EDMONDS — People here will get the chance to rate their city in a number of categories, including its parks and police, the friendliness of the community, whether they’ve experienced discrimination and if they’d consider paying for more parks or police services.
It’s part of an online survey that people can participate in through Friday.
The survey, costing the city $18,000, is being conducted for the city by the National Research Center, Inc. in Boulder, Colorado. The company has organized similar surveys in 46 states.
The results could help shape Edmonds’ 2017 budget, said Patrick Doherty, the city’s director of economic development and community services.
“If we learn people are finding something is more deficient than we thought, that might help in budget planning,” Doherty said.
The city might also take a look at its policies if a trend is found in some areas, such as if people report they’ve faced discrimination, he said.
Some 2,200 people were randomly selected to participate in an initial phase of the survey, but the plan has been to open it to anyone who wishes to participate, Doherty said.
The survey company “likes to have as great a response as possible from a community,” he said.
The survey is divided into 13 sections. Topics include safety, the environment, education, and how likely people are to recommend Edmonds as a place to live.
Other questions involve, culture, the affordability and quality of food and health services, and whether people regularly volunteer and attend public meetings or watch them on the internet.
It asks for ratings on how welcoming the city is to citizen involvement, its honesty and if it treats people fairly.
The city was allowed to add a few of its own questions, such as how willing people would be to support increases in funding for repair or maintenance of streets and sidewalks, enhanced police services, and purchase of park land or beach front property, Doherty said.
The city also wants to know if people living in Edmonds have experienced discrimination based on issues such as race, age, gender, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or gender identification, he said.
The city’s results are expected in August.
The results will include information on the questions asked specifically about Edmonds as well some comparative information on survey results from people living in similar cities nationally, Doherty said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
Anyone living Edmonds who would like to participate in the survey may go to: survey.edmondswa.gov. Anyone with questions about the survey may call 425-771-0251 or email patrick.doherty@edmondswa.gov.
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