3.0. SR 01-21-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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taxes go to city government, the median response among those who offered an answer was fifteen percent. But, thirty-four percent of the sample, a little higher than the norm, were unable to even venture a guess. Fifty-eight percent of the sample correctly said that the city's tax rate had increased during the past few years. While more information about the cost-efficiency of city services should be provided to residents, citizens seem to have a fairly accurate view of the tax climate in Elk River. Communications patterns revealed that most residents, eighty-six percent, rely upon the "Elk River Star" for information about City government and its activities. The "grapevine" was relied upon by ten percent, at the norm for most communities. Only twenty-four percent of the residents reported their households currently received cable television; hence, the telecasting of city council meetings could potentially reach only one-quarter of the city. But, the projected audience for occasional viewership would be about one-third of those households, or eight percent citywide. The City may wish to consider the publication of a newsletter on a regular basis to augment the local newspaper. While communication channels are very strong, this vehicle would provide an excellent means to inform the citizenry about on-going activities and programs. In addition, insertion of the newsletter into the "Elk River Star" would effectively reach almost ninety percent of the residents. The City was felt to be "about right" in its enforcement of city codes. Fifty-nine percent awarded that rating, but thirty percent indicated that the enforcement was "not tough enough." Particularly troublesome to these residents was the code enforcement on, first, loose animals, and second, messy yards. The City may wish to re-e×amine its enforcement procedures, particularly as they apply to dogs running loose. City services were rated unevenly by the residents of Elk River. Police protection, fire protection, and the City Library were awarded strong approval scores of approximately eighty percent. Sewers and water was viewed favorably by fifty-four percent of the residents; sixteen percent disapproved. All of these evaluations are consistent with norms established in previous studies. Three services, however, were given much lower positive evaluations and much lower negative scores than usual: snow plowing was approved of by sixty-nine percent and disapproved of by thirty percent; street maintenance was viewed favorably by sixty-seven percent and unfavorably by thirty-four percent; and, street lighting was rated as "excellent" or "good" by fifty seven percent, and rated "only fair" or "poor" by a high thirty-nine percent. The City was wish to review these three services for problems and potential improvements. City staff served an unusually large number of residents directly. Forty-six percent, about twenty percent higher than the norm, had "quite a lot" or "some" first hand contact with the city staff. Evaluations, however, were weaker than usual. Fifty-nine percent rated the City st~ff as either "excellent" or