Resident survey deadline extended

 

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

 

A slow start to the Key West citizens’ survey sent out by city officials in February has prompted an extension to the submission deadline.

 

Assistant City Manager Sarah Hannah-Spurlock said that of the 1,200 surveys send to random citizens, 349 responses had been received as of the unofficial cut-off date of April 8. The goal was to have at least 400 completed surveys, which ask a variety of quality of life and local government questions, by now.

 

“I’m going to extend the deadline a week hoping we get more responses. So get in the surveys! We can do better than 349 Hannah-Spurlock said.

 

The week extension will include mailing time so Hannah-Spurlock asked that the surveys be completed and put in the mail by this weekend, April 12th.

 

The five-page questionnaire will focus on eight aspects of community “livability” and give city officials not only a report card on the services they provide, but also allow Key West to compare itself to other communities both nationally and regionally. It is the first comprehensive, scientific survey ever done in Key West, Hannah-Spurlock said.

 

The questions ask the randomly-selected residents’ opinions on the quality and/or success of community engagement, education, recreation, the economy, the “built” and “natural” environment, safety and mobility. Many of the questions are part of a survey template used by National Research Center (NRC), the company the city has hired for $14,225 to manage the assessment.

 

Hannah-Spurlock is hoping to get a report back from NRC in May. The results will be used to update the city’s Strategic Plan.

 

The survey was mailed twice to each resident at the beginning of March. All of the residents selected to receive the survey were able to fill out the survey online if they wished.

 

Residents who were not selected to be part of the scientific survey will have the opportunity to complete the same survey questions online, for contribution to a non-scientific report after the submission deadline is finalized

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