HomeMy WebLinkAboutConsideration of Reinstating the Statistically Valid Survey in Recreation and Aquatics StudyCommission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Chuck Winn, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Statistically Valid Survey Component of the 2012 Recreation/Aquatics
Facility Feasibility Study.
MEETING DATE: April 2, 2012
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Action
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the re-inclusion of the Statistically Valid Survey (SVS) in
the 2012 Recreation/Aquatics Facility Feasibility Study.
RECOMMEDED MOTION: I move to approve the re-inclusion of the Statistically Valid
Survey within the previously approved Recreation/Aquatics Facility Feasibility Study for a cost
not to exceed $10,000.
BACKGROUND: On January 23, 2012, the Commission authorized the City Manager to sign
a contract with Comma-Q Architects to conduct a Recreation/Aquatics Facility Study for the
City. During the deliberation, members of the Commission asked questions relating to the
inclusion of the SVS within the larger study. At that time the Commission approved the study
contingent upon the removal of the survey. Since the meeting, staff has moved ahead with the
study as approved by the Commission.
Several of the Commission’s questions remained unanswered after the meeting and on February
27, I sent the attached memorandum from Barker/Seacat/Rinker. This memo outlines the
reasons the SVS was included in the original scope of work and what specific information the
survey was intended to collect and add to the greater feasibility study.
Since the initial planning stages of the feasibility study, the YMCA has proactively participated
and sought opportunities to partner with the City. To that effort they have raised private funds -
approximately $8,000 - to fund their participation. As we are waiting on the completion of the
study to identify potential partners, it may be inappropriate for the City to presuppose those
relationships and move in any one direction that might possibly exclude others. The YMCA
understands this and had proposed using their funds to help develop and expand the scope of the
SVS beyond the City's service area to include their service area. The removal of the SVS from
the feasibility study has eliminated that avenue of participation. After continued discussion with
the consultants and the YMCA, we believe the information anticipated to be gained through the
SVS will add greatly to the validity and comprehensiveness of the feasibility study and ask the
Commission for the authority to add it back into the authorized scope of work.
97
FISCAL EFFECTS: The cost of the SVS was $10,000 and included the creation of the survey
tool, development of the sampling database, conducting the survey itself, and the compilation of
the results in coordination with the rest of the study. The approved contract was reduced by that
amount when the survey was removed. It is anticipated that participation by the YMCA will
reduce the City’s price as the survey expenses will be shared. Actual costs have not been
determined but we expect including the YMCA in this way will reduce the cost to city by
approximately $2,500.
ALTERNATIVES: Continue with the feasibility study without the survey.
Attachments:
Memo from Barker/Seacat/Rinker
Report compiled on: March 24, 2012
98
3457 Ringsby Court, Unit 200
Denver, Colorado 80216
3034551366 Fax 3034557457
Toll Free 8666461980
www.brsarch.com
Chuck Winn
Assistant City Manager
City of Bozeman, Montana
cwinn@bozeman.net
February 17, 2012
RE: Statistically Valid Survey for Recreation / Aquatics Facilities Feasibility Study
Dear Chuck:
We understand that there has been some concern as to the usefulness and value of including a
statistically valid survey in the proposed Recreation / Aquatics Facilities Feasibility Study scope of
work.
I am writing to add to this discussion and provide additional rationale for your consideration.
Our primary purpose for utilizing a statistically valid survey is to gather information from a true cross
section of Bozeman citizens. The community participation plan we have proposed includes several
methods for citizen input in addition to the survey, including focus group meetings, community
meetings and commission presentations. These gatherings are essential methods of outreach and
input however we cannot guarantee that the participants will represent the entire community. A
statistically valid survey captures the voices of those who don’t normally participate in group
meetings or cannot attend due to scheduling conflicts.
Timing is important. A statistically valid survey, undertaken early in the study provides the following
benefits:
· Contributes to the programming process – determining, validating and prioritizing key
program options.
· Gives verifiable data the City leaders can use to make decisions independent of specific user
groups or special interest influences.
· Provides capital and operational funding tolerance data which helps shape the overall project
scope and operational proforma.
· Validates empirical findings and opinions of City officials and the Design Professionals.
· Gives a ‘defensible’ framework to evaluate special interest group requests and data.
· Provides independent results. The survey questions will be developed with the City but the
survey company ensures the objectivity and statistical validity of the data.
· Contributes statistically valid, community-wide market data to public / private partnerships
discussions - improving potential alignment of public and private interests.
99
3457 Ringsby Court, Unit 200
Denver, Colorado 80216
3034551366 Fax 3034557457
Toll Free 8666461980
www.brsarch.com
With or without the survey, we will collect as much input as possible and we will refine this
information with our past experience and industry best practices. The risk for the City and the
process is that the outcomes are assailable. Also, the really hard decisions are always easier to make
if leaders know where the majority of the citizens stand on issues. Is this project essential? What are
the highest priorities? How much will you pay? What is an acceptable subsidy level? Since this could
lead to a serious commitment of community resources, not having this information could impede
leaders from making strong representative decisions.
Please let me know if we can be of further assistance on this issue.
Sincerely,
Craig Bouck
100