Survey forms are available at City Hall Annex, 230 Davidson Ave., and at http://www.ci.woodland.wa.us/Forms&Maps
/2010_survey.pdf.
WOODLAND — “So, what do you think?”
That’s what Woodland officials are asking city residents.
The city enclosed 1,700 survey forms in its monthly utility bills. Some of the 32 questions address quality-of-life topics such as parks and neighborhoods, while others ask about nuts-and-bolts city services such as streets, sidewalks and utilities.
There’s also a bottom-line question: “Do you feel you are getting value for your tax dollar?”
Woodland Mayor Chuck Blum said he hopes the survey will provide some valuable feedback.
“This is a fact-finding thing,” Blum said. “We’re in our budget season now, which is why we’re doing this.”
The survey might help city leaders make decisions on recreational areas, Blum said.
“The city has one major park, Horseshoe Lake Park,” Blum said.
In addition to providing more park space, Blum said he has heard from people who’d like to see walking and cycling trails — particularly along some of the city’s lakefront and riverfront areas.
Building, developing and maintaining those civic amenities would all have budget implications.
Blum also hopes the survey will provide a way to expand civic involvement.
“One problem in this city is communication,” Blum said. “No publication covers us on a daily basis.”
The city would like the surveys returned by Sept. 30, said Mari Ripp, clerk-treasurer.
Woodland’s survey was inspired by a questionnaire that’s already been used in at least two other Washington cities. City Councilman Benjamin Fredricks said he came across a survey used by Prosser, in Benton County. Both cities have populations of about 5,200.
“I started to look at other cities of similar size,” Fredricks said. “What are they doing to engage their citizens?”
After seeing the Prosser survey, Fredricks said he recommended it to his Woodland city council colleagues.
Prosser, meanwhile, borrowed the concept from Bellevue, near Seattle.
“It’s a very useful tool,” said Charlie Bush, Prosser city administrator who used to work in Bellevue.
“Bellevue has done them for at least 10 years. When I came here, it was one of the first things I wanted to implement,” Bush said.
Prosser has done two surveys, and the results have helped shape some decisions. When residents were asked about curbside recycling, 80 percent said they wanted it — but most weren’t willing to pay more than $1 a month for it.
It would cost $4 a month, Bush said, but 76 percent of the respondents said they already used drop-off sites for their recyclables, so the city council decided to provide more drop-off options.
Prosser officials were told the city was short on recreational services.
“We don’t have much money, but we looked at a new model: We went out and found a partner, and today we’re having a ribbon-cutting on a new Boys & Girls Club,” Bush said last week.
When people said they wanted better response on neighborhood complaints such as nuisance properties, Prosser officials shifted some staffing. The employee charged with code enforcement had also been the city’s animal-control officer.
“Because of neighborhood property problems, he spends more time with code enforcement, and we contracted with other providers for animal control,” Bush said.
“The first survey is interesting, but with the second survey, you (begin to) get trend lines,” Bush said.
The survey includes an optional spot for additional comments. Woodland officials can expect to see quite a range of feedback, if Prosser was any indication.
“In the first year, there was somewhat of a venting process, and that’s OK. We all have residents who are very vocal,” the Prosser city administrator said. “Some trends even came out of the comments, and we’ve had conversations with our folks: ‘Do you know what they’re talking about?’”
Woodland spent about $600 on the survey. City leaders said they hope the feedback will help establish some priorities.
“We have a tight budget,” councilman Fredricks said. “But how do you drive some of those decisions if you don’t know where you stand? Until we find out, we don’t really know.”
