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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />FEBRUARY 9, 1994 <br />Pedersen asked how the firm ensures the person they <br />want filling out a mailed survey is actually an adult <br />and not a child or high-school student. <br />Niebuhr replied that the survey contains demographic <br />questions, and it is very obvious if a written survey <br />is completed by a child. <br />Morelan asked which type of survey yields better data. <br />Anderson replied that that depends on the survey and <br />the group. Either form will yield good data for a City <br />survey. It also depends if a survey contains a lot of <br />skip patterns. If so, a phone survey is better. If a <br />survey is lengthy, people prefer a written survey. A <br />telephone survey takes a little less time and is less <br />expensive. <br />Niebuhr reported that the firm conducts telephone <br />surveys in-house with their own staff under tightly <br />controlled circumstances. The data collected is <br />analyzed and a written report containing both graphics <br />and tables are presented. The report will contain a <br />summarization. A work session can be scheduled for the <br />firm to present the survey results. Niebuhr reported <br />that there are two other options to those being <br />discussed and those are a focus group or in-depth <br />interview of business owners. <br />The Administrator asked if the focus group method was <br />used to design the survey. <br />Anderson replied that it was. The focus group can <br />consist of the Council, staff, representatives of <br />different interest groups in the community, as well as <br />a number of average residents. <br />Hanson asked if people being surveyed were more likely <br />to give more truthful answers to an independent survey <br />firm that to the City directly. <br />Anderson replied that this <br />not reveal the identify of <br />surveyed, therefore people <br />honest. <br />is likely. The firm does <br />individuals who have been <br />are more willing to be <br />Hanson pointed out that the 1988 City survey involved a <br />400 random sample. Hanson reported that he has talked <br />with residents who have indicated that they know of no <br />one who was surveyed. <br />Scalze reported that she has heard of residents who <br />were a part of that survey. <br />Page 4 <br />