07-09-1984 SpecialRICHFIELD CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
JULY 9, 1984
Council Mern'Uers Present: Hamilton, Kirsch, Priebe and Bunce.
Council Members Absent: Ludeman
Staff Present: Cartwright, Rankin, Morgan,
Others Present: Mark Johnson, Richfield Sun Newspaper
Mayor Hamilton called the meeting to order at 5:25 P.M. He
said the said the purpose of the Special Meeting is to meet with
Bob Nelson of the Richfield School District, who will be
providing the City with assistance in conducting a Community
Opinion Survey.
Bob Nelson introduced the format of the Community Opinion
Survey being proposed for Richfield. He said plans were to
conduct a random sampling of approximately 1,000 residents of
Richfield on issues identified by the City Council. He said he
had previously met with city staff members and representatives of
the city advisory boards and commissions in order to identify
issues that those groups were interested in having included in
in the survey.
Discussion followed among Council members, the City Manager
and ~Qr. Nelson concerning the format of the survey, its tuning
and efforts that would be made to solicit a large response from
those people being surveyed Mr. Nelson said the proposed
schedule called for the Bevelopment of the survey during July
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July 9, 1984
and August, with a semifinal draft to be prepared by late August
or early September for Cty Council review. He indicated plans
were for the survey to be made final by late September for
mailing out to residents.
City Council members discussed the various issues which they
believed might be appropriate to be included in the survey,
including the following items:
1. Length of the term for the office of Mayor.
2. Whether people would be willing to pay extra for a back-
yard clean-up effort in Richfield.
3. Whether people would support a large scale recycling
program.
4. -~lhether people think the Council is attuned to the needs
and desires of the community.
5. People's opinion of programs and housing
opportunities for older vs. younger people in Richfield.
6. Whether people would support the redevelopment of 76th
and Lyndale, both and Penn, and 66th between Portland
and Cedar.
7. What type of commerce and services are desired by
people .
8. To list options for people to choose from concerning the
types of redevelopment (fine restaurant, movie theater,
quality specialty shops, etc.) they would like in
Richfield.
9. Is the ward system working effectively in Richfield?
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10. The extent of development desired for the Legion Lake
area.
11. Whether people are aware of the amount of property taxes
which go to pay for City services.
12. Property tax level vs. the level of servicz provided and
the related trade-offs.
Discussion followed concerning these issues. It was noted
that Council members could contact Mr. Nelson subsequent to this
meeting as other ideas might occur to them regarding potential
topics to be included in the survey.
Mr. Nelson then listed the key issues which had been
identified by the staff and advisory boards and commissions, and
conducted a round of priority voting by the City Council to
determine which subject areas they believed to be most important
to be included in the survey. The listing of topics and the
point totals are as follows:
Topic Points Total Score
.1. Richfield's appearance 5 5
2. Planning 1,3 4
3. Programs for children,
families, elderly &
handicapped 1 1
4. Housing 3,5 8
5. Major improvements 3,4,1 8
6. Code enforcement,
regulations 2,2 4
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?. City staff 0 0
8. Service vs. cost 4,4,2 10
g. Public Safety 5,1 n
10. Commercial areas 3,5 8
11. Performance of Mayor,
• Council 4•,2 6
Mr. 1Velson said he would take this information back and begin
developing preliminary questions for inclusion in. the survey
He said he would contact Council members, commission members and
staff as necessary to better identify and refine the topic areas
to be covered in the survey.
The special meeting of the City Council was adjourned at
6:30 P.M.
Date Approved:
Ronald Rankin Acting Clerk
Mayor
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ity Manager