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HomeMy WebLinkAbout(11a) Sales Tax Committee - SurveyC.I7'\' pF hT. J[~[iNH Council Agenda Item MEETING DATE: November 6, 2008 AGENDA ITEM: Sales Tax Committee -Survey SUBMITTED BY: Administration BOARDfCOMM15S10N/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:The Sales Tax Committee is requesting approval to mail a short survey to residents of St. loseph to help determine what the Community visions when the term Community Center is used. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: In July of 2008 the City Council established a Sales Tax Committee comprising of two members from the Community (Mike McDonald, Cory Ehlert), one member from the St. loseph Chamber of Commerce (Greg Reinhart) and one member from the Park Board (Bruce Berghorst). BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City Council requested the Sales Tax Committee solicit information from the Community as to what a Community Center includes. At the same time, the City Council authorized the completion of a space needs study that includes a Community Center component. The study will be completed by SEH and the scope of work includes a public input session whereby the public is invited to share their ideas about a community center. In addition to the open forum for residents, the Sales Tax Committee discussed how to further solicit community input and decided that a short survey should also be completed. The survey should be mailed before the public input session. The survey would be a preface to the meeting and also serve as notification and encouragement for residents to attend. The Committee decided that the survey needed to be short and cost effective. Therefore, the Committee is recommending that a letter explaining the survey and a postcard survey be mailed to each utility customer. The purpose of the survey is to simply find out what residents vision a Community Center to be. If approved by the Council, the survey could be mailed on November 7, 2008 with responses due by November 15, 2008. The public input meeting could be scheduled for November 18, 2008 and the consultant could have the survey information available for that meeting. In addition, the Sales Tax Committee would meet on the morning of November 20 to discuss the results. The schedule for the Study has the Council receiving completed space needs study on December 4, 2008 at their regular Council meeting. While the timing seems condensed, consideration was given to the effectiveness of each portion. BUDGETjFISCAI IMPACT: $ 1,000 to $ 1,100 which can be covered through the postage portion of the budget. Sufficient funds remain to cover this cost. ATTACHMENTS: Proposed letter for the survey, survey REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Authorize the mailing to utility bill customers regarding the vision of a community center. r' Community Center Survey ~L~~1Y,J In 2006 St. Joseph voters passed the referendum to become part of the regional half cent sales tax district. The voters also approved spending the revenue on three specific categories: 1) Parks; 2) Community Center; 3) Transportation. Beginning January 1, 2007, the City starting receiving proceeds from the regional half cent sales tax, which is held as a designated revenue fund. As such the proceeds can only be used for the categories listed above. In July of 2008 the St. Joseph City Council established a Sales Tax Committee to oversee the collection and distribution of the regional sales tax, assuring that the proceeds are spent according to the enabling Legislation. The Sales Tax Committee is looking for your help. One of the items listed as eligible for sales tax disbursement is that of a Community Center. The Sales Tax Committee is requesting your help in completing the short survey included in this mailing. In addition, the City will be hosting an open house on November 18, 2008 between 6:00 and 8:00 to solicit discussion and input from the Community. The information gathered will then be presented to the City Council for review. Please note that this survey is only for data collection only. The Sales Tax Committee is not suggesting disbursing all the funds for a community center, but are trying to gain a better understanding of the voter's intent. The other categories approved by the voters are self described and do not require research to gain a better understanding of intent. Sales Tax Committee Members include: _. . Q Mike McDonald, Community Representative (mmmcdonald@charter.net ) Cory Ehlert, Community Representative (cehlert@edinarealty.com) Greg Reinhart, St. Joseph Chamber Representative (~reinhart@fsbstioseph.com ) Bruce Berghorst, St. Joseph Park Board Representative Judy Weyrens, City Administrator (iweyrens@cityofstioseph.com ) ,-"~ ,;, Please feel free to contact any or all of the members listed above if you have any - additional ideas or questions. ~.; What is your vision of a Community Center in St. Joseph? (Check all that apply) Meeting Space Gym Pool Library Other Banquet Facility (with Kitchen facilities) Event Center City Offices/Police Facility Other In your opinion is a Community Center an appropriate use of sales tax funds? Yes No If Yes, what percent of sales tax revenue If St. Joseph had a Community Center what are the two most important factors? Creating a space for community gathering Provide programming/activity for the youth of the Community Provide programming/activity for the seniors of the Community Creating a facility that would be not reliant on the tax base for operation Provide a branch library in St. Joseph Provide a place for volunteer committees to meet Provide a venue for special events or catering/banquets Provide recreation or exercise area, including pool