CC Minutes - 02/22/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Nathanson questioned how the survey outcomes might affect the budget, particularly in the area of public safety. Mr. Rayor concurred. He suggested that the outcome, "Provide a Good Value for Tax Dollars Spent", was especially vital when considering expenditures in downtown. Ms. Bohman distributed a document entitled Community Outcomes: Importance Versus Performance and a document entitled Community Outcomes Linked to City Services. She said that the first document showed the community's responses on a scale of 1-5 and illustrated the overall rate of satisfaction. She said that the differences between the responses was not great. The second document showed which City services primarily supported which outcomes. Mr. Lee suggested that the satisfaction reflected in the survey was also reflected in the successful passage of the library and park measures. He indicated interest in a similar survey specific to people of color. Mr. Lee commended the outcomes. Responding to a question from Ms. Nathanson, Mr. Johnson said that the United Way survey was a needs assessment conducted by the agency every two years. United Way used the data to help determine its allocations to social service providers. The survey usually included a special emphasis section; the most recent was focused on youth issues. Mr. Johnson said the survey was statistically valid and conducted on a countywide basis. Ms. Nathanson asked if there were issues staff wanted to bring to the council's attention. Acting Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department Director Terry Smith pointed out that the City's job performance rating was much higher than four years previous, and the increase began before the November election. He believed it proved people feel better about their government when they know more about it. He said the election got people's attention. Mr. Smith discussed responses to the open-ended question regarding the most important issue facing the community and noted that he had been surprised the responses regarding growth were so Iow in the previous survey. The figures had not changed much with the most recent survey. He noted that California communities experiencing high rates of growth had produced responses indicating that as many as 60 percent of respondents were concerned about growth. Mr. Smith suggested that an outsider reviewing the survey results would conclude Eugene residents were pretty happy with their community. Mr. Kelly suggested that rather than ask about the most important issue, the City ask about the three most important issues and request that respondents rank them. Mr. Torrey arrived at the meeting at 6:05 p.m. Mr. Lee asked Planning and Development Department Director Paul Farmer to comment on the survey results. Mr. Farmer responded that the numbers were good. He suggested that residents' level of satisfaction could be related to the condition of the national economy. Mr. Rayor questioned whether the survey could be representative given it did not include people without telephones. He asked if the City could survey people through another method, such as on foot, to reach more people. Mr. Johnson said that in the past, the United Way needs assessment had attempted to reach people without telephones by forming focus groups of MINUTES-Eugene City Council February 22, 1999 Page 2 5:30 p.m.