Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />AUGUST 10, 2011 <br />Morris pointed out that 18% said nothing which is about three times as <br />high as typical for suburban areas. 20% of responders had no answer. <br />Morris noted that there is no one issue that stands out and pointed out <br />taxes was rated as the most serious issue at 13% and rising crime next at <br />10 %. Morris noted that the 18% indicating there is no serious issue facing <br />Little Canada are also the people who gave the City its highest ratings, <br />therefore, are the City's biggest boosters. <br />Morris noted that the vast majority of City services received positive <br />ratings of 90% of better, with the exception of two or three services. <br />Morris indicated that it was unique for a city to receive such high positive <br />ratings of so many services. Those services receiving the highest negative <br />ratings were deer /geese management at 26 %, domestic animal control at <br />16 %, and City street maintenance at 24 %. Morris indicated that the 24% <br />negative rating for City street maintenance is deceptive. The City received <br />a 76% positive rating for street maintenance, with the metropolitan norm <br />being 45% positive and 55% negative. Therefore, Little Canada has about <br />half the negative rating for the norm. With regard to domestic animal <br />control, Morris stated that it is unusual in the metro area to have a negative <br />rating below 10 %, therefore the 16% negative rating is about the norm. <br />The negative rating for deer /geese management is a reflection of residents' <br />concerns for their yards and gardens. <br />Morris reported that survey respondents were asked to rank the importance <br />of City services, and noted that several services were ranked very highly <br />as essential or very important. These included traffic enforcement, police <br />protection, fire response, garbage /recycling, City street maintenance, and <br />street snow plowing. Morris noted that the only mismatch in ratings <br />versus importance is with City street maintenance. Morris suggested that <br />this may be one area that may need some more monitoring. Blesener <br />noted that many residents may not be aware that some roads in the City <br />are County roads maintained by the County. Peter Leatherman, Decision <br />Resources indicated that the survey made this distinction and 4 or 5 roads <br />were identified to those being surveyed as County roads. <br />Morris then reviewed how residents felt about the need for increasing <br />certain City services, maintaining the same service level, or decreasing <br />services. Morris highlighted those services where there was over 20% <br />support for cutting /eliminating the service. Those included deer /geese <br />management at 21 %, adult recreation programs at 31 %, and the <br />snowplowing of trails at 21 %. Morris noted that the 21% support for <br />cutting /eliminating deer /geese management was somewhat <br />counterintuitive given the earlier ratings of this service. Morris pointed <br />out, however, that should the City need to make service reductions, adult <br />3 <br />