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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />AUGUST 31, 1995 <br />Residents were asked to rate City services. Policy <br />protection received an 83% excellent to good rating. <br />This is below the County norm of 960. Fire Department <br />received a high ratinq at 93~ which Morris classified <br />as exemplary, and the highest rating he has ever <br />encountered for a fire department in his surveys. <br />Recycling and rubbish pick-up was at the norm as is <br />storm drainage issues. Park maintenance is below the <br />norm of 88%, being rated at 80%. Trail maintenance is <br />below norm; recreation programs received a strong <br />rating; animal control is below norm; communications <br />received a top rating. Street maintenance received an <br />unfavorable rating of 61%, and plowing is below norm. <br />Street lighting received a good rating. In comparing <br />these ratings with those in 1987, the police rating <br />increased as did the rating for the Fire Department and <br />trails. Street maintenance and plowing is down. <br />Street lighting remained constant. When asked if <br />residents felt the City was wasting money in the <br />provision of any of the services it provides, residents <br />indicated they did not feel there was waste. <br />Residents were asked about taxes, and the answers to <br />tax questions revealed a moderately-intense hostile <br />climate. 46% viewed property taxes as high, 25% <br />average, and 17% somewhat or moderately low. 79% felt <br />that the general value of City services received in <br />exchange for taxes was good to only fair. There was a <br />two to one margin opposing an increase in property <br />taxes to maintain services at their current level. <br />This response is in line with the Metro area. <br />Morris reported that in asking about characteristics of <br />the community, residents felt there were too few retail <br />shopping, entertainment, and dining opportunities. <br />Residents also felt they had an impact on the way the <br />City runs things. 63% felt informed about City <br />government. The norm in Ramsey County is 48%. The <br />same pattern follows for knowledge about City meetings, <br />recreation opportunities, etc. 67% felt informed. The <br />County norm is 50%. 42% felt they were knowledgeable <br />about the work of the Mayor and City Council, and 59% <br />approved of the job that was being done. This is an <br />exceptionally good rating, with Morris reporting that <br />it was rare for a suburban city council to hit 50%. In <br />rating City staff, residents had a somewhat lesser <br />contact level with staff than in other communities. <br />52% rated staff~s job performance at excellent or good. <br />This rating is in the top 10 to 15% of communities. <br />Staff received an approval rating of 3 to 1, which is <br />very strong. <br />Morris reported that citizens were asked about their <br />use of park facilities as well as their ratinq of <br />facilities. Morris pointed out that there were very <br />impressive approval ratings. 78% favored the renting <br />of ballfields for tournaments. However, that rating <br />3 <br />