2018 City of Ramsey Resident Survey

PURPOSE
Review attached 2018 draft survey.  Provide feedback.  Authorize staff to execute this work.


BACKGROUND (resident survey):
As a result of the 2013 Council strategic planning process, direction was provided to initiate a regular, statistically significant, resident surveying process (one survey every two years).  Generally, survey results benefit the City in a wide range of applications (budgeting process, policy discussions, capital improvement plan, strategic plan, comprehensive plan, etc.).  The City completed a resident survey in 2014 and 2016 (see attached).

PROCESS
Please see attached timeline.  We are anticipating this survey to be completed by residents in March/April, and for results to be back to Council by June/ July.


 

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DETAILED BACKGROUND INFO:

• 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 has efficiencies.  This surveying alternative is much more cost effective than a custom survey (about half the price).  However, maintaining this efficiency means the NCS (and NRC) are fairly inflexible to major alterations to their base survey.  The NCS does allow for custom questions.
• Lastly, because the NCS is a standardized survey, NCS reporting capabilities are tried and true; and professional.  If the City decided to move away from the NCS, reporting capabilities would diminish.
• In Ramsey, the survey will be sent to 1,400 address and will be statistically significant (+/-5% margin for error). NRC expects 300- 450 responses (sample size).
•  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 $13,000 was budgeted in 2018 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 $16,500 in funding budgeted for a resident survey in 2018.  Staff estimates the survey will cost $14,000-$16,000.

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Provide feedback on the attached 2018 draft survey.  Authorize staff to execute this work.