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<br />City Council Regular Meeting - 02/14/05 <br />Minutes - Page 13 <br /> <br />recognizing Council skepticism respectful of Council concerns; <br />and questioned whether a consensus could be identified to <br />provide a better sense of what citizens in the community were <br />thinking. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan opined her skepticism of the need for a <br />community survey; and questioned whether this discussion may <br />be more appropriate at the upcoming Special Council meeting, to <br />research and collect community opinion, as a supplement to the <br />City Council's own visioning process; and questioned whether <br />other alternatives would prove more effective (i.e., expansion of <br />the City's website for more citizen interaction). Councilmember <br />Ihlan expressed concerns regarding a survey's methodology and <br />design; and questioned whether higher-education institutions <br />could be tapped for design ideas. <br /> <br />Further discussion included design of a survey; data sought; <br />alternatives; larger visioning processes; and whether a survey <br />would stand independently or complement other tools. <br /> <br />Councilmember Schroeder expressed his concerns regarding a <br />community survey at this time; opining that there was too much <br />controversy in the community at this time given the Twin Lakes <br />issue and recent tax increases, and questioned the validity of the <br />survey results given that environment. Councilmember <br />Schroeder further questioned the rating scales on the sample <br />provided by staff and adding to confusion of participants; and the <br />cost estimate of $25,000 provided by staff, questioning the <br />accuracy of that estimate. Councilmember Schroeder opined that <br />he would prefer to use Communication Fund monies to continue <br />improvements in the Council Chambers for audio/visual needs. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kough reiterated the concerns he'd expressed at <br />budget time, opining that no survey be completed this year, given <br />other cuts imposed by the City; concurring with Councilmember <br />Schroeder's suggestion for improvements to the Council <br />Chambers. <br /> <br />Further discussion included the representative sampling provided <br />by phone calls and/or e-mails to individual Councilmembers. <br />