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Survey confirms what council knew Ashland results change little from 1998 By Sara Murphy ASHLAND � A survey of citizens� attitudes and opinions about city government is interesting but not revolutionary, informative but not representative, worthwhile but not gospel. So say City Council members who used the 2000 Community Attitude and Opinion study to help steer the city�s annual goal-setting session this weekend. Scudder & Associates Research released the results of the study, commissioned by the city, a few days ago. In telephone interviews conducted last fall, the company asked 400 Ashland residents their opinions about growth and livability, city services and local government. After reviewing the survey�s results in a study session, several council members say the report confirmed their perceptions and didn�t mark a statistical change from the city�s 1998 benchmark study. "My main impression was that, particularly when you take the margin of error into consideration, there was basically no change from �98 to 2000," said Don Laws, a Southern Oregon University political science professor and 25-year veteran of the council. The lack of significant change, Laws said, lends credence to the validity of both surveys. But the results weren�t shocking; rather, they mirror what he already believes to be true. "I don�t think there was anything there that most of us weren�t pretty well aware of," Laws said. Councilman David Fine said he has concerns about the reliability of the survey, which he says underrepresents men, working people and families with children. "I have to take the numbers with a grain of salt for this reason," he said. "They�re still interesting." Another concern, Fine said, is that the survey was taken just after the November election � a time when campaign propaganda may have skewed citizens� opinions. "Running (the survey) after the campaign just tells you how successful the candidates were at getting their message across," Fine said. Laws said conducting a survey so close to the election was poor timing for another reason: People were more likely to be screening calls, he said. "Many people are refusing to answer telephone calls and surveys, and they get particularly concerned about it at election time when they�re getting bombarded." Despite their concerns, the councilmen say the survey has value and should be repeated � during a nonelection year. "It�s a heck of a lot better than no poll at all," Laws said. "Was it valuable if it confirmed our opinions? "Absolutely," he said. "How do we know our opinions are right? We base our opinions on those people we run into every day, and that certainly is not representative." Fine said he was pleased to see that city staff and services received favorable ratings. Most notably, 44 percent of respondents said their neighborhoods are "much more safe" than two years ago. Fine credits Police Chief Scott Fleuter. "We�re a well-policed state, not a police state," Fine said. "It�s a fine line, and I think Scott�s walking it nicely." Fine, a land-use attorney, admitted being perplexed about the public�s perception of growth: 62 percent surveyed said they feel Ashland is growing "too fast." "Ashland has maintained an average 1.5 percent increase in population over the past decades � plural decades," he said. "I�d like to know what people are responding to when they say growth is too fast. "My feeling is that the tourist industry downtown may be growing too fast and it�s squeezing out our residents." Fine said Ashland needs to diversify its economy with stable, career-oriented jobs � "not jobs as chambermaids, busboys and counter clerks." He plans to address the issue at the goal-setting session. Councilwoman Susan Reid said she thinks the survey, though not a mandate, will be a valuable tool in developing strategic plans. "It kind of gives me an overall view of the general direction of the community," Reid said. "I�m not taking it as if it means that�s what everyone thinks. "One of the wonderful things about Ashland is the rich diversity of opinions we have." Survey results, from growth to parking ASHLAND � A research firm hired by the city asked 400 Ashland residents for their opinions about the community. The results of the 2000 Community Attitude and Opinion survey were released this week. And the survey says: - 30 percent said the quality of life in Ashland has gotten worse and 45 percent said it has stayed about the same over the past couple years. A smaller group (20 percent) said things have improved. - Two-thirds feel Ashland is growing and developing "too fast," while one-third said the growth rate is "just about right." - 44 percent said the city is "somewhat" or "very" responsive to addressing community needs. 31 percent gave a neutral response. - One-third said the mountains and natural beauty is what they most like about living in Ashland, followed by 31 percent who said they like the small-town atmosphere. - 32 percent said they have some level of trust in local government, compared to 41 percent in 1998. - 19 percent have attended a City Council meeting and 58 percent have watched a meeting on cable access TV. - 57 percent rated the courtesy of city staff as "excellent," while another 30 percent said "good." - 48 percent find at least one city tax or fee to be burdensome, while an equal number (48 percent) do not. - 56 percent said finding a parking space is difficult. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Sara Murphy at 482-4655, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.