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Page 4 - July 11, 2006 New Brighton Council Minutes The Acting City Manager, Jeanna Troha introduced the item. The City Council discussed this at a work-session in June. Staff was directed to obtain infonnation A>m Decision Resources Ltd. The SUlVey would be a telephone survey contacting a ~dom sample of 400 residents. Questions asked would promote resident feedback related to city fmances, taxes, city services, redevelopment, and how residents conununicate with the City. The cost of the survey would be $4,600. This survey would provide the City Council with information to use in preparation of the 2007 budget. It was stated there is adequate funds available in the budget. Upon approval, the sUlVey would begin within about one week, with results expected sometime in mid August. Council Member Barun.an stated her dissatisfaction with surveys in ~1'leI'f31: additionally she felt that by questioning 400 residents, that was a small percentage of the population. . ................ ......................::..:, Council Member Doffmg asked the other Council Members whyWey were~:~vor of the conununity survey....:: ...g::. Council Member Hoffman replied she feels a sense of tru,~t f()rthe professionals"'.. administering the questions. ... ....... .... ............ ...........> .... Council Member Burg agreed with Council MembeFfJ:<?ffinan, sta~ that Decision. Resources Ltd. is experienced in this type of survey..1\l~ it was s1:cltt~dthat the City Council was able to create the questions, and amenc,l..ifneecie<1! Mayor Larson felt that 400 willing participants would bever.v~-uable, both now and in the future...:.::::."; Council Member Doffmg read a few sampl~.9-u~sti9p.s, expla.inln.g~~y she felt some questions are vague, and perhaps resig~ntsnu;L:YJ:).p~ fully uflci~mtand the A..Iestions; for this reason Council Member Q()fling op~~ss~.; ~ouncil Member Doffmg exp~~F~oncem ~tthe s.lV<;)1..1lcllJe usect as a tool to validate a couple ofFI?I~()p...fu.e councilG>>,l:J.9'~:Oght on. tb.~pouncil?" It was stated that the resi~ep.~of Newarighton have.iitldicated in the past that they are not willing to pay~;pcrease in PWperty taxes,. Council Member Bur&~j~erated th~~3Lcil's ability".~write the questions, and change wording as neCe~~. ....... .....;.........:....:,....:..:................................... ....'.. Council Mem~l"..~aum.an~tate<l~he was oppo~to..,u,sing dollar amounts in the questionir1l?;,~B~We end~.~illt would vary:.. Council,.~~J:i1oet Doffi:1i.~J:"CXlues@..iI1cluding a questionnaire with utility bills. The1}2~.City Manage~~cJ~a~l:J.a offered clarification on a couple items, relat1I1~.!2dollar amounts:.;gffisioI1..R~~urces has found that using dollar amoUn~.j~I110st effective ~~e peopl{5tend to think in dollar amounts-not in percentage~......~~cond1y, if surv~ were to be included with utility bills, the results would not be~~ble in time(~I";2007 budget preparation. Council Mem1Jel"I)~~mg qU~~~8ned the directive to follow upon receiving the survey results;::....;.:.:,:' ,.. Mayor Larson felt thai!3-J~representation of the resident's opinions on City Services would be obt.ciiU(idand that would be valuable in preparing the budget. Council Member Doffmg and Bauman both reminded the others that last year it was evident that the residents at the truth in taxation hearing were opposed to tax .. creases, and a SUlVey will reveal the same results. ouncil Member Doffmg stated she was troubled by the fact that at a Council Retreat earlier in the year, she offered up a couple of ideas to possibly reduce the City Budget. All year long, nothing has been looked at to reduce spending. Council Member Doffmg stated she feels she owes it to the residents to keep taxes down.