05-29-1990 PTRC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Only two additions were offered with any frequency: trails were supported by six percent, and more youth activities were supported by four percent. Like facilities, programming also appears to satisfy the needs of most residents. By a fifty-five percent to thirty-nine percent margin, residents would support a property tax increase to maintain and improve the park system. Proponents would support anfrom average yearly property tax increase of about $20. 00 . But, standpoint of electoral success, the odds are very small that a bond referendum would pass in a special election: total opposition is almost twice as high as strong support. Fifty-one percent of Arden Hills residents disapprove of charitable gambling amblin within the city; thirty-six percent feel strongly that way. But, if an elimination of these activities would lead to a property tax increase or city services cut, a sixty-four percent majority would oppose taking that action. Economic consequences outweigh philosophical tenets on this issue. A very high eighty-six percent of the sample participated in the curbside pick-up recycling program; this level of participation is about ten percent higher than the suburban norm. A fifty-four percent majority recycle weekly, while another twenty-five percent do so twice monthly. Seventy-seven percent were satisfied with the program. Of those expressing dissatisfaction, two major complaints were leveled: the need to pick-up plastics and the need for more frequent on-schedule • services. Providing further information to residents _could increase participation by another seven percent. The Arden Hills program is clearly a success. On related waste management issues, fifty-one percent of the respondents composted grass clippings and yard waste on their property, while twenty-one percent used a drop-off site. And, almost two-thirds of the community prefer the present "free- market" refuse hauling system over designation of one company by the City or assignment of haulers to exclusive zones. The Mayor and Council were awarded a job approval rating of seventy-seven percent and a disapproval rating of eight percent. The level of the approval rating is very high in comparison with other Metropolitan Area suburbs, and the almost ten-to-one approval-to-disapproval rating is exceptionally strong. But, nearly fifty percent of the community felt they knew very little about the Mayor and the City Council, thus many of the ratings were based upon generalized feelings that things were "going well . " The City may wish to consider highlighting more . fully City Council actions and activities in the city newsletter. The City Staff received a job approval rating of seventy percent and a disapproval rating of twelve percent. Both the . absolute level of approval and the almost six-to-one ratio of • approval-to-disapproval are much higher than the suburban norm. The forty-three percent of the residents reporting first-hand 4