Review DRAFT 2016 City of Ramsey Resident Survey

PURPOSE
(1) Review and amend the attached DRAFT 2016 Ramsey resident survey.
(2) Provide direction related to the attached custom questions (select maximum two).

NOTE: this case will come back to the Council for authorization in March.

BACKGROUND (resident survey):
As a result of the 2013 Council strategic planning process, direction was provided to initiate a regular resident surveying process (one survey every two years).  In 2014, the city completed their first-ever statistically significant resident survey.  Generally, survey results benefit the City in a wide range of applications (budgeting process, policy discussions, capital improvement plan, comprehensive plan, etc.).  However, relating to the strategic plan specifically, a resident survey allows the City to clearly analyze organizational performance measurements; including, the City's strategic plan balanced scorecard.

PROCESS
(1) staff review of survey (02/16)
(2) Council review of DRAFT survey (purpose of case)
(3) Council review/ authorize survey (03/16)
(4) Staff & NCS work out final details (04/16)
(5) NCS execute survey (05/16 to 06/16)
(6) NCS develop reports (07/16)
(7) Council review results (08/16)


 

NA

Third Party Mail Survey, NRC

• National Research Center (NRC). This organization is based out of Colorado and is backed by the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA).
• The NRC conducts a standardized survey known as the National Citizen Survey (NCS).  This survey holds value in that it was created by cities, for cities.  
• By using/ implementing the NCS across the Country for several years, the NRC now has a vast inventory of comparable/ trend data for cities to utilize (nationally, regionally, and locally).
• The standardized NCS (Nation Citizen Survey) also hold value in efficiencies.  This surveying alternative is much more cost effective than a custom survey (about half the price).  As a result, the NCS (and NRC) are fairly inflexible to major alterations to their base survey.  The NCS does allow for 3-4 custom questions.
• Lastly, because the NCS is a standardized survey, NCS reporting capabilities are tried and true; and professional (see attached results from 2014).  If the City decided to move away from the NCS, reporting capabilities would diminish.
• In Ramsey, the survey will be sent to 1,200 address and will be statistically significant (+/-5% margin for error). NRC expects 300- 450 responses (sample size).
• Survey developed in partnership with City. Vendor takes care of mailings (multiple, including reminders). Raw results would be collected and refined by vendor (customizable). Relevant comparable data and reporting provided by vendor. This service includes return postage, envelopes, and printing costs.

The amount of $12,500 was budgeted in 2016 for a resident survey.  Furthermore, the City participates in the State of Minnesota's "City/County Performance Measurement" (CPM) program.  Annually, the State allocates about $3,500 to the City of Ramsey for performance measurement related costs (which include the Ramsey citizen survey).  In summary, the City has about $16,000 in funding budgeted for a resident survey in 2016.  Staff estimates the survey will cost $13,000-$14,000.

NA

(1) Review and amend the attached DRAFT 2016 Ramsey resident survey.
(2) Provide direction related to the attached custom questions (select maximum two).

NOTE: this case will come back to the Council for authorization in March.