SUBJECT:
Title
Discussion on Surveys, Past and Future
Body
DEPARTMENT: Communications & Community Engagement
Department
PRESENTER(S): Gabi Rae, Director of Communications & Community Engagement
First Name Last Name, Title
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes
only required for non-consent items
FISCAL SUMMARY: N/A
POLICY ISSUES:
Council will discuss the use and history of the National Community Survey in Erie and whether to continue using the tool to benchmark community priorities, desires, and satisfaction with Town services.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommend Council thoroughly discuss this topic and provide staff with direction to move forward, or not, with conducting the National Community Survey in 2025. As recommended by the Town Attorney, to facilitate this staff recommends noticing the study session as a “Special Meeting” so a vote may be taken on direction.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
Since 2013, the Town of Erie has deployed the National Community Survey (NCS) in early spring every odd year to gather data from residents with respect to their likes, dislikes, priorities, and other thoughts on the community. The statistically valid data collected from these surveys is compared to results from previous years and to nearby municipalities to inform the budget, projects, and strategy for the future.
Recent examples of how previous Council/Town Boards and staff have used data from this survey include:
Examples:
• Results showed a drop in satisfaction with education and arts/culture opportunities which led to a Public Art Program and research into potential for a Cultural Arts Facility.
• Results indicated dissatisfaction with fresh food availability - in particular for those surveyed in Old Town which helped staff increase the focus on finding a grocer for Town Center.
• Results highlighted a decline in the percentage of respondents who rated Erie positive for overall transportation which led to stronger investment in road infrastructure projects and hiring transportation staff.
• Results showed a decline in satisfaction with the variety of housing options which led to more diverse development opportunities.
As Council suggested earlier this year, staff has created high-level data comparisons from 2013-2023 <https://www.canva.com/design/DAGedfWVxIE/6les5YZY21NMadrdwxdkMg/view?utm_content=DAGedfWVxIE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hf85ffc0a30> to include other municipalities that have participated in the process. All data from the NCS <https://www.erieco.gov/970/Community-Survey> is also available for the Council’s and Community’s review.
Options to Consider
Though we have a contract in place and work has been completed to prepare the 2025 NCS, there are options Council can consider for this year and for future years:
• For 2025:
o Only complete the Special Topics Questionnaire as requested by Council and no other survey. The contract with Polco would need to be amended and staff would work to get a refund for work not completed.
o Complete both a Special Topics Questionnaire and the NCS this year - staggering the timing to reduce any confusion over the topics and purposes of the two opportunities.
• For the Future:
o Continue with the NCS in each odd year and complete other special topic surveying as needed.
o Discontinue the NCS tool and consider other surveying options on either a regular cadence, or on an as-needed basis.
TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
ü Engaged and Diverse Community
ü Effective Governance
ü Fiscally Responsible