. Todd Gerhardt
April 12, 2010
Page 2
RECCOMENDA TION
In order to maintain the schedule above, we need to notify NCS and pay our
deposit by June 20. Staff is looking for direction on whether or not to proceed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Timeline for the National Citizen Survey
2. 2010 Questions Brainstorming List
3. 2005 Policy Questions
4. 2007 Policy Questions
G:\Admin\LH\Citizen $urvey\2010\Consider Implementing staff report April 2010.doc
Timeline for The National Citizen SurveyTM
~
Eo Indicates when items from NRC are due to you ~Indicates when items from you are due to NRC 0 Indicates information items
Item
Preparing for the Survey
The NCS survey process is initiated upon receipt of your enrollment form and first
o
payment
~ NRC emails you The NCS worksheets to customize The NCS
-+ Due to NRC: Selection of add-on options and basic contact worksheets
-+ Due to NRC: Drafts of the three optional custom questions to be included in the survey
Date
Apr 20
Apr 20
May 4
May 4
-+ Due to NRC: Information to customize The NCS survey
-+ Due to NRC: Zip code/sampling worksheet
Due to NRC: Area Boundary files for geographic comparison areas (if the geographic
-+
crosstabulations add-on is selected)
-+ Due to NRC: Additional payment for add-on options
o NRC finalizes the survey instrument and mailing materials
o NRCgenerates the sample of households in your jurisdiction
NRC provides confirmation documents about options selected by your jurisdiction and
~
a .Pdf sample of the postcard and mailing envelope for your records.
o NRC prints materials and prepares mailings
-+ Due to NRC: Selection of demographic crosstabulation variables (if demographic
crosstabulations add-on selected)
-+ Due to NRC: Selection of custom benchmark profile(s) (if custom benchmark add-on
selected)
Conducting the survey
o Survey materials are mailed
o Prenotification postcards sent
o 1 st wave of surveys sent
o 2nd wave of surveys sent
o Data collection: surveys received and processed for your jurisdiction
May 11
May 11
May 11
May 1 8
May 25
May 18 to May 25
May 18
May 25
May 25
May 25
Jun 1 to Jun 15
Jun 1
Jun 8
Jun 15
Jun 8 to Jul 6
o
During this time, you will receive postcards that were undeliverable due to bad addresses, or vacant
housing units. This is normal. Please count all the postcards, as we will subtract the number of returned
postcards from the total number mailed to estimate the number of "eligible" households in calculating the
final response rate.
-+ Due to NRC: Final count of returned postcards
o Survey analysis and report writing
Jul6
Jul 6 to Jul 20
o
During this time, NRC will process the surveys, perform the data analysis, and produce a draft report for
your jurisdiction. The report of results will contain a description of the methodology, information on
understanding the results, and graphs and tables of your results, as well as a description of NRC's database
of normative data from across the U.S. and actual comparisons to your results, where appropriate.
~
~
NRC emai/s draft report (in PDF format) to you
NRC sends invoice for balance due on The NCS Basic Service and any additional add-
on options
Due to NRC: Jurisdiction feedback on the draft report (most final reports are identical
to the draft reports, except being labeled as final instead of draft)
NRC mails final report and data file to you (unless otherwise specified)
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Jul27
-+
~
Aug3
Aug 1 0
Up to three close-ended policy questions are included in the survey.
1. How effective do you find each method of communication currently used by the City?
Highly
Somewhat
Neutral
Somewhat Ineffective
Not at All Effective
Mail
Website - www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
The Chanhassen Villager
Chanhassen Cable Channel 8
E-Mail
Facebook
The Chanhassen Connection (Newsletter)
Electronic Message Sign @ Chanhassen Library
2. What do you think will be the single biggest issue facing Chanhassen in the next 5 years?
a. Property Taxes
b. Traffic
c. Crime
d. Loss of Jobs
e. Property Values
3. What do you enjoy most about living in Chanhassen?
a. Park and Trail System
b. Proximity to Family
c. Location
d. Lakes
e. Schools
f. Neighborhoods
g. Downtown Chanhassen
h. Small Town Feel
i. Other
We can also have 1 open-ended question (additional cost of$1,500)
4. If the City government could change one thing to make Chanhassen a better place to live,
now or in the future, what change would you like to see?
OOITIONAL QUESTIONS
Three additional questions were asked by the City of Chanhassen. The results
for these questions are displayed below. Open-ended results can be found under
a separate cover.
Figure 26: Policy Question #1
How would you rate the job that the City of Chanhassen is doing
in communicating issues to the public?
Percent of Respondents
excellent
good
fair
9%
55%
29%
8%
poor
Figure 27: Policy Question #2
What is your preferred method of receiving information from the
City of Chanhassen?
Percent of Respondents
Mail 50%
The Chanhassen Villager/Maple Leaf
Newsletter 23%
E-Mail 13%
The Chanhassen Connection
Newsletter 10%
Visiting the City Web site 3%
Chanhassen Cable Channel 8 1%
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Figure 28: Policy Question #3
What one thing do you like most about living in the City of
Chanhassen?
Percent of Respondents
Location 36%
Good community 21%
Small town feel 18%
Parks/Open Space 15%
Schools 4%
Other 6%
Report of Results
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The National CITIZEN SURVEyTM
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The City of Chanhassen Citizen Survey
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Four additional questions were asked by the City of Chanhassen. The results for these
questions are displayed below. Open-ended results can be found under separate cover.
Question 16a: Policy Question 1
The City completed a retail market
study that showed Chanhassen
businesses successfully meet day-to-
day shopping needs, and a regional
mall along with the new Highway 212
in the City of Chanhassen would be
viable and expand the retail
opportunities in our city. The City Neither
Council would like to know the level agree
to which you agree or disagree with Strongly Somewhat nor Somewhat Strongly
the following statements: agree agree disagree disagree disagree Total
I would like a regional mall built
along the new Highway 212 29% 24% 16% 14% 17% 100%
I would like the City to focus retail
expansion in the downtown area and
not along the new Highway 212 21% 25% 24% 20% 10% 100%
I would like to limit retail to the
amount currently found in
Chanhassen and not build a regional
mall 16% 13% 17% 25% 29% 100%
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Question 16b: Policy Question 2
Medium Large I do not
(two (multiple support the
Small department department No development
(specialty stores and stores and preference of a regional
stores specialty specialty in terms of mall in
only) stores) stores) scale Chanhassen Total
What size mall, if at
all, would you like to
see developed in
Chanhassen? (select
only one)
10%
34%
22%
9%
25%
100%
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Report of Results
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2007 Policy Questions
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The City of Chanhassen Citizen Survey
Additional Questions
Question 16c: Policy Question 3
How important, if at all, is it to
you to have the City do the
following? Essential
Keep the Chanhassen Dinner
Theater in the City 39%
Increase the amount of park
space
Very
important
Somewhat
important
33%
20%
13%
31%
38%
Increase law enforcement
services
13%
34%
41%
Lower property taxes 32% 27%
Improve lake water quality 29% 44%
___.__.______.__n..._m_____m__
Note: "don't know" responses have been removed.
34%
24%
Not at all
important
Total
7%
100%
18%
100%
11%
100%
7% 100%
4% 100%
Question 16d: Policy Question 4
North of Highway
5
South of Highway
5 Total
Which of the following best describes where you
live?
60%
100%
40%
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Report of Results
32