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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.c. Community Survey Results Presentation by Bill Morris i � ' CITY OF ROSEMOUNT ' EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETIlVG DATE: APRII. 15, 1997 AGENDA ITEM: COI��Il�I.ITNITY SURVEY RESULTS AGENDA SECTION: PRESENTATION BY BILL MORRIS DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORT PREPAREDBY: SUSAN WALSH AGEND���� � � � ASSISTANT TO CITY ADMIlVISTRATOR ATTACHMENTS: EXECUTIVE SLT�v1MARY APPROVED BY: � Bill Morris of Decisions Resources will be at the City Council meetin�to discuss the community survey conducted between February 8 and March 3, 1997. The City Council previously were provided statisrical information from the telephone survey. Attached is the Executive Summary explaining the results of the 401 randomly selected residents of our city. RECOMMENDED ACTION: NONE COUNCIL ACTION: . , � . '� - _ Decision Resources, Ltd. April, 1997 EXECUTIVE SUMI'VIARY City of Rosemount - Methodology: This study contains the results of a telephone survey of 401 randomly selected residents of the City of Rosemount. Survey responses were gathered by professional interviewers between February 8 and March 3, 1997. The average interview took thirry-one minutes. In general, random samples such as this yield results projectable to the entire universe of adult Rosemount residents within f SA percentage points in 95 out of 100 cases. I Residential Dema ra hics: I� g P At present, Rosemount's growth rate has slowed somewhat frorn the 1988-1989 leveL Sixteen percent of the residents reported moving to the community within the past two yeazs; eight yeazs ' ago, almost twenty-five percent were new-comers: Almost one-half of the residents ha�e lived in Rosemount for three-to-ten yeazs,while thirty-eight percent lived there for more than ten years. The median residential longevity proved to be 8.3 yeazs. Seventy-one percent of the residents with a e also antici ate sta in for at least a decade if not lon er; a result more consistent m tur P Y g , g suburbs than fast- owin suburbs where eater transience is the rule. �' g � �' � Rosemount does not evidence any major influx of families from the Twin Cities. Instead, it principally draws from three main sources: first, other Dakota County suburbs, at thirty-five percent; then, areas across the remaining six Metropolitan Area counties, at eighteen percent; and finally, outside Minnesota, at nineteen percent. In the previous study, these locations provided relatively equal segments of the city's population; now, cleazly, Dakota County migration has become dominant. Rather than functioning in the traditional role of a suburb which relies upon the core city for its in-migration, Rosemount draws laterally from other suburbs and from more disparate areas. Senior households composed nine percent of the community's residences. School-aged children could be found in fifty percent of the households, while pre-schoolers resided in twenty-one percent. The average age of an adult resident was found to be 41.5 years old. In fact,thirty-five percent of the population lies in the 35-44 year age range. 1Vlazried coupies with school-aged children were again the typical household within the city. Ninety-five percent of the sample reported owning their current residence. Single family homes were the residences of eighty-seven percent of the sample; townhouses were at six percent, while mobile/manufactured homes accounted for four percent. • � . Decision Resources, Ltd. April, 1997 While a White Collar majority exists in Rosemount, Blue Collaz workers accounted for just under one-quarter of the households. Professional-Technical and Owner-Manager households numbered forty-one percent, while Clerical-Sales households were another twenty-two percent. Retirees were an additional nine percent. This occuparional structure is reflected in the educational achievement of residents: forty-four percent had graduated from college, while sixty-five percent had at least attended some college, if not graduated. The median yeazly househald income proved to be$58,500, almost double the level reported in the 1989 study. Quality of Life: Rosemount citizens were again generally contented with their community. Ninety-one percent approved of the quality of life there; thirty-four percent, strongly so. This level of approval, . though, was somewhat above the cunent Metropolitan Area norm of eighty-six percent. Residents were drawn to the city for many reasons --high quality schools, rurai and small town ambience, housing, family, and nearby employment opportunities. Even today, eighty-two percent still rate the community"excellent"or"good"on the characteristics which initially attracted them. ' When Rosemount was thought about in general terms by its residents, it was sma11 tovcm , ambience and the rural country-like atmosphere which again came quickly to mind. Those I images together were posted by almost one-half of the sample. When asked what they liked most � about the community,residents also added convenient location,nice people, and good schools to the mix. As in the eazlier study, it was also the future protecrion of these values which provoked the most unrest in the citizenry. Thirty-two percent of the respondents were very critical of the rapid growth taking place in the community, an increase of ten percent since 1989, while crime was cited by twenty percent and high taxes by nineteen percent. One issue which no longer seemed as consuming in this survey was the objection to slow growth,particularly with respect to commercial and retail opporhznities. A major shift occurred with respect to the perception of Rosemount as a small town or a suburb. In 1989, sixty-eight percent of the sample saw Rosemount as a small toum, while only twenty-seven percent felt it was a suburb. Now, forty-four percent see it as a suburb, while forty- three percent still feel it is a small town. Reactions to growth, in addition to the expansion of neighboring suburbs has created this change in opinions. Page 2 . Decision Resources, Ltd. April, 1997 Connectedness and Community Spirit: Connectedness to the city has somewhat weakened in the interim between the two studies. Only thirty-two percent reported"real ties"to the entire community,while forty-four percent felt strong ties to their neighborhood only, and twenty-one percent felt totally disconnected. Even so, eighty percent rated the general sense of community among Rosemount residents as"excellent" or"good,"citing"community spirit"and"friendly people." Along these lines, the Irish theme of Rosernount was considered to be at least"somewhat irnportant"by fifty-nine percent of the sample; in fact,twenty-six percent saw it as"very important." Most residents of the city are jusrifiably proud of its small town atmospherics. But, in questioning,it became clear that the small town ambience is linked to the friendliness and neighborliness of Rosemount residents ratherthan physical features of the community. This result strongiy suggests that decision-makers must afford residents the opportunity to interact in : community-spirited ways. _ Development Issues: In 1989, there was a lack of operating consensus about rate of future deveiopment that was best for Rosemount: forty-seven percent preferred preserving rural chazacter at the cost of slower economic growth, while forty percent chose pursuing economic development at the cost of increased suburbanization. Currently, somewhat more residents,fifty-two percent, indicated slower growth,while fewer,thirty-four percent,preferred aggressively pursuing development. Even so, forty-seven percent regarded the last five years of change in Rosemount as"for the better." And, frorn a more parochial perspective, eighty-nine percent felt the appearance of their neighborhood was either"excellent"or"good." When asked to evaluate various aspects of the quality of life in Rosemount,residents gave both "high-to-average"as well as"average-to-low"grades. The community was deemed as a good place to find housing which f ts most budgets and lifestyles, an excellent place to raise children, and a good place to retire. It received low-middiing ratings as a place to start a business. Much lower ratings were awarded Rosemount on the availability of full-time head of household jobs. In determining future economic development strategy, one priority should be assigned: jobs creation. Opinions abaut the future development of the acreage owned by the University of Minnesota were varied. Thirty-three percent most preferred agricultural use, while nineteen percent favored housing, fourteen percent chose industrial, and eleven percent,commercial. In opposing particular land uses,twenty-six percent indicated"industrial,"while twenty-one percent cited housing. These results suggested that multiple uses, including agricultural, should be considered. Page 3 Decision Resources, Ltd. April, 1997 As nearby suburbs have grown quickly during the past ten years, a general concern has developed in Southern Dakota County about over-population. Residents were asked if they would cap the city's population at some levet in the future. Forty-one percent would halt growth at some tevel between 12,501 and 20,000 residents. The median level suggested was 18,875, smaller than either Lakeville or Inver Grove Heights. Obviously, residents who saw the community as a rural, - small town settlement tended to support levels even smaller than this average figure. There was a general lack of use in current public transportation systems. Only three percent had . used the Rosemount Park and Ride Lot, while two percent had used the Apple Valley Pazk and : Ride Lots. While seventy-eight percent had heazd of MVTA bus services, only seven percent reported ever using them. These results were consistent with other outer ring Metropolitan Area communities. On other development issues, Rosemount residents are balancing the need for jobs in the azea . with the desire to maintain the rural, small town nature of the city. When queried about the type of development they would prefer, twenty-five percent of the respondents opted for industrial, twenty-four percent, for commercial, fifteen percent cited residential, and twelve percent favored retail development. Fifty-two percent favored pursuing additional heavy industrial development in the Pine Bend Area, while thirty percent opposed it; these results reflected a slight increase in support since the 1989 study. Opposition was further reduced, thougli,to twenty-one percent, if the resulting expanded tax base would keep residential property taxes lower. Residential opinion about the commercial and shopping areas in the City of Rosemount revealed a number of strengths and one key weakness. Residents particulariy liked the location of these azeas, and particulazly found the Downtown Area to be pleasant. But, almost one-half of the sample felt that more variety of shopping opportunities was needed. Evaluations of past zoning and land use decisions by the City remained lower than the Metro olitan Area norm. Fi rcent about ten ercent below the norm a roved of ast P , � P ftY Pe P PP decisions; however, twenty-nine percent were unable to answer the question,due to a lack of information. The rate of growth in the community was the primary criticism expressed. Only forty-seven percent felt there was an adequate opportunity for input; a relatively high twenty- seven percent thought those opportunities were inadequate. The process, then, continued to need some re-examination to insure both the perception and reality of residential participation. The general direction of past decisions,however,came under far less criticism. Fifty-seven percent felt that the pace of development was about right for the community, while twenty-four percent considered it to be "too rapid." Fifty-five percent viewed development across the city as well-planned for the future: A strong eighty percent of the citizenry also viewed housing as offering residents a wide choice. Again, there was some criticism about the decision-making process, rather than the results of the process. Page 4 i Decision Resources, Ltd. April, 1997 Residents took a moderate approach to future housing construction. Fifty-nine percent supported keeging the current minimum lot size at 10,000 square feet; however, thirty-four percent favored a larger minimum. In fact, a solid eighty-six percent opposed the City of Rosemount follow�ing the Metropolitan Council's recommendation to allow higher population densities and smaller lot . development within the community. A seventy percent majority favored the development of a housing maintenance code to preserve and enhance those areas where housing was old or needed additional upkeep or repair. In fact, almost one-third of the community "strongly favored"the housing code. A relatively small twenty-one percent opposed this type of code. When residents considered the pace of the City's.street and utility reconstruction program during the past five years,"general satisfaction was evident. In fact, seventy-two percent felt it should continue at"about the same pace." But,more dissatisfaction was evidenced on the City's storm water utility fees. Seventy-one percent reported awareness with the method used to fund sanitary sewer and storm drain reconstruction projects. But, opinions about the equitable nature of the utility fee split: forty-two percent felt that basing the charge on the quantity of run-off from a property was not equitable, while thirty-nine percent felt the opposite. In light of this split, the City may wish to re-examine the basis for the storm water utility fee calculation. Tax Climate: . Between 1989 and 1996,there has been a deterioration in the tax climate in Rosemount. By a fifty-five percent to thirty-two percent verdict, residents opposed a properry tax increase to maintain city services at their current levels. In 1989, a majority supported such an increase. In addition, fifty-four percent regarded the property taxes they paid as"very high"or"somewhat high" in comparison with neazby areas. These reactions,though, were consistent with findings in Dakota County communities to the west and north of the city. City Services: In assessing city services, residential opinions ranged from impressive favorable to disturbing critical. Among those offering evaluations, the playing condition of athletic fields in city parks, fire department response time to calls, 911 emergency response tirne to calls, community festivals, and hockey and ice skating programs and facilities at the Community center were given approval ratings of ninety percent or higher. Over eighty percent approved of the maintenance of street lights, removal of litter from city streets,pazks, and trails, condition of picnic facilities and play equipment in city parks, police response time to calls, enforcement of traffic laws by police departments, and outdoor skating rinks. These were exceptionally high ratings. Low seventy Page S II . Decision Resources, Ltd. April, 1997 percent range approval ratings characterized snow and ice removal on city streets, as well as building inspection and obtaining permits. Over sixty percent rated the quality of drinking water, code enforcement on long grass or trash in their neighborhood, code enforcement on housing maintenance, patrolling of their neighborhood by police, and animal control programs as either "excellent"or"good." Lowest on the list, fif3y-nine percent rated the"maintenance and repair af , eity streets"approvingly. These latter to groups of services should be viewed more critically, as their satisfaction levels were significantly below Metropolitan Area norms. City code enforcement was also assessed. For the most part, solid majorities felt that code enforcement with respect to animal control, gazbage disposal,junk cars,messy yazds, and noise was"about right." However,thirty-two percent of the respondents ra.ted the enforcement of junk car ordinances as"not tough enough"and twenty-four percent felt similazly about the enforcement of ordinances on"messy yards." City Government and City Staff Sixty-three percent of the citizens felt they "could have a say about the way the City of Rosemount runs things." Only twenty-eight percent, far below the suburban norm, feit they were unempowered. A high forly-six percent reported knowing "a great deal"or"a fair amount"about the work of the Mayor and City Council. And,more impressively, in spite of this greater than normal knowledge base, sixty-six percent"approved"of the job of the Mayor and City Council, while only ten percent expressed"disapproval." This approval rating was sixteen percent higher than the current Metropolitan Area norm. Satisfaction stemmed from the perception that elected officials were doing a competent job and the lack of apparent problems in the community; dissatisfaction stemmed from the"very-Minnesotan"feeling that there was generic "room for improvement." Thirty-nine percent reported having at least"some"first-hand contact with the Rosemount City Staff. Again,this contact rate was higher than the Metropolitan Area suburban norm of twenty- nine percent. A very solid seventy-two percent rated the City Staff as"excellent"or"good," while fifteen percent were more critical. This approval radng was also above the Metropolitan �� Area norm of fifty-six percent. Reasons for satisfaction and dissatisfaction generally followed '', the same lines as the evaluaxions of the Mayor and City Council. I During the past year, fifly-five percent of the sample reported contacting the Rosemount City I'� Hall or Community center by telephone or in person. The Park and Recreation Departrnent, ! Building Inspection Office, and Public Works/Engineering were the most often contacted city ', offices. Positive on four of five customer service dimensions exceeded the eighty-five percent ' threshold associated with"high quality service:""courtesy of the Information Desk receptionist," �'' Page 6 II �: __. ___ . . � . � � ' + 1 I Decision Resources, Ltd. April, 1997 "waiting time for service,""efficiency of the department staff,"and"courtesy of the department staff." The only dimension scoring below the"high quality" threshold, at eighty-one percent, was"ease of reaching a department staff inember who could help." In general, then, the City Staff does an exemplary job in serving the public. ` Park and Recreation Facilities: The Rosemount Park and Recreation System remained highly valued by most citizens. Ninety- two percent, up nine percent since 1989, rated it as either"excellent" or "good:' Neighborhood parks and lazger community pazks were the most frequently used components of the system; sixty-one percent reported visiting the former, while fifiy-five percent went to the latter. Open space pazks drew forty-six percent, while trails attracted members of forty-eight percent of the households. The Community Center was used on a"frequent"or"occasional"basis by forty-six percent, and the Ice Arena, by twenty-six percent of the households in the city. On each type of facilities, over ninety percent of those offering opinions rated them as either"excellent"or "good." T'he Rosemount Park and Recreation System ranks among the most highly utilized and well-regazded in the Metropolitan Area. �, While the vast majority of residents were satisfied with current facilities and opportunities, some I support existed for additions to the system. An outdoor swimming pool, at forty-five percent, expanded trail system, at thirty-one percent, and an expanded and improved neighborhood park system, at thirty-one percent, were the priorities indicated by Rosemount residents. It was also noteworthy that forty-five percent of the households left the community to use recreational facilities elsewhere, and bike trails and swimming pools were the two major reasons cited. Public Safety: Crime, a relatively minor problem in the 1989 study, has become a key issue in Rosemount today. Sixty percent of the sample, a thirty-five percent rise, felt that crimes against property had increased in Rosemount during the past five years. This finding was consistent with other exurban azeas. But, even so, sixty-seven percent felt the police service currently provided met the needs of the city; only twenty percent disagreed. Communication Systems: Rosemount remained in need of a more standardized and regular communications system between the City and its residents. Citizens presently rely upon local newspapers for information about City government and its activities; the three regional papers were cited by eighty-one Page 7 - � � Decision Resources, Ltd. April, 1997 percent as their principle source of information. Eighty-two percent reported reading "Rosemount This Week," while seventy-five percent read the"Sun-Current"and forty-four percent read the "Rosemount Town Pages." Sixty-seven percent of the sample recalled receiving the quarterly city newsletter; among those receiving the publication, sixty-five percent read"all of it"or"most of it." The effective reach of the newsletter, then, was forty-one percent of the households across the community, well below the current suburban norm. In evaluating the publication, seventy-nine percen�of the readers rated it as either"excellent"or"good." As a service, sixty-eight percent considered the publication of the newsletter as"very important"or"somewhat important." In light of the importance attached to this service,the City may wish to re-evaluate the newsletter in terms of format and content. Fifly-five percent of the community currently subscribed to cable television. Among non- subscribers, only about one-quarter were unable to subscribe because it was unavailable in their part ofthe city. Interestingly, non-subscribers were split in half about taking advantage of the service if it were expanded to their area. If it were telecasted, fifty-two percent of the subscribers would be inclined to watch the Local Government Access Channel at least"occasionally;" : similarly, fifty-two percent would be similarly inclined to watch City Council Meeting and/or Planning Commission telecasts. Summary and Conclusions: - Rosemount citizens were very pleased with their community. They were satisfied, for the most part,with past policies and actions. But,perceptions about the City, itself, have dramatically changed. Now, more residents see Rosemount as a"suburb,"rather than a"small town." And, - as more residents see the cornmunity as a"suburb,"concerns have begun to reflect issues found , in nearby growing communities: property tax levels, growth rates,road congestion, convenience ,, of amenities,and crime. ' A key demographic change in the community was affluence levels. With greater affluence comes a concern by citizens for more"government efficiency." Affluence increases have correlated elsewhere with simultaneous resistance to property tax hikes and escalating expectations about provided services. City decision-makers will find themselves"pinched"to meet these contradictory demands more often as time passes. Even with these changes, strengths, and challenges,while the City of Rosemount is in transition, the major task facing decision-makers is daunting: preserving the aspects of"small town ambience"which is key to so many residents, while guiding city growth gracefully and responsively to residential needs. But, Rosemount elected officials and city staff possess an Page 8 t Decision Resources,Ltd. � April, 1997 � advantage not commonly found: high performance evaluations of their past activities and confidence in their future decisions. Page 9