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MEMO T0: M.R.P.A. Members <br />FROM: 8ruce Mderson <br />,...,... .,..c � on to]Q <br />RE: Park Bond Referendum Survey <br />A survey wae mailed to 97 municipal park and recrea[ion�community educatlon <br />and communi[y services agenclea [hroughout the etate in late December. To date <br />we have xeceived 47 replies for a 48.5% return. OF the returned surveye <br />21 communi[1es had never had a bond referendum, 7 had one that Failed flnd 19 <br />had one that was guccesaful. <br />Although the re[urn was no[ exceptionally high, there were some "constants" <br />[hat appeared to surface: <br />1. Of the 21 tha[ have no[ had a bond referendum, 5 of the co�unities <br />had tried referendims for other municipal services, i.e. library, <br />schools, city halls that had failed. <br />2. 17 of the 21 "nevera" feel there is no need for a referendum because <br />funda have been adequate from liquor revenue, park dedication os <br />atate and federal monies. <br />3. 7 of the 21 "nevera" atated they felt [heir cownunities would not <br />eupport a referendum for a park. One co�uni[y put it [his way: <br />"The chances of paesing a park referendum is similar to the proepecta <br />of Tampa Hay winning the Super Bowl. If it meant higher [axes our <br />residenta would w[e against brea[hing." <br />4. 11 of the 21 "nevere" city population wae under 10,000 people. <br />5. The 7 uneucceseful referendume varied in eize from 400,000 to 4.56 <br />million. <br />6. 6 of Che 7 referendums that failed, failed by at leaet a 2 Co 1 margin. <br />7. 4 of the 7"rto'e" had a referend�m pass in thelr city for other <br />mwticipal services within [he paet 3 years. <br />8. The reasona listed as to why their referendume were not aucceasful are <br />as follows: <br />a. Apparently the cltizen did not want any more parks. <br />b. Citizen apa[hy or ignorance of the isaue. <br />c. The proposed eite was to close to another city - reaident didn't <br />feel they would benefit enough. <br />d. Poor timing - came out same time as [ax etatemente. <br />e. The city had not eseabliahed a succeeaful enough track record. <br />f. Failure to convince people of [he need. <br />g. The dollar amount was too high and negative brochuree were <br />dietributed by opponente. <br />h. Lack of money and to cloae to oeher aucceeaful bond referendume. <br />