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<br />City Council Regular Meeting - 02/14/05 <br />Minutes - Page 12 <br /> <br />Finance Director Chris Miller presented outcome of recent <br />discussions and apparent voids that exist with the City's ability <br />to measure a collective and representative opinion on the types of <br />services that are in demand, as well as the public's willingness to <br />pay for those services; and the lack of an ability to gauge the <br />public's interest in new ventures or opportunities. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller reviewed the purpose of a random survey in <br />measuring the needs, wants and desires of the community, <br />gauging the level of satisfaction in the services currently being <br />provided; ensuring that high-quality, cost-effective services were <br />being provided; better understanding of the community; a <br />demonstration that the City Council and staff care and value <br />public opinion and input; and to validate that current resource <br />allocation is appropriate. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller reviewed advantages, both qualitative and <br />quantitative: greater efficiency in measuring the public's <br />interests; representative sample can be obtained; engages a <br />portion of the population that doesn't normally participate; <br />proactive; broadly or tightly focused; identifies public interest in <br />future opportunities; issues are addressed on an equal basis rather <br />than in a vacuum; preserves anonymity; allows for the capture of <br />positive feedback as well as negative. Mr. Miller also reviewed <br />potential drawbacks: greater one-time costs; time commitment <br />on the part of Council and staff; presents a snapshot in time; <br />potential for design flaws. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller opined that a community-wide, random survey would <br />prove a good and purposeful tool and appropriate use of cable <br />franchise restricted fees; and noted that staff was recommending <br />that their expertise, in addition to an independent research firm, <br />would provide a consensus for pertinent issues to be surveyed. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller reviewed the primary issues identified by staff, and <br />sought Council consensus on those areas: cost of local <br />government services; demographics; development; housing; <br />parks and recreation; public safety; and traffic/transportation <br />Issues. <br /> <br />Mayor Klausing spoke in support of a community survey, while <br />