5.0. PRSR 01-02-1997 DECISION RESOURCES, LTD. ELK RIVER CITY SURVEY
411/ 3128 Dean Court Parks and Recreation/ .
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414 City Issues Study
Hello, I'm of Decision Resources, Ltd. , a nationwide
polling firm located in Minneapolis. We've been retained by the
City of Elk River to speak with a random sample of residents
about issues facing the city. The survey is being taken because
the City is interested in your opinions and suggestions. I want
to assure you that all individual responses will be held strictly
confidential ; only summaries of the entire sample will be
reported. (DO NOT PAUSE)
1. Approximately how many years have LESS THAN TWO YEARS. . ... 8%
you lived in Elk River? TWO TO FIVE YEARS 26%
SIX TO TEN YEARS 16% .
11 - 20 YEARS 27%
21 - 30 YEARS 11%
OVER THIRTY YEARS 12%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 0%
2 . As things now stand, how long in LESS THAN TWO YEARS3%
the future do you expect to live 2 - 5 YEARS 6%
in Elk River? 6 - 10 YEARS 9%
OVER TEN YEARS 15%
REST OF LIFE (VOL. ) 58%
• DON'T KNOW/REFUSED10%
3 . How-would you rate the quality of EXCELLENT 37%
life in Elk River -- excellent, GOOD 57%
good, only fair, or poor? ONLY FAIR 4%
POOR 1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 0%
4 . What do you like most about living in Elk River?
DON'T KNOW, 5%; SMALL TOWN, 26%; LOCATION, 24% ; SCHOOLS, 3%;
PEOPLE, 14%; RURAL/OPEN, 16%; QUIET/PEACEFUL, 6%; NEIGHBOR-
HOOD, 3%; EVERYTHING, 4%.
5. What do you like least about it?
DON'T KNOW, 11%; NOTHING, 18%; TAXES, 5%; GROWTH, 18%;
LOCATION, 6%; POOR SHOPPING, 15%; SCHOOLS, 2%; TOO SMALL,
5%; CITY GOVERNMENT, 3%; POOR ROADS, 4%; HIGHWAY 101, 3%;
CITY SERVICES, 4%; POLLUTION, 2%; SCATTERED, 4%.
I would like to read to you a list of recreational activities.
For each one, tell me how often you engage in that activity. Do-
you or any members of this household engage in the activity four
times a week or more often, once a week, once or twice a month,
several times each year or not at all. For seasonal activities,
please tell me how often you or household members participate
148
• during the season. Remember, we are interested in the number of
times you or other household members participate, not attend as
an observer.
4+ TIMES ONCE 1-2 SEVERAL NOT
WEEKLY WEEK MONTH YEAR • AT ALL
6. Softball games? 5% 10% 3% 10% 72%
7 , Basketball? 6% 6% ' 6% 9% 74%
8 , Bicycling? 23% 18% 12% 9% 37%
9 . Racquetball? 1% 3% 2% 5% 88%
10. Hockey? 3% 7% 3% 7% 80%
11. Golfing? 7% 14% 9% 14% 56%
12. Hunting? 4% 7% 10% 24% 56%
13 . Volleyball? 2% 6% 5% 10% ,78%
14 . Jogging? 7% 9% 5% 5% 75%
15. T--Ball games? 1% 4% 1% 2% 92%
16. Baseball games? 6% 5% 5% 5% 80%
17 . Cross-Country
Skiing? 2% 6% 6% 12% 75%
18 . Snowmobiling? 2% 9% 8% - 12% 69%
19. Swimming? 10% 19% 15% 15% 40%
20. Nature Walks? 11% 16% 19% 13% 41%
21. Tennis? 4% 8% 9% 10% 70%
22 . Hiking or walking? 25% 20% 16% 10% 29%
• 23 . Soccer? 5% 8% 2% 8% 77%
24 . Fishing? 10% 18% 15% 18% 39%
25. Exercising in a
gym or health spa? 3% 8% 9% 5% 75%
26. Canoeing? 1% 2% 8% 15% 74%
27 . Waterskiing? 2% 5% 8% 15% 70%
28 . Indoor ice
skating? 1% 3% 6% 10% 80%
29. Outdoor ice
skating? 3% 9% 11% 16% 61%
30. Overall, would you rate the park EXCELLENT 9%
and recreational facilities in GOOD 61%
Elk River as excellent, good, ONLY FAIR 19%
fair, or poor? POOR 5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 7%
I would like to read to you a short list of the parks located in
Elk river. For each one, please tell me if you or members of
this household have visited that park during the past year.
YES NO D.K.
31. Orono Park 86% 12% 2%
32 . Lions Park 66% 32% 2%
O 33 . Woodland Trails Park 10% 82% 8%
34 . Handke Outdoor Ice Arena 41% 56% 4*
35. outdoor facilities located at
the schools, such as football,
baseball, and soccer fields, and. '
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YES NO D.K.
• tennis courts
36. 51% 45% 0%
Softball complex 34% 61% 5%
IF THE RESPONDENT REPORTS VISITING AT LEAST ONE PARK, ASK:
As you know, there are several types of recreational facilities
in the city's parks. I would like to read to you a brief list of
those facilities. For each one, please tell me if you or members
of your household have used that facility during the past few
months. For those you have used, could you tell me whether the
use was frequent or only occasional. For seasonal activities,
just consider usage during the appropriate time of the year,
NOT FREQ OCCN D.K.
37. Picnic Pavilions 27% 13% 48% 2%
38. Soccer Fields 67% 11% 10% 1%
39. Baseball Fields 60% 10% 19% 1%
40. Tennis Courts 64% 7% _18% 1%
41. Swimming, Beach 29% 25% 35% 1%
42. Softball Fields 54% 16% 19% 1%
43. Play equipment 46% 18% 24% 2%
44 . Horseshoe pits 74% 4% 11% 1%
45. Fishing pier 64% 8% 17% 1%
• 46. Sliding hills 58% 11% 19% 2%
47. Just walking around 16% 42% 31% 1%
48. Outdoor skating
rinks 53% 10% 25% 2%
49. How would you rate the upkeep and EXCELLENT 26%
maintenance of the "park facilities GOOD 62%
in Elk River -- excellent, good, ONLY FAIR 7%
only fair, or poor? POOR 1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 4%
50. Are there any facilities not currently in Elk River parks
that you or members of your family would use, if they were
there? What are they?
DON'T KNOW, 21%; NONE, 50%; TRAILS, 7%; BALLFIELDS, 2%; OUT-
DOOR POOL, 3%; ICE ARENA, 1%; ROLLERSKATING RINK, 2%;
TOILETS, 2%; PLAY EQUIPMENT, 3%; SPA/HEALTH CLUB, 3%; TENNIS
COURTS, 1%; SCATTERED, 6%.
51. Would you favor or oppose a trail FAVOR/STILL FAVOR 38%
system linking the neighborhoods FAVOR/OPPOSE 22%
throughout the city? (IF FAVOR/DON'T KNOW 16%
"FAVOR" ASK: ) Would you still OPPOSE 18%
favor it if it required a tax DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 7%
increase to develop the system?
• '
150
•
/ • 52. If a trail system were built, PEDESTRIANS 12%
should it primarily serve pedes- BICYCLISTS 2%
trians, primarily serve bicy-- BOTH 76$
clists, or serve both? DON'T FAVOR 5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2%
53. Would you favor or oppose the FAVOR 70%
conversion of the abandoned OPPOSE 15%
railroad corridor, recently DON'T KNOW/REFUSED15%
purchased by the city, into a
component of a trail system?
54 . If the trail were to run by YES 50%
your property, would you be NO 29%
willing to grant the city of DON'T KNOW/REFUSED '21%
Elk river an easement to that
part of your land?
Park systems usually contain three major components: smaller
neighborhood parks, larger community playfields, and trails.
55. ' Which of these three components SMALLER NEIGH PARK28%.
do you feel should be the top LARGER COMM PLAYFIELD. 20%
priority for development in Elk TRAILS 32%
River during the next few years? OTHER (VOL) 1%
ALL EQUALLY (VOL) 12%
NONE OF THE ABOVE 1%
a DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 6%
56. Have any members of this house- YES 32%
hold participated in any youth NO 66%
recreational programs during the DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2%
past year?
IF "YES" IN QUESTION #56, ASK:
57. Which ones?
SOFTBALL, 3%; PRE-SCHOOL, 1%; SOCCER, 6%; THREE OR
MORE, 7%; BASEBALL, 2%; HOCKEY, 2%; SWIMMING, 2%;
BASKETBALL, 3%; T-BALL, 2%; GYMNASTICS, 2%; SCATTERED,
4%.
58. Were you satisfied or dis- SATISFIED 29%
satisfied with the pro- DISSATISFIED . .2%
gram(s) ? BOTH (VOL) 2%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 0%
59. In general, do you feel that the YES 61%
youth recreational programs of- NO 7%
fared meet the needs of your NO CHILDREN. . . . . . ... . . .21%
household? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED. . . . 10%
4 IF "NO" IN QUESTION #59, ASK:
151
i •
60. What additional youth recreation opportunities would
you like to see offered?
V '
4442611PA4SPORTS, 1%; SCATTERED, 2%; DON'T KNOW, 4%.
61. Have any members of this house- YES 20%
hold participated in any adult NO 78%
recreational programs during the DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2%
past year?
IF "YES" IN QUESTION #61, ASK:
62 . Which ones?
SOFTBALL, 5%; VOLLEYBALL, 2%; COMMUNITY EDUCATION, 1%;
SOCCER, 1%; THREE OR MORE, 1%; SWIMMING, 1% ; TENNIS,
1%; EXERCISE, 2%; BOWLING, 1%; SCATTERED, 4%.
63 . Were you satisfied or dis- SATISFIED 18%
satisfied with the pro- DISSATISFIED 1%
gram(s) ? BOTH (VOL) _ 1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 0%
64 . In general, do you feel that the YES 76%
adult recreational programs of- NO 6%
fered meet the needs of your DON'T KNOW/REFUSED. . . . 19%
household?
IF "NO" IN QUESTION #64, ASK:
65. What additional adult recreation opportunities would
you like to see offered?
TENNIS, 1%; VARS fY SPORTS, 2%; SCATTERED, 2%; DON'T
KNOW, 2%. Va"r�A3
66. During the past year, have you or YES 11%
any members of this household NO 87%
participated in any recreational DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2%
programs offered by counties or
other cities outside of Elk River?
IF "YES", ASK:
67. Which ones and offered by whom?
ANOKA COUNTY SPORTS, 2%; BLAINE SOCCER, 1%; NEW HOPE
YMCA EXERCISE CLASSES, 1%; VOLLEYBALL, 1% ; SOFTBALL,
1%; MAPLE GROVE NATURE WALKS, 1%; HOCKEY, 1%;
SCATTERED, 3%.
• 68 . If it/they were offered in YES
8%
Elk River, would you be like- NO 2%
ly to undertake it here? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 1%
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•
69. Have you or any members of this YES 61%
household visited Hennepin NO 38%
• County, Wright County, or Anoka DON'T KNOW/REFUSED. . . . . 1%
County regional parks during
the past year?
70. Do you feel that Sherburne County YES 51%
should develop a county regional NO 32%
park system, or do neighboring DON'T KNOW/REFUSED17%
counties provide adequate
facilities for county residents?
71. Would you favor or oppose the FAVOR/STILL FAVOR 44%
development of a downtown FAVOR/OPPOSE 16%
river walk for recreational FAVOR/DON'T KNOW 13%
use? (IF "FAVOR" , ASK: ) Would OPPOSE 21%
you still favor it if a tax DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 5%
increase were required to fund
construction?
I would like to read you a list of facilities which could be
added to the park system. For each one, please tell me how
likely it would be that you. or members of your household would
use it very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at
all likely. If you don't know, just say so.
VERY SMWT NOT TOO NOT D.K.
ill 72 . Sand volleyball courts? 10% 26% 22% 40% 2%
73 . Play equipment? 19% 25% 15% 39% 1%
74 . Horseshoe pits? 5% 21% 23% 51% 1%
75. Basketball courts? 10% 22% 19% 48% 1%
76. Archery ranges? 8% 15% 20% 55% 2%
77 . Cross country ski course? 17% 27% 14% 40% 1%
78 . Outdoor swimming pool? 31% 34% 8% 26% 2%
79. Nature area with an ed-
ucational interpretive
center? 29% 37% 15% 18% 1%
80. Nature trail with explana-
tory sign posts? 33% 41% 11% 14% 1%
81. Are there any other recreational facilities you feel should
be a high priority for development? (IF "YES" , ASK: ) What
are they?
DON'T KNOW, 14%; NONE, 63%; TEEN CENTER, 2%; BIKE TRAILS,
4%; CHILDREN, 2%; NATURE TRAILS, 2%; EXERCISE/HEALTH CLUB,
2% ; SWIMMING POOL, 2%; TENNIS COURTS, 1%; CLEAN UP ORONO
BEACH, 1%; NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, 1%; ICE RINK, 1%; SCATTERED,
4O.
As you may know, the city and School District cooperate to
provide several recreational programs. In the future, as the
• city grows, two options are available: the City could enter into
a joint agreement with the School District or could offer
153
programs on its own.
• 82. Which option would you most pre- JOINT AGREEMENT 61%
fer: a joint agreement with the ON ITS OWN 30%
School District OR offering pro- NEITHER (VOL) 3%
grams on its own? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 6%
83 . Do you agree or disagree with the STRONGLY AGREE 29%
following statement: "A good AGREE 45%
Elk River park and recreation DISAGREE 12%
system will increase the value of STRONGLY DISAGREE 3%
my property. " (WAIT FOR RESPONSE) DON'T KNOW/REFUSED. . . . 11%
and do you feel strongly that way?
Changing topics. . . .
84 . Would you favor or oppose an in- FAVOR 54%
crease in city property taxes if OPPOSE 36%
it were needed to maintain city DON'T KNOW/REFUSED10%
services at their current levels?
85. How would you rate property taxes EXCESSIVELY HIGH 9%
in Elk River in comparison with COMPARATIVELY HIGH. . . .23%
those of other communities: ABOUT AVERAGE 48%
excessively high, comparatively COMPARATIVELY LOW 10%
high, about average, or compara- DON'T KNOW/REFUSED1l%
tively low?
• As you may know, property taxes are divided between the city of
Elk River, Sherburne County, and the local school district.
86. For each dollar of property taxes UNDER TEN PERCENT 15%
you pay, about what percentage do 10% TO 20% 31%
you think goes to city govern- 21% TO 30% 11%
ment? (READ CATEGORIES, IF 31% TO 40% 5%
NEEDED) 41% TO 50% 4%
51% TO 60% 0%
OVER SIXTY PERCENT 1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED. . . .34%
87. During the past few years, has INCREASED 58%
the CITY'S tax rate increased, DECREASED 2%
decreased, or remained about the REMAINED ABOUT SAME. . .24%
same? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED. . . . 16%
88. What is your principal source of information about City
government and its activities?
•
NONE, 1%; LOCAL NEWSPAPER, 59%; "ELK RIVER STAR, " 27%; OTHER
PEOPLE, 10%; TELEVISION, 2%.
.89. Does your household currently YES 24%
receive cable television? NO 76%
• DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 0%
154
IF "YES" IN QUESTION #89, ASK: .
• 90. If City Council Meetings were VERY FREQUENTLY 5%
televised on cable television, how OCCASIONALLY 15%
frequently would you watch these NEVER 4%
broadcasts -- very frequently, DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 1%
occasionally, or never?
91. Do you feel that the city is too TOO TOUGH 3%
tough, about right, or not tough ABOUT RIGHT 59%
enough in enforcing the City Code NOT TOUGH ENOUGH 30%
on such nuisances as animal con- DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 9%
trot, unsightly yards, junk cars,
and noise?
IF "TOO TOUGH" OR "NOT TOUGH ENOUGH" IN QUESTION #91, ASK:
92. Why do you feel that way?
LOOSE ANIMALS, 15%; THREE OR MORE PROBLEMS, 4%; JUNK
CARS, 3%; MESSY YARDS, 6%; EXCESSIVE NOISE, 1%;
SCATTERED, 3%. -
93 . Other than voting, do you feel YES 61%
that if you wanted to, you could NO 32%
have a say about the way the City DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 7%
of Elk River runs things?
• 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?
EXC GOOD FAIR POOR D.K.
94 . Street maintenance? 8% 59% 25% 9% 0%
95 . Snow plowing? 10% 59% 23% 7% 1%
96. Street lighting? 7% 50% 27% 12% 4%
97 . Police Protection? 19% 63% 10% 2% 5%
98. Fire Protection? 19% 62% 8% 0% 11%
99. Sewers and water? 8% 46% 13% 3% 31%
100. City library? 20% 54% 13% 2% 11%
101 . Do you feel that the current five FIVE MEMBER 42%
member City Council satisfac- SEVEN MEMBER 38%
torily represents you, or would INDIFFERENT (VOL) 12%
a seven member Council better DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 8%
0 .
serve you?
155
102 . How much first hand contact have QUITE A LOT 11%
you had with the Elk River City SOME 35%
• staff -- quite a lot, some, or VERY LITTLE 54%
very little? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 0%
103 . From what you have seen or heard, EXCELLENT 8%
how would you rate the job per- GOOD 51%
formance of the City Staff -- ONLY FAIR 27%
excellent, good, only fair, or POOR 5%
poor? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 9%
104 . How much do you feel you know GREAT DEAL 6%
about the work of the mayor and FAIR AMOUNT 47%
city Council -- a great deal, a VERY LITTLE 46%
fair amount, or very little? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2%
105. From what you know, do you ap- STRONGLY APPROVE 10%
prove or disapprove of the job SOMEWHAT APPROVE 66%
the mayor and City Council are SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE10%
doing? (WAIT FOR RESPONSE) STRONGLY DISAPPROVE, . . . 5%
And do you feel strongly that DON'T KNOW/REFUSED10%
way?
The city could undertake an expansion and development of its park
system. Land would be acquired and park facilities would be
constructed across the community. It is estimated that about two
million dollars would be required to complete this first phase of
• parks development. A bond referendum would be required to fund
this project. To cover these costs, the average $80, 000 home in
Elk River would have a property tax increase of about $40. 00 per
year for fifteen years.
106. Would you support or oppose this STRONGLY SUPPORT 14%
bond referendum for parks expan- SUPPORT 35%
sion and development? (WAIT FOR OPPOSE 15%
RESPONSE) And do you feel strong- STRONGLY OPPOSE 14%
ly that way? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED22%
IF POSITION IS GIVEN IN QUESTION #106, ASK:
107 . Why do you feel that way?
DON'T KNOW, 9%; GOOD FOR CITY, 15%; COST/TAXES, 14%;
LOW PRIORITY, 2%; DEPENDS ON SPECIFIC PROPOSAL, 3%; NOT
NEEDED, 11%; GOOD FOR CHILDREN, 5%; NEEDED, 17%;
SCATTERED, 2%.
108 . Would you favor or oppose a city FAVOR/YES 36%
program to acquire land along the FAVOR/NO 11%
Mississippi River for development FAVOR/UNSURE 18$
as parks? (IF "YES", ASK: ) Would OPPOSE 27%
you still favor it if a property DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 9%
tax increase were required to fund
• the program?
156
109. How serious do you feel the prob- VERY SERIOUS 14%
• lem of geese in Lion's Park is SOMEWHAT SERIOUS 17%
very serious, somewhat serf- MINOR PROBLEM 21%
ous, a minor nuisance, or not a NOT A PROBLEM 34%
problem at all? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED14%
There has also been some discussion about a new Community Center
complex.
110. If a Community Center were constructed, what facilities do
you feel is important to include?
DON'T KNOW, 38%; NONE, 14%; TEEN CENTER, 11%; SENIOR CENTER,
7%; GYM/SPORTS, 7%; RACQUETBALL COURTS, 3%; ICE RINK, 1%;
COMMUNITY ROOM, 7%; THEATRE, 2%; CLASSROOMS, 2%; CITY
OFFICES, 2%; SWIMMING POOL, 4%; TENNIS COURTS, 1%;
SCATTERED, 4%.
I would like to read you a list of facilities that could be
included in a community center. For each one, please tell me if
you would strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or
strongly oppose its inclusion in a community center._
STR SMW SMW STR D.K.
FAV FAV OPP OPP REF.
111. An indoor ice skating rink? 10% 37% 30% 20% 3%
• 112 . An indoor swimming pool? 16% 36% 23% 23% 3%
113 . An exercise and fitness room? 23% 43% 14% 14% 5%
114 . A gymnasium? 21% 39% 20% 17% 3%
115. Racquetball courts? 14% 39% 21% 18% 8%
116. Large community room for
banquets, parties, meetings,
and other rental purposes? 30% 46% 9% 12% 4%
117 . Group meeting rooms? 26% 48% 12% 11% 3%
118 . A teen center? 44% 37% 7% 9% 4%
119 . A senior citizens center? 39% 38% 11% 9% 4%
120. An indoor running/walking
facility? 24% 41% 19% 14% 3%
121. A community theatre 15% 40% 24% 17% 4%
122 . A nursery school/day care
facility? 17% 35% 23% 21% 5%
123 . An arts and crafts room for
instructional programs and
classes? 19% 41% 21% 16% 4%
124 . An aerobics and dance room? 14% 38% 27% 17% 4%.
I would like to briefly re-read that list of potential facilities
for a community center. (READ LIST BELOW)
125. Please tell me which ONE you most strongly favor for
• inclusion?
• 126. Which facility do you consider second in importance?
127. Is there a facility that you would PARTICULARLY oppose
including in a center?
157
MOST SEC OPP
4 An indoor ice skating rink? 5% 5% 8%
An indoor swimming pool? 5% 6% 6%
An exercise and fitness room? 6% 4% 2%
Racquetball courts? 4% 3% 5%
Group meeting rooms? 6% 6% 2%
An arts and crafts room? 2% 7% 3%
A gymnasium? 5% 5% 3%
A senior citizens drop-in center? 11% 12% 3%
An aerobics and dance room? 1% 2% 6%
An indoor running/walking facility? 6% ' 4% 4%
Large community room? 7% 7% 3%
A community theatre? 3% 4% 4%
A teen center? 21% 13% 2%
A Day care/nursery school facility? 4% 4% •5%
All equally 4% 5% • 9%
None 7% 9% 23%
Don't Know/Refused 5% 6% 14%
128 . Would you favor or oppose the STRONGLY FAVOR 23%
construction of a Community FAVOR 51%
Center in Elk River? (WAIT OPPOSE 12%
FOR RESPONSE) And do you feel STRONGLY OPPOSE 6%
strongly that way? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 8%
• A bond referendum would be required to pay for its construction
and partial operating costs, User fees would also underwrite the
operation of the community center to some extent.
129. How much would you be willing to NOTHING 23%
pay in additional property taxes $25 26%
to support the construction and $50 19%
partial operation of an Elk River $75 7%
Community Center? (START WITH A $100 5%
RANDOMLY SELECTED CHOICE FROM #1 $125 2%
TO #8) Let's say, would you be $150 1%
willing to pay $ per year? $175 1%
(MOVE TO NEXT CHOICE UP OR DOWN DON'T KNOW/REFUSED. . . . 17%
DEPENDING ON ANSWER. )
The City currently has saved funds for the construction of a new
City Hall. If a community center were built. . . .
130. Would you favor or oppose attach- FAVOR 58%
ing the new City Hall to the OPPOSE 22%
Community Center and combining DON'T CARE (VOL) 12%
the construction of both facil- DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 8%
ities?
Based on our previous discussion of the facilities which could be
• offered in the center, please tell me how many members of this
household would probably. . . .
158
131. Visit the Community Center on a 0, 41%; 1,16%; 2, 23%;
frequent, at least weekly, basis? 3, 10%; 4 , 7%; 5, 3%.
• 132 . Visit the Community Center on a 0,45%; 1,26%; 2 , 21%;
occasional, perhaps monthly, basis? 3, 5%; 4 , 3%; 5, 1%.
If a community center were built, the City would have two choices
on charging user fees. First, the City could subsidize the
operation of the center through general tax revenue and keep user
fees low. Or, second, the City could require the facility to be
self-sufficient, requiring much higher user fees.
133 . Which course of action would you SUBSIDIZE 44%
favor -- should the City subsi- DON'T SUBSIDIZE 49%
dine operating costs through gen- DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 8%
eral tax revenues or not?
134 . Would the charge of a moderate YES 14%
fee for a daily pass to use NO 58%
facilities, such as an ice arena, DEPENDS ON FEE 25%
swimming pool, and arts and DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 3%
crafts rooms, significantly de-
crease your use of those facil-
ities, or not?
The City might also offer household memberships to recreational
facility users. Members would have unlimited access to all
facilities.
135. How much would you be willing to NOTHING 22%
pay yearly for a family member- $50 22%
ship? Let's say, would you be $100 23%
willing to pay $ ? (DEPEND- $150 11%
ING ON RESPONSE, CHOOSE THE NEXT $200 4%
HIGHER OR LOWER CATEGORY. ) How $250 1%
about $ ? $300 2%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED. . . . 16%
It might be helpful to discuss comparable fees. The family
membership at the YMCA costs $620 yearly, while U.S. Swim and
Fitness membership costs $328. Cities tend to charge less. Eden
Prairie charges its families $150 yearly while Brooklyn Center
yearly family membership fees are $228.
136 . Would you pay $150. 00 for a one YES 44%
year household membership to the NO 42%
Elk River Community Center? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED14% .
Let's talk about recycling for a moment. . . .
137. Do you currently separate recy- YES 53%
clable materials from the rest NO 45%
•
of your garbage? DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2%
•
159
138 . If drop-off points were estab- VERY LIKELY 52%
lished instead, how likely would SOMEWHAT LIKELY 34%
• you be to take your recyclables NOT AT ALL LIKELY 12%
to these sites -- very likely, DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2%
somewhat likely, or not at all
likely?
139. If the City were to pick-up separ- VERY LIKELY 69%
ated recyclables, how likely would SOMEWHAT LIKELY 24%
you be to participate in that pro- NOT AT ALL LIKELY 5%
gram very likely, somewhat DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 3%
likely, or not at all likely?
To encourage recycling, a proposal has been made to base garbage
hauling charges on the volume of trash a household generates.
Households which recycled would pay less than similar households
which do not.
140. Would you favor or oppose this FAVOR 86%
approach? OPPOSE 8%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 6%
Another proposal would be the passage of a mandatory- recycling
ordinance. Residents who did not separate recyclables from their
trash would be liable for fines.
141. Would you favor or oppose this FAVOR 52%
approach? OPPOSE 39%
• DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 9%
As you may know, many refuse haulers serve Elk River. This
arrangement has permitted citizens to choose their own haulers
and contract directly with them. But it has also created
significant overlap between the haulers and increased noise and
congestion on city streets. If the city were to designate
haulers, it is estimated that hauling charges would decline ten
to fifteen percent on the average.
142 . Of the following three proposals, PROPOSAL A 15%
which do you most favor: PROPOSAL B 52%
A. The City designates one hauler PROPOSAL C 26%
to serve the entire city; DON'T CARE (VOL) 5%
B. The City designates a group of DON'T KNOW/REFUSED 2%
haulers, each serving one area
of Elk River exclusively;
C. The present system.
Now, just a few more questions for demographic purposes. . . .
Could you tell me how many people in each of the following age
groups live in your household. Let's start oldest to
youngest. . . .
143. Persons over 65? 0,86%; 1, 9%; 2, 5%
160
.
144 . Adults over 18, including
yourself? 0, 10%; 1, 10%; 2, 67%; 3+, 13%
145. High school aged? 0, 87%; 1, 11% ; 2, 2%
146. Junior high aged children? 0, 89%; 1, 9%; 2, 2%
147 . Elementary school children? 0, 68%; 1,17%; 2, 14%; 3, 1%
148 . Pre-schoolers? 0, 77%; 1, 17%; 2, 4%; 3, 2%
149 . Which of the following best des- SINGLE FAMILY DWELL. . . 82%
cribes your current residence? DUPLEX 2%
(READ OPTIONS #1 - #7) APARTMENT 13%
CONDOMINIUM IN
OTHER: MULTIPLE HOUSEHOLD
BUILDING 1%
TOWNHOUSE 2%
MOBILE HOME 2%
OTHER 0%
REFUSED 0%
150. Do you own or rent your present OWN 82%
residence? RENT 18%
REFUSED 0%
151. What is your occupation, please?
410 PROFESSIONAL-TECHNICAL, 17%; OWNER-MANAGER, 16%; CLERICAL-
SALES, 13% ; BLUE COLLAR, 24%; RETIRED, 14%; SCATTERED, 14%;
REFUSED, 1% .
152 . What is the occupation of your spouse, if applicable?
PROFESSIONAL-TECHNICAL, 13%; OWNER-MANAGER, 15%; CLERICAL-
SALES, 11%; BLUE COLLAR, 23%; RETIRED, 8%; SCATTERED, 10%;
NOT APPLICABLE, 21%.
153 . In what city do you work?
ELK RIVER, 33%; MINNEAPOLIS, 6%; BP-BC-MG, 5%; P-C-NH, 5%;
ANOKA COUNTY, 9%; WRIGHT COUNTY, 2%; SHERBURNE COUNTY, 2% ;
RAMSEY COUNTY, 2%; SOUTH HENNEPIN, 4%; NOT APPLICABLE, 24%;
SAINT PAUL, 2%; SCATTERED, 9%.
154 . How about your spouse?
ELK RIVER, 22%; MINNEAPOLIS, 6%; BP-BC-MG, 5%; P-C-NH, 8%;
ANOKA COUNTY, 7%; WRIGHT COUNTY, 2%; SHERBURNE COUNTY, 1%;
RAMSEY COUNTY, 2%; SOUTH HENNEPIN, 4%; NOT APPLICABLE, 37%;
SAINT PAUL, 1%; SCATTERED, 7%.
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155. About how long does it usually LESS THAN FIVE 15%
take you to commute to work -- 5 - 15 MINUTES 14%
less than five minutes, five to 15 - 30 MINUTES 22%
fifteen minutes, fifteen to 30 - 60 MINUTES 21%
thirty minutes, thirty minutes OVER 60 MINUTES 3%
to one hour, over one hour? NOT APPLICABLE 25%
156. If it is applicable to you, would YES 24%
you be willing to work at a simi- NO 26%
lar job in Elk River for ten per- DEPENDS 6%
cent less salary to avoid your DON'T KNOW/REFUSED. . . . 19%
commute to work? NOT APPLICABLE 25%
157. What is your age, please? 18 - 24 6%
25 34 29%
35 - 44 29%
45 - 54 15%
55 - 64 8$
65 AND OVER 12%
158. What is the last grade of LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL. . 8%
education you completed? HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE35%
VO-TECH SCHOOL 10%
SOME COLLEGE 21%
COLLEGE GRADUATE 21%
POST-GRADUATE 6%
0 159. Which of the following categories BELOW $12,500 3%
includes your 2.989 total pre-tax $12, 501-$25,000 25%
household income. Please stop me $25, 001-$37, 500 27%
when I read the right one. $37, 501-$50, 000 18%
OVER $50, 000 16%
REFUSED 21%
160. Gender of respondent. MALE 48%
(DO NOT ASK. ) FEMALE 52%
Thanks very much for your time. Good-bye.
161. Zone. ONE 26%
TWO 31%
THREE 24%
FOUR 19%
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