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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_04Oct27 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS MINUTES October 27, 2004 Mayor Gehrz called the regular Council meeting to order. PRESENT: Mayor Sue Gehrz, Council members Laura Kuettel, Robert Lamb, Peter Lindstrom and Richard Talbot Also present: City Administrator Heather Worthington and Deputy Clerk Mary Shea Kodluboy Mayor Gehrz welcomed three guests: Dennis Walter, Director of the Citizen Corps Programs, Homeland Security, State of Minnesota; Lt. Dominic Cotroneo, Saint Anthony Police Department and a member of the Neighborhood Commission; and Kris Grangaard, Co-Chair of the Neighborhood Commission COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no commentary from the audience. PRESENTATIONS: None Scheduled APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Council minutes dated October 13, 2004 were unanimously approved as presented. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None Scheduled CONSENT AGENDA: Council member Lindstrom suggested that curb and sidewalk repairs be done earlier in the summer. The curbs are in and the contractor planted grass seed, but it’s too late for the grass seed to grow. Council member Kuettel commented that the grass seed will grow next spring. Kuettel moved approval of the Consent Agenda, as outlined below. The motion was unanimously approved. General Disbursements through October 22, 2004: $ 123,386.83 Payroll (10/01/04-10/15/04 $ 11,257.85 Final Pay Estimate to O’Malley Construction for 2004 Sidewalk and Curb and Gutter Improvements in the amount of $20,551.78 FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -2- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski Ms. Jenna Washnieski gave an oral review of a study she did earlier this year for the Falcon Heights Neighborhood Commission and for her master’s thesis entitled “Evaluating Knowledge of Community Resources and Participation in Emergency Preparedness Programs: Needs Assessment for Falcon Heights, Minnesota”. A summary of the study is outlined below. Background The needs assessment investigated the factors that lead to participation in emergency preparedness programs and the factors that influence perception of social connectivity. The study examined whether knowledge of the Neighborhood Liaison is related to higher perception of social connectivity. The study also aimed to discern whether high levels of social connectivity result in hearing about and participating in programs. Additionally, the study investigated whether social connectivity is mediated by socio-demographic variables. Finally, the assessment identified the utilization of information sources, as well as potency of associations between social connectivity, knowledge of community resources, perception of threat and demographic variables. Methods Subjects were selected using a Fortran program to choose from Minnesota driver's license files with Falcon Heights zip codes, 55108 and 55113. The program then matched cases to a list of street names and house numbers that lie within the parameters of the city provided by Falcon Heights City Hall. After the files were matched to zip code and street name, the total selected sample was 10,048. Next, the program sorted and eliminated cases based on house numbers within the ranges of Falcon Heights. These cases were sorted by odd or even numbers as appropriate, and the program eliminated University of Minnesota student housing (1458 Cleveland Av), which reduced the total to 3184. Cases were then selected by age range. Dates of birth from 09/01/1927 through 08/31/1985 made the total 2780. To ensure a recent sample, the program retained only those who had applied for their driver's license in 2000 or later, which made the total 2278. From these 2278, 500 subjects were selected using a randomizing computer program. Survey Procedure Five hundred named residents of Falcon Heights, Minnesota were invited to complete a mailed survey regarding neighborhood cohesion, participation in emergency preparedness programming, and perception of threat in Falcon Heights. The initial mailing contained a $1.00 incentive and a postage-paid return envelope. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -3- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski (continued) Ten days following the initial mailing, a postcard was sent reminding the residents to complete the survey and thanking those who already returned the survey. Two weeks following the postcard, a second mailing containing the survey and postage-paid return envelope was initiated to reach the subjects who had not yet responded. Completed surveys were sent to Data Collection and Support Services (DCSS) in the Division of Epidemiology. Of the 500 residents who were invited to participate, 118 were deemed ineligible. Subjects were categorized as ineligible if they no longer lived in Falcon Heights, were deceased, were unable to complete their survey due to health conditions, or unable to complete their survey due to being out of the state or country. The number of completed surveys totaled 270, which translates into a response rate of 70%. Measures The survey consisted of 19 questions to assess knowledge of community resources, social connectivity, utilization of various information sources, participation in emergency preparedness programs, perception of threat, and demographic characteristics. Socio-demographic Variables Socio-demographic variables collected included gender, age, education, type of housing, and if children under age eighteen lived in their home. Social Connectivity and Knowledge of Community Resources The respondent’s perception of social connectivity was assessed by asking whether he/she agreed to knowing many people in his/her neighborhood and whether his/her neighborhood has a social gathering at least once a year. Both questions were assessed on a Likert-scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 6 (strongly disagree). Knowledge of community resources was assessed by asking whether the respondent knows and has contact information for his/her Neighborhood Liaison, knows who in the neighborhood has a first aid kit, and who has been trained in CPR and First Aid. The respondents were also asked whether they are trained in CPR and First Aid. Each of these questions had “yes/no” response categories. Utilization of Information Sources A list of eleven information sources was provided to assess how residents receive information about Falcon Heights. The list included media and interpersonal communication. Respondents were instructed to select all sources that applied. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -4- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski (continued) Participation in Emergency Preparedness Programs Five emergency preparedness programs offered to Falcon Heights residents were listed to assess whether respondents heard about or attended these training opportunities. Each of the five questions had four response categories, “1=Did not hear about it,” “2=Heard about it by was not interested,” “3=Heard about it but it was not convenient for me,” and “4=Attended this program.” Perception of Threat The respondent’s perception of threat was measured by asking three questions about the likelihood of emergency. These included whether he/she believed there was likelihood that Falcon Heights could experience a massive power outage, a tornado, or could be the focus of terrorist activity in the next 12 months. The likelihood of these events was measured on a Likert-scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 6 (strongly disagree). Analyses Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive tests generated using SAS software. Frequency distributions for each variable were calculated and then selected variables were collapsed into new variables. Sample Characteristics Females represented the majority of respondents. Once collapsed, the middle (35-54) and oldest (55+) age categories had nearly equal proportions (38%, 39%) while the youngest (18-34) had 22%. Approximately 71% of the sample population has attained a Bachelor’s degree or higher, which is consistent with Falcon Heights’s 2000 Census data that reports 70% of the city’s population has acquired this level of education (League of Minnesota Cities, 2004). Over three-fourths of respondents own a home or condominium as opposed to renting a home or apartment. Knowledge of Neighborhood Liaisons and Social Connectivity Twenty-seven percent of the residents reported knowing their Neighborhood Liaison. Of these, 96% know how to contact their liaison. Residents who own a home or condominium were significantly more likely (p<.01) to know their neighborhood liaison than residents who live in rental housing, with 36 percent of home-owners and 6 percent of renters reporting they know their liaison. Age also plays a significant role in knowledge of liaisons. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -5- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski (continued) The youngest cohort (age 18-34) was the least likely to know their liaison (11%), while the middle (35-54) and oldest (55-74) were more likely to know their liaison (39%, 50%). Knowledge of the Neighborhood Liaison was significantly associated with greater social connectivity in the community. Of residents who reported knowing their liaison, 96% (p<.01) agreed that they know many people in their immediate neighborhood. Similarly, 96% (p<.01) of residents who know their liaison reported that their neighborhood has a block party or other social gathering at least once each year. For residents who do not know their liaison, 75% agreed that they know many people in their neighborhood and 72% agreed their neighborhood has a block party or social gathering at least once each year. Results Characteristics of Social Connectivity Socio-demographic variables such as age, having a child <18 years, and home ownership were significantly associated with perception of social connectivity in bivariate analyses. Analyses indicated that the middle (35-54) and oldest (55+) age categories were significantly more likely (p=.006) to agree that they know many people in their neighborhood (both 85%) than the youngest group (67%). Similarly the middle (80%) and oldest (84%) cohorts were significantly more likely (p=.003) to agree than the youngest group (62%), that their neighborhood has a social gathering once a year. All of the residents in the youngest age cohort who reported knowing their Liaison also agreed to both social connectivity variables (n=7). Respondents with children under age 18 living in their home were significantly more likely (p=.03) to report knowing many people in their neighborhood (88%) than those who did not have a child in their home (77%). Although non-significant, there was a trend that participants with a child living in the home were more likely to agree their neighborhood has a social gathering (84%) than those without a child in the home (76%). Owning a home was significantly associated with knowing many people and agreeing to have social gatherings. Homeowners (87%) agreed they knew many people more frequently than renters (31%). Also, homeowners agreed they had social gatherings (87%) more than renters (28%). Similarly, residents in the youngest age category who own a home are significantly more likely (p<.0001) to agree to both social connectivity variables than young people who rent. There was no reported difference in social connectivity between genders or for levels of educational attainment. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -6- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski (continued) Both social connectivity variables (“I know many people in my neighborhood,” and “My neighborhood has a block party at least once each year”) were collapsed into one variable denoting high or low social connectivity. If the respondent agreed to both social connectivity variables then connectivity was high. Likewise, if the respondent disagreed to both variables, connectivity was low. When the variables for age (split into “young 18-34,” and “older 35+”), housing status, and whether children <18 lived in the home were entered into a logistic regression to predict high social connectivity, home ownership was the only predictor that remained significant. Homeowners were 83 times more likely to agree that they know many people in their neighborhood and that their neighborhood has a social gathering at least once a year than respondents who reside in rental units (p<.0001). First Aid and CPR Training in Neighborhood Being trained, or knowing people in the neighborhood who are trained, in First Aid or CPR is common among this sample. Half of respondents (50%) reported knowing someone in the neighborhood who is trained in First Aid, and 45% of respondents know who in their neighborhood has a First Aid kit. Similarly, 55% know who is trained in CPR in their neighborhood. Residents with high levels of social connectivity are significantly more likely to know who in their neighborhood has a First Aid kit (p=.04) and who in their neighborhood has been trained in CPR (p=.03). Forty-three percent of the residents reported they have First Aid training while 53% are trained in CPR. Of the residents who are trained in First Aid, 58% are women and 42% are men. Fifty percent of residents trained in First Aid are between the ages of 35-54, while the youngest and oldest cohorts (18-34, 55-74) are equally trained with 25% each. Of the residents trained in CPR, 60% are women and 40% are men. Forty-three percent of residents trained are between the ages of 35-54, while the youngest and oldest cohorts are again equally split at 28% each. Perception of Threat The majority of respondents did not perceive their community would likely encounter a natural or technological disaster in the next 12 months. A small number of residents noted that their perception of the likelihood of a terrorist attack increased during the weeks of the State Fair. There was no significant association between high perception of threat and perception of connectivity or personal characteristics such as age, gender, education, or child under age 18 living in the home. Similarly, perception of threat was not related to whether or not residents heard about or participated in emergency preparedness programs. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -7- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski (continued) Utilization of Information Sources Residents receive information about Falcon Heights mostly from reading the quarterly city newsletter (81%), reading local papers such as the Roseville Review, Focus or Park Bugle (80%), and/or reading the Star Tribune or Pioneer Press (67%). The two most frequently cited sources of information following the top three were personal sources such as, “Hear things from neighbors” (61%) and “Flyers or calls from my Neighborhood Liaison” (20%). Media Usage in the Least Socially Connected Population Among residents of the youngest age category who live in rental units (n=21), local newspapers were the most frequently cited source of information about Falcon Heights (n=13), followed by the quarterly city newsletter (n=10), metro newspapers (n=7), hearing things from neighbors (n=6), and cable channel 16 and neighborhood liaison (n=3). Participation in Emergency Preparedness Programs A majority of respondents (54%-78%) had not heard about the emergency preparedness programs offered in Falcon Heights. The highest number of residents heard about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program (46%), while the fewest residents heard about Winter Safety and Power Outage (20%). On average, approximately one-third of respondents reported that they heard about the programs but were uninterested, or the program was inconvenient. Only a small percentage of the respondents (<2%) reported that they attended any of the programs. Of the eighty respondents who reported that one or more of the programs was inconvenient, 50% were age 55-74. Similarly, of the 96 respondents who said they were not interested in the program, 46% were age 35-54 and 40% were age 55-74 Media Usage for Respondents Who Heard About Programs Respondents who heard about the training opportunities, but were not interested or found them inconvenient, reported that they receive information about Falcon Heights from their Neighborhood Liaison (74%), from their neighbors (62%), or from the F.H. website (61%). Additionally, of people who heard about the programs, 60% report getting information from the quarterly city newsletter, local paper, and/or cable channel 16. Analyzing predictors for attending programs was questionable because the sample of respondents who reported attending programs was small (n=9). Although age, education, housing type, and social connectivity were all non-significant predictors of attending programs, this small sample had strong characteristic similarities. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -8- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski (continued) All attendees were of the middle or older age categories, homeowners, and agreed to have a social event yearly. Also, 88% of program attendees had a Bachelor’s degree or higher, reported that they know many people in their neighborhood, and know their Neighborhood Liaison. Conclusion Emergency preparedness efforts in Falcon Heights appear to take two forms: Organized trainings and informal neighboring behaviors. Both build social capital, encourage sense of community, and serve to protect residents from negative consequences of disasters. The most important step Falcon Heights can take to involve more residents in emergency preparedness is to increase their promotion of the Neighborhood Liaison program. Neighborhood Liaisons have proven to be vital for enhancing perception of social connectivity, engaging the least socially connected groups of the population, and publicizing community events. By simply expanding the social network in the city’s neighborhoods, more residents will be exposed to neighborhood resources, including emotional, informational, and instrumental resources. Other communities can learn valuable strategies for community organizing by looking at the model Falcon Heights currently has in action. Through the development of the Neighborhood Commission, the various neighborhoods in the city have been provided with greater opportunities to share their ideas and voice their concerns, which ultimately contribute to the city’s social capital. The strong sense of community and wealth of social capital in Falcon Heights puts the city in a position to effectively mobilize around issues such as emergency preparedness. Providing residents with opportunities to play an integral role in community decision-making and devoting special attention to strengthening neighborhood social networks are two key strategies other communities should use for enhancing their emergency preparedness infrastructure. Recommendations Based upon the responses from Falcon Heights residents in this needs assessment, the following recommendations were made to the Neighborhood Commission: Increase presence and awareness of Neighborhood Liaisons Only slightly over one-quarter of the respondents reported that they know their Neighborhood Liaison. This beneficial program is not being recognized and has the potential to influence social connectivity and program participation, especially in the least socially connected sub-groups of the population. Liaisons should attempt to increase awareness of their presence in their neighborhoods and facilitate more opportunities for neighbors to interact. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -9- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski (continued) Increase Promotion of Emergency Preparedness Training Opportunities Of the people who heard about the programs, 74% report getting information from their Neighborhood Liaison and 62% report hearing things from their neighbors. These high proportions suggest that personal or “word-of-mouth” sources of information are influential for the promotion of citywide activities. Similarly, 61% or residents who heard about programs receive information about Falcon Heights from the city website. More information about training opportunities should also be included on the website. For residents who are not socially connected, media such as the quarterly newsletter and local papers may be effective in disseminating the information. Low First Aid and CPR Attendance May be Due to Residents Already Trained in This Area Over half of respondents report being trained or knowing someone in their neighborhood who is trained in CPR. Future plans for training opportunities should acknowledge that many residents currently possess this skill. More information should be included in Quarterly City Newsletters Since 80% of the sample reported that they get information about Falcon Heights from the quarterly city newsletter, this medium should maximize the amount of news it contains. Additionally, since many residents get information about Falcon Heights from this source, it may be beneficial to distribute it more frequently than four times a year. Reassess the need for the City Flyer None of the respondents reported that they receive information from the “City Flyer delivered to my home every month.” This may mean that they truly do not get information from this source, that the flyer does not get delivered to their home, or it may suggest that there is confusion between the city flyer and the city newsletter. Since the flyer is not reported as being a useful source of information for residents, the cost of producing and distributing this medium should be assessed to determine whether the City Flyer is a cost-effective method of disseminating information to residents. A brief discussion followed. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -10- October 27, 2004 POLICY AGENDA Report from Neighborhood Commission, Jenna Washnieski (continued) Ms. Washnieski commented that a lot of residents are very concerned about their community. The community is very highly educated. A fairly high number of people sent the $1.00 back and some suggested she use the money to buy a healthy snack. One returned the dollar in the shape of an origami shirt. Neighborhood Commission Co-Chair Kris Grangaard said she was very surprised about the monthly flyer. The CERT classes have been advertised exclusively in the monthly flyer and resident responses have been excellent. The City uses the same color every month and has a standardized header page to help provide familiarity and recognition for residents. Council member Talbot asked if the Neighborhood Commission will be coming to the City Council with suggestions and recommendations. Mayor Gehrz said a priority for the next year will be working on finding ways to get information into the hands of the apartment building residents. The City doesn’t have a way of getting flyers into the buildings because they are locked. Someone from each building will be recruited as a contact. Mr. Dennis Walter said he thought the study was well done. It has a lot of useful information. There aren’t a lot of communities that ask its residents to help out. Falcon Heights has a force of people with some training who can help. Mayor Gehrz said that Mr. Walter has helped the City with grants and his own participation in the emergency trainings and drills. She appreciates his continued assistance. Mayor Gehrz asked the Council for their thoughts. She said the new Neighborhood Commission Co-Chair Robert Thompson works with the Neighborhood Revitalization Program for the City of Minneapolis. He would like to see the Neighborhood Commission offer some training and discussion meetings that deal with issues about environment. The Planning, Solid Waste, and Parks and Recreation Commissions would also be invited to participate in a joint meeting. Council member Lamb said that about a year there was talk that the Solid Waste Commission’s mission is too narrow and they should have a much broader charter. There are issues such as storm drainage and phosphorous in fertilizer. Mayor Gehrz asked if they would work in collaboration with the other commissions. Council member Lamb said they would. Council member Kuettel said that the City’s parks have systems that are very viable. See if there are members on the commissions who would like to serve on a sub-commission. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -11- October 27, 2004 Year-end Forestry Report Administrator Worthington said that each year, the City Forester submits a year end report on the activities, programs and projects undertaken by the City in the area of boulevard trees and trees on private property. She gave a brief, oral review of the forestry report prepared by Anita Twaroski, the City Forester. There has been a significant increase in the incidence of Dutch Elm Disease (DED) in the metro area. In 2003, there were 29 elm trees identified. This year, 99 elm trees in Falcon Heights were identified with the disease: 15 trees on City property, 1 on County property, 12 on University of Minnesota property and 63 on private property. The City worked closely with residents to resolve issues related to trees stricken with DED. The City will not be doing any tree plantings this year because of the cost of removing the trees afflicted with DED. No oak wilt has been found in the City this year. A number of maples in the Northome and Northeast neighborhoods have started to decline. Some appear to be rotting from the inside and others were planted too deep, causing their roots to girdle their trunks. The City has always scheduled trimming of the public trees on a 5-year cycle. This year, $11,000 was budgeted for trimming but the actual cost was $13,114. In the winter of 2005, the Northome neighborhood will be trimmed. Council member Kuettel thanked Anita Twaroski, the City Forester, for the excellent report. Council member Lamb recommended the City find some way to publicize when it is going to do tree planting in the community. Administrator Worthington said the City tries to work with people, but it depends on what is available in nursery stock. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Council member Kuettel thanked the Roseville Rotary Club for providing bus transportation for the elementary school students and she showed an assortment of colorful “thank you” notes from the students. One of the teachers asked her if this could be done on an annual basis, and suggested that the agenda be given to the students either before or after the meeting. Council member Lindstrom said the kids were well behaved, had great questions and were super. Mayor Gehrz said she talked to Captain Ohl, who did the 800 MHz presentation at the meeting, and he said he hadn’t thought the students would have questions but they did. It was a lot of fun and she would like to see it become an annual event. Mayor Gehrz said that an open house was held at the new senior building in the SE Corner the evening before and it was a great experience. Attendees also had an opportunity to talk with the current tenants. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -12- October 27, 2004 INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Administrator Worthington said the Roseville Rotary Club will be sponsoring Kids Voting in the Roseville School District. It is part of a non-partisan, nationwide effort, and locally it is sponsored by the Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis Clubs. The kids’ ballots have photos of each candidate on them and the votes will be tallied by national merit scholars from Roseville High School. She said that with regard to the Solid Waste Commission’s report, the plan is to have the report to the printers by Friday and in the mail by the end of next week. The challenge is to distill the report down from 70 pages. The regular City Council meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM. Respectfully submitted, Mary Shea Kodluboy Deputy Clerk