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Home My WebLink About2012-06-11 PACKET 07.C.City of Cotta Grove Minnesota To: Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director CC: May 31, 2012 Date: Subject: Parks and Recreation Referendum Project Introduction The City has spent over two years researching and prioritizing large -scale recreational needs of the community. Countless volunteer and staff hours have been spent on this effort. Currently, the top four priorities are considered to be (in no particular order): 1. Hamlet Park Renovation /Expansion 2. Thompson Grove Community Hall Redevelopment 3. Land Acquisition for Future Sports Complex 4. Construction of an Outdoor Aquatic Facility City Council wishes to pursue a referendum during the November election to gain public support for funding of any or all of these projects. Background In order to continue the research process, the City Council in April authorized staff to take the following actions: 1. Produce a feasibility study and updated master plan of the Hamlet Park project. 2. Produce a community survey to better understand the community's desire for these projects with consideration associated costs. The feasibility report is currently being performed by the engineering firm of Bolton and Mink. Staff expects the budget figures to be ready prior to performing the community survey to assure accuracy in assessing community desires. Completion of the entire feasibility report is expected by mid -July. This work will refine existing plans and costs to assure information presented to the public is accurate throughout the process. The final report will be presented to the Commission as it becomes available. The community survey process has been contracted to Decision Resources Incorporated. This company has performed past survey work for the City of Cottage Grove and has very reputable results in the industry. The ultimate goal of the survey is to gain understanding of what voters would desire in the suggested recreational improvements considering both project scope and tax impact. The survey also takes advantage of the process by asking general government and service level satisfaction questions to better understand public perception of City operations. The survey takes into account thorough demographical data in order to achieve standard deviation rate of +/- 5 %. Attached is the first draft of survey questions for your review. Once again, it would be the goal of staff, Council and the Commission to be able to utilize these survey results to formulate a referendum question which has an opportunity to succeed. Should individual or all projects receive unfavorable responses, the Commission and Council must seriously consider whether they should be brought to the voters by referendum. The City Council has continuously engaged the community throughout this process. The Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission has and will play a critical role in the decision making. Please take time to review the survey and provide any feedback you believe will be helpful in making the best possible decisions for the community. Recommendation Recommend approval of the Parks and Recreation community survey questions. DECISION RESOURCES, LTD. 3128 Dean Court Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416 City of Cottage Grove Residential Survey PRELIMINARY MAY 2012 Hello, I'm of Decision Resources, Ltd., a polling firm located in Minneapolis. We have been retained by the City of Cottage Grove to speak with a random sample of residents about issues 'facing the community. This survey is being conducted because the City Council and City Staff are interested in your opinions and suggestions about current and future city needs. I want to assure you that all individual responses will be held strictly confidential; only summaries of the entire sample will be reported. 1. Approximately how many years have LESS THAN TWO YEARS ..... 1 you lived in Cottage Grove? TWO TO FIVE YEARS ....... 2 FIVE TO TEN YEARS ....... 3 TEN TO TWENTY YEARS ..... 4 20 TO 30 YEARS .......... 5 OVER THIRTY YEARS ....... 6 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 7 2. What do you like most about living in Cottage Grove? 3. What do you think is the most serious issue facing Cottage Grove today? 4. How would you rate the quality of EXCELLENT ...............1 life in Cottage Grove -- excellent, GOOD ....................2 good, only fair, or poor? ONLY FAIR ...............3 POOR ....................4 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 5 Let's talk about city services for a moment... 5. How would you rate the value you EXCELLENT ...............1 receive, when you consider the GOOD ....................2 property taxes you pay and the ONLY FAIR ...............3 services you receive -- excellent, POOR ....................4 good, only fair, or poor? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 5 6. In comparison with neighboring VERY HIGH ...............1 areas, do you consider total pro- SOMEWHAT HIGH ........... 2 perty taxes in your community to ABOUT AVERAGE ........... 3 be very high, somewhat high, about SOMEWHAT LOW ............ 4 average, somewhat low, or very VERY LOW ................5 low? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 6 I would like to read you a list of a few city services. For each one, please tell me whether you would rate the quality of the service as excellent, good, only fair, or poor? (ROTATE) EXCL GOOD FAIR POOR DK /R 7. Police protection? 1 2 3 4 5 8. Fire protection? 1 2 3 4 5 9. Park maintenance? 1 2 3 4 5 10. Trail maintenance? 1 2 3 4 5 11. City- sponsored recreation programs? 1 2 3 4 5 12. Street MaintenanceAn 1 2 3 4 5 Thinking about another topic.... 13. Are there areas in the City of YES .....................1 Cottage Grove where you do not NO ......................2 feel safe? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 3 IF "YES," ASK: 14. In which areas do you not feel safe? 15. Do you feel safe in your immediate neighborhood walking alone at night? 16. How would you rate the amount of police patrolling in your neigh- borhood -- too much, about the right amount or not enough? 17. How would you rate the amount of traffic enforcement by the police in your neighborhood -- too much, about right amount or not enough? Continuing.... YES .....................1 NO .....................2 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 3 TOO MUCH ................1 ABOUT RIGHT AMOUNT ...... 2 NOT ENOUGH ..............3 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 4 TOO MUCH ................1 ABOUT RIGHT AMOUNT ...... 2 NOT ENOUGH ..............3 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 4 The Cottage Grove park system is composed of larger community parks and smaller neighborhood parks, trails, community ballfields and soccer fields, the Ice Arena and River Oaks Golf Course. Of these facilities, which have you or members of your household used during the past year? Then, for each one you have used, please tell me if you would rate the facility as excellent, good, only fair, or poor? - 18. Larger community parks, such as Highlands Park or Woodridge Park? 19. Smaller neighborhood parks? 20. Trails? 21. Community ballfields and soccer fields? 22. The Ice Arena? 23. River Oaks Golf Course? NOT EXC GOO FAI POO DKR 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 The City may ask residents to vote on a bond referendum to develop and expand park system facilities. Although no decision has been made, I would like to read you a list of components which could be included in the proposal. For each one, please tell me if you would strongly support a property tax increase for that purpose, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose a property tax increase for it. If you have no opinion, just say so.... (ROTATE) STS SMS SMO STO DKR 24. Construction of an outdoor aquatic facility, with zero -depth entry access, shallow play area for young children, play area for older children, slides, swimming lanes, picnic areas and lockers rooms? 1 2 3 4 5 25. Completion of Hamlet Park, including a aditional base ballfield complex, large playground, trails, splash pads new building, shelters, 95t Street with additional Formatted: superscript ssd parking lots? 1 2 3 4 5 26. Renovation of existing pool site as a youth play center with indoor playground equipment, outdoor play area, snack bar, and birthday party rental areas? 1 2 3 4 5 F- - - Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5" 27. Acquisition of land east of Lamar Park for future park expansion? 1 2 3 4 5 Now, I would like to briefly re -read the list. 28. Please tell me which one, if any, of those components you would place as the top priority? 29. Of the remaining components, which one would you rank as the second priority? 30. Is there any one component you are most opposed to? (IF "YES," ASK:) Which one? TOP SEC OPP CONSTRUCTION OF AN OUTDOOR AQUATIC FACILITY ........ ..................1.....1.....1 COMPLETION OF HAMLET PARK ..............2.....2.....2 CONSTRUCTION OF YOUTH PLAY CENTER ...... 3 ..... 3 ..... 3 ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR FUTURE PARK EXPANSION .. ..................4.....4.....4 ALL (VOL.) ........... ..................5.....5.....5 NONE (VOL.) .......... ..................6.....6.....6 DON'T KNOW / REFUSED ... ..................7.....7.....7 Funding for the bond referendum would require a property tax increase..... 31. Which of these statements best describes your feelings? A) I would vote AGAINST almost any tax increase for park and rec- reation facilities, B) I would vote for a tax increase under some conditions; but against it under other condi- tions; C) I would vote FOR almost any tax increase for park and recrea- tion facilities? STATEMENT A .............1 STATEMENT B .............2 STATEMENT C .............3 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 4 Suppose the City of Cottage Grove proposed a parks and recrea- tional facilities referendum which you considered to be a reason- able approach. The proposal would be placed on a referendum ballot for approval by the voters. In order to fund construction, residents would be asked to approve a property tax increase for a twenty year period. 32. How much would you be willing to see your property taxes increase to fund this construction? Let's say, would you be willing to see your monthly property taxes in- crease by $ ? (CHOOSE RANDOM STARTING POINT; MOVE UP OR DOWN DEPENDING ON RESPONSE) How about $ per month? NOTHING .................1 $2.00 ...................2 $4.00 ...................3 $6.00 ...................4 $8.00 ...................5 $10.00 ..................6 $12.00 ..................7 DON'T KNOW ..............8 REFUSED .................9 I would now like to ask your opinion of a specific parks and recreational facilities bond referendum proposal.... The proposal would include construction of an outdoor aquatic facility; completion of Hamlet Park; construction of youth play center at the existing pool site; and acquisition of land east of Lamar Park for future park expansion. Ask about approval of each Proiect individuallv first then as two Dackaaes and as a whole ? ?? Residents would be asked to approve a $13 million dollar bond referendum to fund the construction. The bonds would be under- written through an increase of property taxes of about $5.75 per month or about $69.00 per year on a $200,000 home. Owners of a $400,000 would see an increase about $11.50 per month or about $138.00 per year. 33. If the election were today, would STRONGLY SUPPORT ........ 1 you support or oppose this bond SUPPORT .................2 referendum? (WAIT FOR RESPONSE) OPPOSE ..................3 Do you feel strongly that way? STRONGLY OPPOSE ......... 4 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 5 IF A RESPONSE IS GIVEN, ASK: 34. Could you tell me one or two reasons for your deci- sion? Changing topics.... 35. Other than voting, do you feel YES .....................1 that if you wanted to, you could NO .....................2 have a say about the way the City DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 3 of Cottage Grove runs things? 36. How much do you feel you know about the work of the Mayor and City Council -- a great deal, a fair amount, very little, or none at all? 37. From what you know, do you approve or disapprove of the job the Mayor and City Council are doing? (WAIT FOR RESPONSE) And do you feel strongly that way? 38. How much first hand contact have you had with the Cottage Grove City staff -- quite a lot, some, very little, or none? 39. From what you have heard or seen, how would you rate the job per- formance of the Cottage Grove City staff -- excellent, good, only fair, or poor? Moving on...... • GREAT DEAL ............ 1 • FAIR AMOUNT ........... 2 VERY LITTLE .............3 NONE AT ALL .............4 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 5 STRONGLY APPROVE ........ 1 APPROVE .................2 DISAPPROVE ..............3 STRONGLY DISAPPROVE ..... 4 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 5 QUITE A LOT .............1 SOME ....................2 VERY LITTLE .............3 NONE ....................4 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 5 EXCELLENT ...............1 GOOD ....................2 ONLY FAIR ...............3 POOR ....................4 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 5 40. What is your principal source of information about Cottage Grove City Government and its activities? 41. In general, how well informed are you about the Cottage Grove Park system and its facilities -- are you very well informed, somewhat well informed, not too well in- formed, or not at all informed? VERY WELL INFORMED ...... 1 SOMEWHAT WELL INFORM .... 2 NOT TOO WELL INFORMED ... 3 NOT AT ALL INFORMED ..... 4 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 5 42. Which of the following sources of information would you most rely on for information about a park bond referendum proposal from the City of Cottage Grove -- the city news- letter, articles in the local newspaper, local cable television, neighborhood meetings, city staff and elected officials, mailings from the City and voter groups, the city website, friends and nei- ghbors, or something else? (IF "SOMETHING ELSE," ASK:) What would that be? CITY NEWSLETTER ......... 0 ARTICLES IN NEWSPAPER-1 LOCAL CABLE TELEVISION..2 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS ... 3 CITY STAFF /ELECTED OFF..4 MAILINGS FROM CITY ...... 5 CITY WEBSITE ............ 6 FRIENDS/NEIGHBORS ....... 7 SOMETHING ELSE .......... 8 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 9 Now, just a few more questions for demographic purposes.... As you may know, there are many types of elections. Some years we have Presidential elections, other years Gubernatorial elections. In odd years, we also have some local and school district elections. 43. In the past, have you voted in all elections, most elections, some elections or do you rarely vote? 44. On a scale of one to ten, where "one" means "not at all likely" and "ten" means "absolutely cer- tain," how likely are you to vote in the upcoming November Presi- dential election? ALL .....................1 MOST ....................2 SOME ....................3 RARELY ..................4 DON'T KNOW/REFUSED ...... 5 ONE ....................01 TWO ....................02 THREE ..................03 FOUR ...................04 FIVE ...................05 SIX ....................06 SEVEN ..................07 EIGHT ..................08 NINE ...................09 TEN ....................10 DON'T KNOW /REFUSED..... 11 Could you please tell me how many people in each of the following age groups live in your household. 45. Persons 65 or over? NONE ....................1 ONE .....................2 TWO OR MORE ............. 3 46. Adults under 65? NONE ....................1 ONE .....................2 TWO.....................3 THREE OR MORE ........... 4 47. School-aged children or pre- schoolers? 48. Do you own or rent your present residence? 49. What is your age, please? (READ CATEGORIES, IF NEEDED) Thank you for your time. Good-bye. 50. Gender (DO NOT ASK) NONE ....................1 ONE .....................2 TWO... ................. 3 THREE OR MORE ........... 4 OWN .....................1 RENT ....................2 REFUSED .................3 18-24 ...................1 25-34 ...................2 35-44 ...................3 45-54 ...................4 55-64 ...................5 65 AND OVER .............6 MALE ....................1 FEMALE ..................2 51. REGION OF CITY