While OLGP Steering Committee members were working with the consultants to define the study’s Scope of Work the opportunity presented itself for a quick check-in survey to ask 3 open-ended questions regarding local economic issues and local governance options. The purpose of this basic exercise was simply to ensure that no major elements were missed at the beginning of the research phase. Public engagement with the research study must wait until the completion of the study.

This comprehensive report of the outreach provides full documentation of the Community Engagement Survey (see above) that a total of 86 people responded to. The first 8 pages is a Summary that provides a coded and aggregated analysis, including Methodology, Results, Findings and Recommendations. The final 18 pages is an Appendix that includes every question and comment from each response received.

Responses show that nearly 40 percent commented on economic issues related to a city’s taxes and potential sources of revenue, with many hoping to learn about projected impacts from anticipated increases to taxes and fees. Over one third of respondents expressed a desire to see a straightforward pro/con comparison of the three options under study, and roughly one quarter of respondents asked questions about land use and zoning.

Two common themes were questions about the authorities of a city and questions about impacts or changes to relationships with existing service providers and special service districts.

Three things are very clear: 1) residents want to see hard figures for a specific proposal to gauge individual impacts from new taxes and collective benefits from new revenue sources. 2) there is a great deal of uncertainty about what a city can and cannot do, and how residents will be involved in those processes. 3) there is a sincere interest in being engaged throughout this exploratory process.

You can read the report here