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Surveys to help build goals

By NATHAN BRUTTELL
Today's News-Herald
Published Tuesday, December 8, 2009 7:07 AM MST

The City Council will listen to the loudest community response for the next 10 years during a work session today.

The Community Investment Advisory Committee will present results to its community survey, in which more than 500 residents weighed in on the future of development and planning in the city. The CIAC group compiled online and written responses from private citizens and more than 16 different community organizations to report to the council. Highlights of the survey included a negative response to building a new casino (57 percent against), support for bringing in larger businesses (90 percent) and positions on the English Village, business, tourism, parks and public safety.

CIAC Chairman Don Bergen said, after reviewing the results, he was surprised to see the responses to a possible casino.

“That was very strongly defeated. I think that was the highest percentage of plus or minus,” he said. “I’ve heard this from the public a lot over the last 20 years, that we’ve got a bunch of professional casinos in Laughlin, Parker and across the lake. People think that’s close enough I guess, but it surprised me anyway.”

Partnership for Economic Development President/CEO Gary Kellogg, who met with CIAC to help develop the survey, said he was not surprised with 80 percent of the community favoring expansion of the Agave Business Park.

“This town has always been very supportive of that, from the city to individuals to funding on the private sector. We’ve always had great support,” he said. “We’re currently interviewing four different firms and all are at different points in the interview process, but we’re making definite progress on it. We know it’s something people are looking for.”

The 555 responses will be a large enough sample size to represent the community, CIAC staff liaison Gayle Whittle said.

“I think it’s a good sample size because it represents a lot of different perspectives in the community,” she said. “We had responses from people who work here, people in the community and retirees. I think it will be a fair representation of the community as a whole.”

Whittle said she learned a great deal from the community.

“Originally the intent of this survey, when we first set up the committee, was to develop an infrastructure plan,” she said. “One thing I noticed here, because of the current economic climate, I think the community realizes we’re dependent on tourism now. We received lots of comments and ideas on how to bolster tourism. I think people understand it’s not something that the city can build with bricks and mortar, but programs they can develop.”

Whittle said the responses will be used in determining a 10-year capital improvement plan for various city staff.

“Now that staff will know what the community wants, we’ll all be able to develop those plans with specific goals that people are looking for,” she said. “It will give us a chance to look for that funding and get these things built to improve the city.”

The work session begins at 5 p.m.

You may contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com.

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Comments (12 comment(s))

MN wrote on Dec 14, 2009 1:35 AM:

" It is time for a casino in LH! A MN Senator stepped down from his position, to work full time on obtaining one for MN. The Indians at Mystic Lake(MN) EACH take home thousands of dollars every month. Where is our cut from their fortune? In the hole! Don't get me wrong, I like Indians, I am just wondering how long we have to feel guilty and keep paying them. EACH child and adult, has so much money, they don't even know how to spend all of it. I have seen them at the MOA; they look dazed! I looked at a used truck once at a car lot..was told an Indian bought it, decided after a month, they didn't like the color..so they traded it in. Our city could be using that revenue! jobs, jobs, jobs!!!There is enough spending at casinos to support the Indians and US! THINK ABOUT IT.. "

mogas wrote on Dec 11, 2009 5:50 PM:

" Actually most people here did not know that the city posted this survey on it's web site.. Did the city advertise anywhere that it had posted such a survey and request responses? Also, I mean come on city Counsel and mayor...You don't need a survey if you were in-touch with the needs of the people that elected you..Here is a hint.. To prioritize the needs of the people, the number one priority would be STABLE, decent paying JOBS! We depend on the city leaders to do what ever is needed to bring in these kind of JOBS..What ever happened to the college that wanted to come here? You have any idea what that would do for the real estate sales and rentals here? Colleges pay very well and need a host of people to keep them running and in good repair..How did you lose that? "

tomgarven wrote on Dec 11, 2009 12:33 PM:

" O.K. I can take a hint, LOL.

But if you really want to see some longs posts go look at Nathans other story "Citizens Can Voice Business Preferences". I have posted a small book about how we might start getting our community back to work.

Of course if you really want me to post less I guess I could just go back to work but I haven't been able to find a job yet :-(

Tom G. "

BrightOne wrote on Dec 11, 2009 9:16 AM:

" Mr. Havasu: I think Tom just gave Dria a heart attack, due to his continuance of long winded posts. Anyone know CPR? "

resident wrote on Dec 11, 2009 8:26 AM:

" "Don Bergen said, after reviewing the results, he was surprised to see the responses to a possible casino." I guess we know where the chairman stands - he wants a casino.

To be clear, yes, people do NOT want a casino in lhc. "

Mr. Havasu wrote on Dec 8, 2009 6:53 PM:

" tomgarven; I agree, you have rattled on long enough! "

! wrote on Dec 8, 2009 4:52 PM:

" If you didn't read the article in the paper, you should go to the city website and read the agendas and minutes or attend the meetings. Or you could have heard about the survey on Speak Out, the local talk show, they had discussed the survey. "

tomgarven wrote on Dec 8, 2009 12:52 PM:

" posted by tomgarven@hotmail.com

I totally agree Arliss. While 555 responses might be considered quite a few for some planning activities, I would recommend a larger sampling considering the importance of this survey. We are talking the planning of 10 years of capital improvement projects. We need to get this right.

For example; how many of the survey's were completed by homeowners? How many were completed by business owners? How many were completed by Seniors and how many by individuals at their place of work. How many teachers, doctors, hotel workers, boat builders, city and Walmart and K-Mart employees responded? What affect did the survey results from the 16 different community organizations have and how was that data weighted [if any] against say the general population? How many different types of businesses were recommended and what was the percentage of each?

I don't know about everyone else, but the only way I found out about the survey was by a small article here in the News-Herald. If I didn't frequently visit this site or subscribe to the paper I would have never known about the survey.

If we are going to use the results of this survey for capital improvement planning for the next 10 years, then how about also surveying some of our high school students? Those capital improvements are certainly going to affect their quality of life and maybe even affect their decision to either stay or leave the community.

Also maybe we should mail out about a 100 survey forms to individuals in each one of our different zip codes. Certainly we can afford about 400 stamps and some paper. We might get some very interesting data back by city zip code unless that information is already available.

So as a retired quality engineer who frequently worked with statistical data I recommend we do just a little bit more before we start doing our 10 year plan. If the school results, zip code results, or whatever other sampling technique we use gives us the same general results then we will know that we are on the right track. But to risk the future of our city on such a small sampling is a risk I would not like not to take LOL.

In closing I think there are more surprises out there just waiting to be discovered if someone just asks. Anyway I have rattled on long enough.

That's my opinion - what's yours? "

! wrote on Dec 8, 2009 10:46 AM:

" It was available on the city website for whomever wanted to participate. There was an article havasunews.com/articles/2009/10/02/news/doc4ac6d1104f28c978247120.txt

I guess you didn't read it. "

hotnhavasu wrote on Dec 8, 2009 8:49 AM:

" Why didn't I hear about this we all should've had a voice ... And why didn't the school bond pass its not a good idea to close schools "

carriem29 wrote on Dec 8, 2009 8:34 AM:

" Arliss, I agree. 500 people doesnt even account for 1% of the population. I think that they should have surveyed at least half of the population to get a fair count. I dont oppose a casino, Im sure there are a lot of others who wouldnt as well. How did they choose these 500 people? Friends of the council members? Hmmm.... "

Arliss wrote on Dec 8, 2009 7:39 AM:

" This survey should have been sent to EVERY resident! "

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