4/15/12
Shorewood conducted a community survey and unveiled the results at the first council meeting in February. The response rate to the survey was excellent and the results, according to the professional survey group that conducted it, were statistically valid. The City spent about $20,000 for the survey and its professional analysis. Blog readers can see the survey summary and detail at: http://ci.shorewood.mn.us/pages/govt/survey.html
Ever since Mayor Lizee took office in 2007, she's been beating the drum to have a survey, over the years citing need for community input on a number of potential initiatives. There was a false start on a survey two years ago and now a real and valid one is complete. So, where is the action plan from Lizee and her council buddies?
There have been joint council meetings about the survey with the Planning and Parks Commissions, but no direction to them to take any action to see how the survey might affect their current or future plans and no council mandate for the commissions to report back with findings. The council itself has not met to discuss what the survey results mean with the intent of developing any thoughtful action plan.
Where is Lizee's leadership? As it stands now, the survey seems to be destined to become another piece of expensive bookshelf lining.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Mayor Lizee and the Councilmembers have an opportunity make something out their Brian Heck fiasco. Namely, they should either eliminate the position of City Administrator or fill it internally and eliminate another position. Especially in these austere times where planning and other activities have fallen off, the City should be looking to cut back. Brad Neilsen is capable of being a fine City Administrator.
ReplyDeleteDoes Mr. Neilson have the educational and professional background for the position?
ReplyDeleteComments previously made about a small group of dissenters complaining? - when 47% of the people surveyed rated "elected officials consider what we think" as fair/poor--obviously it's more than a small group of dissenters.
ReplyDelete