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<br />, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />~ with their lives in the city. <br /> <br />Location within the Metropolitan Area was the most liked <br />feature of the city. At thirty-eight percent it dwarfed all <br />other responses. Quiet, strong neighborhoods, open spaces, small <br />town ambience, and friendly people were each cited by between <br />nine and five percent, each. On the other hand, inadequate city <br />services and property taxes were the most unpopular feature of <br />the community, cited by twenty-one percent. Growth, traffic, and <br />city government all scored above five percent. But, it is note- <br />worthy that thirty-two percent reported there was "nothing" they <br />disliked about the community; this "booster" segment is one of <br />the highest in the Metropolitan Area. The trade-off between <br />services and property taxes, as well as concerns about future <br />growth and development, appear to be the greatest concerns cur- <br />rently facing residents. <br /> <br />Seventy-eight percent rated the sense of community among <br />Arden Hills citizens as "excellent" or "good." However, when <br />queried about a focal point in the city, fifty-five percent could <br />suggest no focus. County Road E was the most popular candidate, <br />pointed to by twenty-six percent of the citizenry. At present, <br />then, there is no existing city "center." <br /> <br />Residents do feel empowered within the community. Seventy- <br />eight percent reported they could have a say in the way the City <br />. of Arden Hills runs things, if they wanted. An unusually small <br />seventeen percent thought they could not. This group of <br />alienated citizens is one of the smallest present in any <br />Metropolitan Area suburb. <br /> <br />~~ ~:::1.e residents are moderately strong "fiscal <br />conservatives." By a forty-five percent to forty-four percent <br />split, they would support a property tax increase to maintain <br />city services at their current level. Forty-two percent reported <br />their current property taxes as either "relatively high" or <br />"excessively high;" forty-eight percent viewed them as "about <br />average. Even though the City's tax rate has remained relatively <br />stable during the past few years, forty-two percent felt it had <br />increased and twenty-two percent were unsure. The median <br />estimate of the City's share of the property tax was sixteen <br />percent, equal to the current rate. Residents, then, appear to <br />be in a "cautious" mood with respect to their taxes, and would <br />require proponents to clearly justify any proposals to raise <br />them. <br /> <br />City services were, however, viewed by seventy-four percent <br />as "excellent" or "good" values for the property taxes paid. In <br />fact, city services evaluations were moderately positive, with a <br />few notable exceptions. Police protection, sewers and water, and <br />snow plowing scored approval ratings of eighty percent or higher. <br />. city street repair and maintenance, street sweeping, and summer <br />park maintenance topped seventy percent approval marks. Fire <br />protection, animal control, winter park maintenance, and <br />enforcement of selected city codes received approval ratings of <br /> <br />2 <br />