Agenda Item Wording:
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Receive a presentation and approve the revised proposed 2023 Citizens Advisory Committee Annual Public Opinion Survey.
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Deadline for Action: None
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Frank Ruiz, CAC Chair, frankruizlaw@gmail.com, (909) 215-8306
Jason Serpa, Staff Representative, jason.serpa@visalia.city, 713-4533
Luma Fahoum, Staff Representative, luma.fahoum@visalia.city, 713-4103
Department Recommendation:
The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) recommends that the City Council review and approve this year’s public opinion survey for a scheduled release in March, with discussion and input on new questions to be included. The CAC previously brough a draft survey to the Council for input and based on that input, this revised draft is being proposed by the CAC and staff.
Background Discussion:
Since the 1970’s, the City of Visalia has conducted some type of public opinion survey to gauge the public satisfaction with City services. The survey has been conducted in various formats through the years, including in-person surveys and online. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) is proposing to conduct a public opinion survey to determine the public’s satisfaction with City services and is bringing forward the draft version for Council approval.
Most of the survey remains unchanged from year to year to better measure trends and changes in public opinion. This is consistent with survey methodology. However, each year the CAC and/or the City Council have the option to insert one to three new questions related to issues currently of particular interest or concern. City Council is also able to recommend changes to format or make suggestions for a new question to be added.
The CAC Committee is open to discussing format changes, gathering input from Council regarding new questions, and is looking for overall improvements that can help garner participation from a wider range of the community.
Council proposed changes to regular survey format:
At the January 17, 2023 City Council meeting, Council requested two format changes to the regular survey format and those changes have been incorporated. These changes are:
Question #7: How do you rate the following services in Visalia?
Historically, Private Ambulance was listed for a selective rating of “Very Poor” to “Excellent,” but Council felt that Animal Services, being a City-provided service, should be listed instead and Private Ambulance service eliminated since it is not a City service.
Question #16: Do you identify yourself as a person with a disability or a caretaker of a disabled individual?
This question was included in last year’s survey, but Council suggested to add a follow up question to help gather more specific information. The follow up will require an open-ended fill in answer and is represented in the survey as the following:
If you answered “Yes”, what program or service would be most helpful for disabled individuals?
Proposed New Topics after initial input from Council and staff:
After consideration of input from City Council regarding new topics discussed at the January 17, 2023 Council Meeting, staff has formulated the following questions to add to the survey:
1. Should retail cannabis stores be permitted in the City of Visalia?
Yes No
2. What additional amenities, programs, or services should the City of Visalia explore providing?
Open ended answers
Even though new questions are not a requirement for the survey, historically Council has inserted at least one question of interest for possible future decision making. The CAC Committee and staff believe that these questions, when cross tabulated with other demographics, may prove useful. It must be mentioned that any result, even demographics themselves, can be cross tabulated with any demographic within the survey and staff is willing to calculate these types of results at City Council’s request.
Outreach:
Since 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19, the Public Opinion Survey has primarily been conducted online with a heavier outreach plan from the City’s Communications Manager, Allison Mackey. Hard copies were available at both City Hall locations and the Administration building, and even though the survey experienced the most participation ever during these periods, the CAC strives for more respondents every year. Using various e-mail lists like the City’s newsletter and the Visalia Unified School District listing, adding that type of outreach to all media that is used already, every Citizen should be able to access the survey.
The survey will be handled similarly this year, with links being sent in both English and Spanish in all communication. To try to get more participation, especially reaching under-surveyed populations like 55 and over, the committee will be trying to reinstate in-person survey booths that have physical and touchless survey options. Trying to reach each quadrant in the City in this manner will hopefully have an impact that may give the survey new depth in statistics.
After the survey is conducted, staff will bring the survey results back to Council for review.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Prior Council Action:
Council has annually reviewed and approved the final version of the Public Opinion Survey to be conducted by the Citizen’s Advisory Committee.
Other:
The CAC reviewed the staff recommended revisions to the survey, as developed by their subcommittee, and approved the proposed recommendations at their February 1, 2023 meeting.
Alternatives:
Council may direct the CAC to develop new questions, add Council recommendations, or modify the survey.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve the Citizen’s Advisory Committee’s 2023 Public Opinion Survey, which will be released online in March 2023.
Alternative Motion A: I move to approve the Citizen’s Advisory Committee’s 2023 Public Opinion Survey with modifications.
Alternative Motion B: I move to approve the Citizens Advisory Committee 2023 traditional Public Opinion Survey format as presented and direct staff to develop wording new questions on the topics of (name topics) and return to Council for discussion and/or approval at the next meeting.
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Environmental Assessment Status:
N/A
CEQA Review:
N/A
Attachments:
Draft 2023 Public Opinion Survey
Draft 2023 CAC and Staff Recommended New Questions