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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 14, 2005 Page 4 The survey asked what the most serious issue is facing the community. One out of five were unsure. 12% of the respondents said there was nothing they considered to be a serious issue. This is about double than what his firm found in the inner ring suburbs and triple what is found in the outer suburbs. One of the concerns was high taxes, which jumped from 9% in 2001 to the top 20% currently. School funding was mentioned second most often. That was not a concern four years ago. A low number is concerned about growth or changes in the community. Two key issues emerge: one is regarding taxes and the second is school funding. 9 Within the "sense of community" question, 91 % rate this highly. This is 12 to 13 points higher 10 than the norm. The sense of community is not an issue even though changes are taking place. 11 12 Feeling of safety was a question, and 77% feel somewhat or very safe. 80% indicated they felt 13 safe 4 years ago, so there has been little change. Mr. Morns pointed out that St. Anthony is 25% 14 ahead of the feelings of safety felt in other first ring communities. 15 16 In the Public Safety Perception category, 33% of residents could name a St. Anthony Police 17 Officer. Usually, only 10% can name a police officer in their community. Public safety is a 18 limited concern in St. Anthony. 19 20 Mr. Moms said they asked residents to rate city services. The negative comments are very 21 minimal. Street reconstruction in which criticism reached only 13% is less than a third of what 22 they find in other cities. Overall, people place a good evaluation on all the city services being 23 offered. 24 25 On property taxes, the survey asked if people would favor an increase to maintain services at 26 current levels. 26% indicated they would be opposed, though 50% said they would support a tax 27 increase to maintain the services. He commented this is not a surprise, since city services are 28 rated highly in this community. Less than 20% favored the option to reduce city services for 29 property tax cut. Residents don't want to cut property taxes if it jeopardizes city services. He 30 explained there is no real pattern on this, so it is difficult to compare this to other communities. 31 32 Mr. Morris explained the results of the perception of property taxes would be categorized as 33 moderately hostile. There should be a demonstrable need or proven to meet community 34 needs.35% believe the property taxes are too high. He compared St. Anthony to the western 35 suburbs where 80% of the residents feel their property taxes are too high. That is described as a 36 hostile community 37 38 On the value of village services, 65% rated the value as good. This is unusually high and one of 39 the strongest in the metro area. People feel they are getting a good value for their dollars in the 40 community. 41 42 The question was posed of "what do you think about the Silver Lake Redevelopment Project ". 43 86% of the residents said it was a good idea, with 42% said it was strongly a good idea. This is 44 the highest the company has found on any redevelopment project. Only 8% felt this was a bad 45 idea. Overall, this is a great endorsement of the Silver Lake area. 46