City Council Workshop

AGENDA City Council Workshop April 14, 2020 Council Chambers 5 PM COVID-19 Response Update 5:20 PM Providing Sanitary Sewer to Lake Elmo 5:45 PM Public Works Facility Site Planning 6:05 PM Summerfest 2020 6:15 PM Community Survey 6:30 PM Food Shelf Funding 6:40 PM Park CIP Projects Review 6:50 PM Council Discussion 6:58 PM Recess for Regular Meeting  COUNCIL MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Brian Bachmeier, Public Works Director/City Engineer Date: April 14, 2020 Subject: Sewer Service Request from Lake Elmo Background Last fall, the City of Lake Elmo became the owner of 180 acres of property east of Ideal Avenue and north/south of CSAH 14. The property was previously owned by 3M and was zoned rural residential. Lake Elmo is evaluating three options to change the future land use to a combination of industrial, commercial, residential, and open space. The City of Lake Elmo submitted a letter requesting if Oakdale has the ability to serves this area with sanitary sewer service (letter attached). It is appropriate for the Oakdale City Council to consider that request. Lake Elmo Concepts Municipal Sanitary Sewer Service Needed to Serve the Area This change in land use requires municipal water and sanitary sewer service. Lake Elmo has the ability to provide water to this area, however this area is more than three miles away from their existing downtown sanitary sewer system. Oakdale has an existing sanitary sewer system south of CSAH 14, which includes a lift station at the intersection of Ideal Avenue and Stillwater Boulevard. The City of Lake Elmo is therefore requesting the feasibility of Oakdale providing sanitary sewer service to the 180 acres being developed in Lake Elmo. 2 The projected sanitary sewer flows from the three concept plans range from 280 to 305 gallons per minute. According to our 2040 Comprehensive Sanitary Sewer Plan, there is approximately 50 gallons/minute of reserve capacity in the existing lift station beyond what is needed to serve the existing and full development of vacant land in the service area (Oakdale Market Place, and Crestview Farms). The capacity of the lift station would have to be increased to serve the Lake Elmo area. This lift station needs rehabilitation due to age/condition. It also needs to be relocated as it is too close to the Ideal/Stillwater intersection and will interfere with any traffic control changes that may be needed at the intersection (signals, or a roundabout). It is in our CIP for 2021. This would be an opportunity for a joint project between Oakdale and Lake Elmo. Staff Comments If the Council is supportive of providing service to this area it is suggested that Lake Elmo: • Cover the cost of a specific study to confirm the impacts and capacity of the Oakdale sewer system. • Cover the cost of a rate study to determine a utility rate that covers the cost of operating, depreciating, and a reasonable rate of return on investment. • Agree to participate in the cost to reconstruct/relocate the lift station prorated based on projected flows. The Council may also want to consider: • Compatibility of proposed land uses on the border. • Agreement and participation in Washington County’s CSAH 13 (Ideal Avenue) Phase 2 project. 3  COUNCIL MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Brian Bachmeier, Public Works Director/City Engineer Date: April 14, 2020 Subject: Public Works Facility Site Planning Background On January 28, 2020 the City Council conducted a workshop session with 3M representatives about the 9.2 acre parcel at the corner of 32nd Street and Granada Avenue. This site is being considered as a potential public works facility site. The purpose of the workshop was to review the results of the geophysical environmental survey that was completed in the fall of 2019. At the workshop, the Council indicated it would like information from 3M about the price of the property before spending additional funds related to site planning. 3M Senior Environmental Engineer Kevin Madson recently advised us that 3M intends to donate the parcel to the City of Oakdale. Mr. Madson further indicated: “3M plans to conduct additional environmental investigation work in Q2/Q3 of this year to prepare for redevelopment (i.e. complete remaining Phase II investigation). To maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of 3M’s work, they are requesting that the City further refine the site schematic/plan so they can use it to plan their investigation locations and ultimately, their cleanup (i.e. Response Action) plan. Essentially, 3M’s field investigation will target a combination of environmental areas of interest plus areas that the City anticipates will require significant earthwork (i.e., building foundations, storm water basins, utility corridors, etc.). 3M and Barr Engineering would like to collaborate with the City of Oakdale and its contractors to develop a redevelopment plan that meets their common goals. Once that is developed, 3M can kick-off their remaining environmental site investigations.” It would be appropriate for the City Council to provide direction on how to proceed. Staff Concerns Expressed Public Works staff forwarded a letter on February 12, 2020 to the Administrator expressing concerns with the site, including: chemical/hazardous waste, radiation from the Hubbard facility next door and the resulting health affects to employees and their families. To address the chemical/hazardous waste concerns Gary Krueger of the MPCA attended a crew meeting at the Public Works facility on March 11, 2020 to talk about the Brownfield Program and to answer questions from the Public Works employees. Mr. Krueger provided examples of numerous sites (including schools and libraries) that have been redeveloped through the states brownfield program. He described how the MPCA reviews the mitigation plans, inspects the site during construction, and monitors the site after construction to assure the exposure is less than the established safe thresholds. He also mentioned the environmental liability of the site will remain with 3M. Radiation concerns were considered when the Hubbard facility was proposed for development in 1994. An independent consultant was retained by the City to identify any impacts to public health as a result of the facility. The study, and subsequent testing concluded the facility does not exceed the FCC radiation standard, and does not pose a threat to the workers and the general public. In addition no measurable signals were found at any location outside of the USSB facility. The Building Official indicated other buildings in the area did not require any extraordinary building practices to mitigate radiation exposure. As the Public Works Director, I respect the staff expressing their concerns and truly appreciate employee/family health as an emotional issue. An issue that may be difficult to placate with technical solutions. Professional engineers take an oath to serve humanity for the public good, and to uphold the integrity of the profession. There are many examples of sites that have been redeveloped safely through the use of proper mitigation solutions developed by scientists and implemented by engineers. The Council needs to make the decision that’s in the best interest of the City. Alternative Site at Hemingway & 32nd Due to the concerns expressed by the Public Works staff, contact was made with the owner of the vacant site located just south of LA Fitness and east of I694. This site is approximately 15 acres in size. The owner’s broker indicated the site is on the market for approximately $3,600,000. City staff is not aware of any environmental concerns on this property, however it is advised that an environmental study must be completed before pursuing acquisition. It should be noted that PFAS has been detected in the creek that runs just north of the parcel. Needs & Options The existing public works facility is approximately 42,000 sf on a five-acre peninsula. The Leo Daly space study concluded the need for a 70,000+ sf building on a minimum seven-acre site. The study also noted the existing building: is reaching the end of its useful life (HVAC, roofing, wall block & panels), has ventilation/air quality concerns, and the site has no surface water quality treatment facilities for the runoff into the wetlands. The initial $15,000,000 budget was based on a 70,000 sf building at $14,000,000 ($200/sf) and $1,000,000 for site development. There appears to be three site options for council consideration and appropriate next actions dependent on each site: • Develop expansion and remodeling plans at the existing public works location recognizing there will be: o Maximum 67,000 sf building o Site is approximately 1.7 street miles from the center of the city, with access to a collector roadway that has higher traffic volumes (7,900 ADT) o Continued need for off-site storage of seasonal equipment o Challenges of continuing operations under construction o Eliminates the opportunity to develop a centralized drinking water treatment facility o Wetland impacts • Development of a site/building plan at the 32nd & Granada site: o A 70,000-75,000 sf building could fit on the site o Site is properly zoned, is 1 street mile from the center of the city, with access to a collector roadway with low traffic volumes (3,150 ADT) 2  o Potential health concerns will need to be addressed through the use of additional expert consultant review and monitoring of mitigation and construction o Development of the site may require extraordinary construction practices, such as vapor barriers and passive ventilation. Many new buildings now employ these practices to control moisture and radon gas. • Authorize negotiations and a Phase 1 environmental study for the site at 32nd & Hemingway o Site is zoned for Planned Unit Development. The use of the site as a public works facility is inconsistent with the commercial mixed use vision of the area, and may have more property tax base reduction impact than the other sites. o Site is larger than needed. It could be subdivided and a portion sold off to another user. Utility and access issues/costs for a second parcel would reduce the proceeds of the sale. Assume a net purchase price of $3,000,000 for the 10 acres needed. o If the $15,000,000 is a cap, deducting the land price from the building budget results in a 55,000 sf building o Site is approximately 1.54 street miles from the center of the city, with access to a commercial street. Current traffic volumes are low but will increase significantly as the Oakdale Market Place area fills out. Workshop Outcome Requested It is requested the Council select an option so that we can proceed with timely development of site and building plans for the future public works facility. 3  COUNCIL MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Alyssa MacLeod, Communications Specialist Date: April 14, 2020 Subject: Summerfest On Wednesday, April 8, Governor Walz announced that the Stay at Home order shall be extended through May 4, 2020. By extending the order, the COVID-19 spread is projected to peak in Minnesota in early July. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the community, many local and regional events that were originally scheduled throughout the spring and summer have been canceled. Given these cancellations well into June, staff also has reservations about the advisability of planning for Summerfest to take place this year. The City’s annual Summerfest event is scheduled for June 25-28, 2020. Considering all of the planning components of the event, including upcoming marketing deadlines, it is recommended that Council make a decision whether or not to cancel this year’s Summerfest event prior to the delivery of the summer issue of “Oakdale Update,” which is printed in late April. If canceled, city staff will need adequate time to issue refunds and contact vendors, parade participants, race participants, entertainment, volunteers, sponsors, contributing organizations, as well as notify the public. If Summerfest is to continue as scheduled, without the ability to predict the status of the COVID-19 pandemic during that time, additional consideration should be given to health and safety concerns such as the ability to maintain social distancing, transmission potential with parade handouts and carnival attractions, staffing, PPE needs, and the like. For reference, below is a list of surrounding events that have been postponed or canceled through the end of summer. POSTPONED Stone Arch Bridge Festival – June 20-21; rescheduled for Sept. 26-27 Twin Cities Jazz Festival – late June; reschedule date TBD Twin Cities Pride – June 27-28; reschedule date TBD CANCELED Art-A-Whirl – mid May Grandma’s Marathon – June 19-20 Guthrie Theater – all shows through Aug. 29 Rock the Garden (music fest) – June 20 City of Burnsville – canceled all events through June 30 St. Louis Park – canceled all events until further notice  COUNCIL MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Alyssa MacLeod, Communications Specialist Date: April 14, 2020 Subject: Community Survey At the April 14 Council Work Session, Communications Specialist MacLeod will present the next steps in the process of conducting the 2020 community survey. The following attachments are included for review: A preliminary timeline, a set of standard survey questions, and a welcome packet that outlines options for customization. At the February 11, 2020 work session, Council decided to move forward with the NCS™ Basic Service with no additional services. The standard set of questions attached, will remain as is, with the exception of questions 6, 8, 7 and 9 where we will remove the response options that are not relevant to our community. We are also able to add 2 to 3 custom close-ended questions. One recommended question to add is: Please indicate how much of a source, if at all, you consider each of the following to be for obtaining information about the City government and its activities, events and services: • City website • Local media outlets (newspapers, radio, local television stations) • The local government cable Channel 16 • “Oakdale Update” • City Council meetings and other public meetings • Talking with City officials • City communications via social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, NextDoor, Instagram) • Word-of-mouth Other considerations for close-ended questions could include: • Favorite/desired aspects of Summerfest/community festival • Favorite/most utilized parks  Timeline for The National Community Survey™ 2nd wave mails Finalize survey materials 1st wave mails Data collection ends Reports finalized Postcard mails Opt-in survey opens Draft reports received May 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 May 29 Jun 5 Jun 12 Jun 19 Jun 26 Jul 3 Jul 10 Jul 17 Jul 24 Jul 31 Aug 7 Aug 14 Item Date Preparing for the Survey  The NCS survey process is initiated upon receipt of your first payment and signed Terms of Use Mar 27  NRC emails you information to customize The NCS Mar 27  Due to NRC: Selection of add-on options Apr 10  Due to NRC: Drafts of the optional custom questions to be included in the survey Apr 10  Due to NRC: Zip code information and GIS boundary data Apr 24  Due to NRC: Additional payment for add-on options Apr 24  NRC finalizes the survey instrument and mailing materials and sends .pdf samples for your records May 1  NRC generates the sample of households in your community Apr 24 to May 8  NRC prints materials and prepares mailings May 8  Due to NRC: Selection of custom benchmark profile(s) (if custom benchmark add-on selected) May 8 Conducting the survey  Survey materials are mailed May 15 to May 29  Prenotification postcards sent May 15  1st wave of surveys sent May 22  2nd wave of surveys sent May 29  Opt-in web survey link posted on your website (source link provided to you by NRC) Jun 19  Data collection: surveys received and processed for your community May 22 to Jul 3 During this time, you will receive postcards that were undeliverable due to bad addresses, or vacant housing units. This is  normal. Please count all the postcards, as we will subtract the number of returned postcards from the total number mailed to estimate the number of "eligible" households in calculating the final response rate.  Due to NRC: Final count of returned postcards Jul 3  Survey analysis and report writing Jul 3 to Jul 31 During this time, NRC will process the surveys, perform the data analysis, and produce a draft report for your community. The report of results will contain a description of the methodology, information on understanding the results, and graphs and tables  of your results, as well as a description of NRC's database of normative data from across the U.S. and actual comparisons to your results, where appropriate. NRC emails draft report (in PDF format) to you along with invoice for balance due on The NCS Basic  Jul 31 Service and any additional add-on options Due to NRC: community feedback on the draft report (most final reports are identical to the draft reports,  Aug 7 except being labeled as final instead of draft)  NRC emails final report to you Aug 14 Legend Indicates when items from NRC are due to you Indicates when items from you are due to NRC Indicates information items The City of Oakdale 2020 Community Survey Please complete this survey if you are the adult (age 18 or older) in the household who most recently had a birthday (the year of birth does not matter). Your responses are anonymous and will be reported in group form only. 1. Please rate each of the following aspects of quality of life in Oakdale. Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know Oakdale as a place to live ...................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Your neighborhood as a place to live .............................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Oakdale as a place to raise children ................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Oakdale as a place to work .................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Oakdale as a place to visit .................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Oakdale as a place to retire.................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 The overall quality of life in Oakdale ............................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Sense of community................................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 2. Please rate each of the following characteristics as they relate to Oakdale as a whole. Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know Overall economic health of Oakdale ................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Overall quality of the transportation system (auto, bicycle, foot, bus) in Oakdale ............................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Overall design or layout of Oakdale’s residential and commercial areas (e.g., homes, buildings, streets, parks, etc.) ................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Overall quality of the utility infrastructure in Oakdale (water, sewer, storm water, electric/gas) ............................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Overall feeling of safety in Oakdale .................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Overall quality of natural environment in Oakdale................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Overall quality of the parks and recreation opportunities .................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Overall health and wellness opportunities in Oakdale ............................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Overall opportunities for education, culture and the arts...................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Residents’ connection and engagement with their community .......................... 1 2 3 4 5 3. Please indicate how likely or unlikely you are to do each of the following. Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Don’t likely likely unlikely unlikely know Recommend living in Oakdale to someone who asks ........................1 2 3 4 5 Remain in Oakdale for the next five years ..............................................1 2 3 4 5 4. Please rate how safe or unsafe you feel: Very Somewhat Neither safe Somewhat Very Don’t safe safe nor unsafe unsafe unsafe know In your neighborhood during the day ...................................... 1 2 3 4 5 6 In Oakdale’s downtown/commercial area during the day ............................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 6 The National Community Survey™ • © 2001-2020 National Research Center, Inc. From property crime ....................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 6 From violent crime ........................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 6 From fire, flood or other natural disaster .............................. 1 2 3 4 5 6 5. Please rate the job you feel the Oakdale community does at each of the following. Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know Making all residents feel welcome ................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Attracting people from diverse backgrounds .............................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Valuing/respecting residents from diverse backgrounds...................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Taking care of vulnerable residents (elderly, disabled, homeless, etc.)........... 1 2 3 4 5 6. Please rate each of the following characteristics as they relate to Oakdale as a whole. Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know Overall quality of business and service establishments in Oakdale .................. 1 2 3 4 5 Variety of business and service establishments in Oakdale .................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Vibrancy of downtown/commercial area ..................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Employment opportunities ................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Shopping opportunities ........................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Cost of living in Oakdale........................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Overall image or reputation of Oakdale ......................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Page 1 of 5 7. Please rate each of the following characteristics as they relate to Oakdale as a whole. Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know Traffic flow on major streets............................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Ease of public parking............................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Ease of travel by car in Oakdale......................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Ease of travel by public transportation in Oakdale ................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Ease of travel by bicycle in Oakdale ................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Ease of walking in Oakdale .................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Well-planned residential growth ...................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Well-planned commercial growth .................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Well-designed neighborhoods ........................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Preservation of the historical or cultural character of the community ............ 1 2 3 4 5 Public places where people want to spend time ........................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Variety of housing options ................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Availability of affordable quality housing ..................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Overall quality of new development in Oakdale......................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Overall appearance of Oakdale .......................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Cleanliness of Oakdale ........................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Water resources (beaches, lakes, ponds, riverways, etc.) ..................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Air quality.................................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Availability of paths and walking trails .......................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Fitness opportunities (including exercise classes and paths or trails, etc.) ... 1 2 3 4 5 Recreational opportunities .................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Availability of affordable quality food ............................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Availability of affordable quality health care............................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Availability of preventive health services ..................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Availability of affordable quality mental health care ............................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Opportunities to attend cultural/arts/music activities .......................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Community support for the arts ........................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Availability of affordable quality childcare/preschool ............................................ 1 2 3 4 5 K-12 education .......................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Adult educational opportunities ....................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Sense of civic/community pride........................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Neighborliness of residents in Oakdale.......................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Opportunities to participate in social events and activities .................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Opportunities to attend special events and festivals ............................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Opportunities to volunteer .................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 The National Community Survey™ • © 2001-2020 National Research Center, Inc. Opportunities to participate in community matters ................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Openness and acceptance of the community toward people of diverse backgrounds ..................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 8. Please indicate whether or not you have done each of the following in the last 12 months. No Yes Contacted the City of Oakdale (in-person, phone, email or web) for help or information................................1 2 Contacted Oakdale elected officials (in-person, phone, email or web) to express your opinion ................... 1 2 Attended a local public meeting (of local elected officials like City Council or County Commissioners, advisory boards, town halls, HOA, neighborhood watch, etc.) ............................................1 2 Watched (online or on television) a local public meeting ...............................................................................................1 2 Volunteered your time to some group/activity in Oakdale ............................................................................................1 2 Campaigned or advocated for a local issue, cause or candidate ................................................................................... 1 2 Voted in your most recent local election ................................................................................................................................1 2 Used bus, rail, subway or other public transportation instead of driving................................................................1 2 Carpooled with other adults or children instead of driving alone .............................................................................. 1 2 Walked or biked instead of driving ........................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Page 2 of 5 The City of Oakdale 2020 Community Survey 9. Please rate the quality of each of the following services in Oakdale. Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know Public information services ............................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Economic development ..................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Traffic enforcement ............................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Traffic signal timing ............................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Street repair ........................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Street cleaning....................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Street lighting ........................................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Snow removal ........................................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Sidewalk maintenance ....................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Bus or transit services ....................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Land use, planning, and zoning...................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Code enforcement (weeds, abandoned buildings, etc.) ...................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Affordable high-speed internet access ....................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Garbage collection ............................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Drinking water ...................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Sewer services....................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Storm water management (storm drainage, dams, levees, etc.) .................... 1 2 3 4 5 Power (electric and/or gas) utility............................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Utility billing .......................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Police/Sheriff services ....................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Crime prevention ................................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Animal control....................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Ambulance or emergency medical services ............................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Fire services ........................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Fire prevention and education....................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Emergency preparedness (services that prepare the community for natural disasters or other emergency situations) ..................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Preservation of natural areas (open space, farmlands and greenbelts) ...... 1 2 3 4 5 Oakdale open space ............................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Recycling.................................................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Yard waste pick-up.............................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 City parks................................................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Recreation programs or classes .................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Recreation centers or facilities ...................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 The National Community Survey™ • © 2001-2020 National Research Center, Inc. Health services ...................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Public library services ....................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Overall customer service by Oakdale employees (police, receptionists, planners, etc.) ..................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 10. Please rate the following categories of Oakdale government performance. Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know The value of services for the taxes paid to Oakdale .............................................. 1 2 3 4 5 The overall direction that Oakdale is taking ............................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 The job Oakdale government does at welcoming resident involvement..... 1 2 3 4 5 Overall confidence in Oakdale government ............................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Generally acting in the best interest of the community ...................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Being honest........................................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Being open and transparent to the public................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Informing residents about issues facing the community ................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Treating all residents fairly ............................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Treating residents with respect .................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Page 3 of 5 11. Overall, how would you rate the quality of the services provided by each of the following? Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know The City of Oakdale ............................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 The Federal Government .................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 12. Please rate how important, if at all, you think it is for the Oakdale community to focus on each of the following in the coming two years. Very Somewhat Not at all Essential important important important Overall economic health of Oakdale ...................................................................................1 2 3 4 Overall quality of the transportation system (auto, bicycle, foot, bus) in Oakdale ..................................................................................................................................1 2 3 4 Overall design or layout of Oakdale’s residential and commercial areas (e.g., homes, buildings, streets, parks, etc.) .....................................................1 2 3 4 Overall quality of the utility infrastructure in Oakdale (water, sewer, storm water, electric/gas) ...................................................................1 2 3 4 Overall feeling of safety in Oakdale .....................................................................................1 2 3 4 Overall quality of natural environment in Oakdale......................................................1 2 3 4 Overall quality of the parks and recreation opportunities .......................................1 2 3 4 Overall health and wellness opportunities in Oakdale ...............................................1 2 3 4 Overall opportunities for education, culture and the arts.........................................1 2 3 4 Residents’ connection and engagement with their community .............................1 2 3 4 xx. Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1 Custom Question #1  Scale point 1  Scale point 2  Scale point 3  Scale point 4  Scale point5 xx. Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2 Custom Question #2  Scale point 1  Scale point 2  Scale point 3  Scale point 4  Scale point5 xx. Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3 The National Community Survey™ • © 2001-2020 National Research Center, Inc. Custom Question #3 Custom Question #3  Scale point 1  Scale point 2  Scale point 3  Scale point 4  Scale point5 xx. OPTIONAL [See Worksheets for details and price of this option] Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open-Ended Question Open- Ended Question Page 4 of 5 The City of Oakdale 2020 Community Survey Our last questions are about you and your household. Again, all of your responses to this survey are completely anonymous and will be reported in group form only. D1. In general, how many times do you: Several Once A few times Every Less often Don’t times a day a day a week few weeks or never know Access the internet from your home using a computer, laptop or tablet computer .......................1 2 3 4 5 6 Access the internet from your cell phone.......................1 2 3 4 5 6 Visit social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc. .....................................................1 2 3 4 5 6 Use or check email ....................................................................1 2 3 4 5 6 Share your opinions online...................................................1 2 3 4 5 6 Shop online ..................................................................................1 2 3 4 5 6 D2. Would you say that in general your health is:  Excellent  Very good  Good  Fair  Poor D3. What impact, if any, do you think the economy will have on your family income in the next 6 months? Do you think the impact will be:  Very positive  Somewhat positive  Neutral  Somewhat negative  Very negative D4. How many years have you lived in Oakdale? D10. How much do you anticipate your household’s  Less than 2 years total income before taxes will be for the current  2-5 years year? (Please include in your total income  6-10 years money from all sources for all persons living in  11-20 years your household.)  More than 20 years  Less than $25,000  $75,000 to $99,999 D5. Which best describes the building you live in?  $25,000 to $49,999  $100,000 to $149,999  $50,000 to $74,999  $150,000 or more  One family house detached from any other houses  Building with two or more homes D11. Are you Spanish, Hispanic or Latino? (duplex, townhome, apartment or condominium)  No, not Spanish, Hispanic or Latino  Mobile home  Yes, I consider myself to be Spanish, Hispanic or  Other Latino D6. Do you rent or own your home? D12. What is your race? (Mark one or more races to  Rent indicate what race you consider yourself to be.)  Own  American Indian or Alaskan Native D7. About how much is your monthly housing cost  Asian, Asian Indian or Pacific Islander The National Community Survey™ • © 2001-2020 National Research Center, Inc. for the place you live (including rent, mortgage  Black or African American payment, property tax, property insurance and  White homeowners’ association (HOA) fees)?  Other  Less than $500  $2,000 to $2,499 D13. In which category is your age?  $500 to $999  $2,500 to $2,999  18-24 years  55-64 years  $1,000 to $1,499  $3,000 to $3,499  25-34 years  65-74 years  $1,500 to $1,999  $3,500 or more  35-44 years  75 years or older D8. Do any children 17 or under live in your  45-54 years household? D14. What is your gender?  No  Yes  Female D9. Are you or any other members of your  Male household aged 65 or older?  Identify in another way  No  Yes Thank you! Please return the completed survey in the postage-paid envelope to: National Research Center, Inc., PO Box 549, Belle Mead, NJ 08502 Page 5 of 5  Welcome! Welcome to The National Community Survey! This packet will guide you through choosing your options and customizing your survey. You’ll see that there are a few electronic files and related input that we’ll need from you near the start of the project. This packet includes: Project Customization Checklist ........................................................................................................... 1 Mailing Materials – Weeks 1-2 .............................................................................................................. 2 Sampling – Weeks 1-3 .......................................................................................................................... 2 Additional Services Selection – Weeks 1-4 ........................................................................................... 3 Survey Customizations – Weeks 1-5 .................................................................................................... 4 Project Customization Checklist Here’s what we will need from you to get The NCS up and running. We’ve also indicated the rough timing of when we need various materials and decisions. Mailing materials – Weeks 1-2 Page 2 ☐ Logo ☐ Letterhead sample ☐ Name, title and an electronic signature of the person who will be signing the cover letters ☐ Phone number for residents to call with questions Sampling – Weeks 1-3 Page 2 ☐ GIS boundary files Additional Services – Weeks 1-4 Page 3 ☐ Selection of services in addition to the Basic Service Survey Customizations – Weeks 1-5 Pages 4 to 6 ☐ Economy, Overall Community Characteristics and Participation (Questions 6 and 8) ☐ Mobility, Community Design, Natural Environment, Parks and Recreation, Health and Wellness, Education, Arts and Culture, Inclusivity and Engagement (Question 7) ☐ Services (Question 9) ☐ Custom questions  The National Community Survey™ Welcome Packet - The National Community Survey Mailing Materials – Weeks 1-2 NRC manages the mailing process and we create mailing materials that come “from” you in order to encourage participation in the survey. So, we’ll use your letterhead, logo and the signature of the mayor (or another official or administrator, if you prefer) to customize your mailing materials. Graphics guidelines • 300 DPI • .tif or .jpg format preferred; other formats (e.g., .gif, .png) okay • Grey scale or black and white preferred, color okay Sampling – Weeks 1-3 We can track geographic subareas in your community (your choice of district, ward, neighborhood or another type). This helps ensure the best representation of the parts of your community and has no added cost. We will need the GIS boundary information from you that defines these subareas and we are happy to work directly with your GIS staff to accomplish this (just send us contact information for the right person!). If you choose not to track geographic subareas, we’ll just need GIS files for the overall boundaries of your community. GIS data files should be in one of the following formats: • ESRI Personal Geodatabase (.mdb) • ESRI Shapefile (.shp) • MapInfo Table (.tab) 2  The National Community Survey™ Welcome Packet - The National Community Survey Additional Services Selection – Weeks 1-4 The NCS additional services (we call them add-ons) are a popular way to customize and enhance your survey project. Commonly chosen add-ons include: • Custom benchmark • Geographic subgroup • Demographic subgroup comparisons comparisons comparisons While many of the add-ons can be added at any point during The NCS process, some should be chosen right away since they influence the customization of your materials (denoted below with †). The cost of each option is in addition to the Basic Service (ask your project manager for current pricing for add-ons). Add-on option Description ☐ Larger sample size† See below for example sample sizes ☐ Reminder postcard (4th mailing) See below for example sample sizes Includes one open-ended question added to survey. Responses will be ☐ One open-ended question† categorized and reported in a table under separate cover, accompanied by a complete list of verbatim responses. ☐ Spanish† Respondents can complete the survey online in Spanish Geographic Subgroup Comparison ☐ Compare results by geographic subarea within your community Report†ǂ Demographic Subgroup Comparison Compare results by population demographics (age, gender, housing unit ☐ Report type, housing tenure and race/ethnicity) ☐ Custom Benchmark Comparisons Benchmark results against communities meeting specific criteria ☐ In-person presentation Assumes location within 50 miles of an international airport ☐ Next steps workshop Assumes location within 50 miles of an international airport ☐ Compare prior results Compare current results to one previous (non-NCS) survey Example sample sizes Increase Reminder Sample size increase sample postcard ☐ +0 ☐ ☐ +400 (2,100 total) ☐ ☐ +800 (2,500 total) ☐ ☐ +1,200 (2,900 total) ☐ ☐ +1,600 (3,300 total) *Please note that all prices are subject to change. † These options must be selected prior to mailing. ǂ Depending on the number of areas and your expected response rate, we’ll likely recommend a larger sample size in order to have meaningful results in each area. We’ll help advise you on the right approach! 3  The National Community Survey™ Welcome Packet - The National Community Survey Survey Customizations – Weeks 1-5 Broadly, because The NCS is a cost-effective, templatized survey tool, modifications to the standard survey questions need to be kept to a minimum. Wording changes to standard questions are generally not allowed as these may compromise our ability to provide benchmark comparisons to other communities, and most NCS clients do not make any changes to the standard questions. However, if there are certain survey questions that do not apply to your community (e.g., snow removal services in warmer climates), you may remove these items as needed. The checklists below include questions from which items can be omitted; please use the checkboxes to indicate which items, if any, you would like to remove from the survey. Economy and Overall Community Characteristics Question 6 on The NCS includes many important and diverse characteristics of the economy and general overall community characteristics. Remove Activity (Question 6) ☐ Overall quality of business and service establishments in ABC ☐ Variety of business and service establishments in ABC ☐ Vibrancy of downtown/commercial area ☐ Employment opportunities ☐ Shopping opportunities ☐ Cost of living in ABC ☐ Overall image or reputation of ABC Community Participation Question 8 on The NCS ask residents how many times they or other household members have done or participated in various activities in your community. Remove Activity (Question 8) ☐ Contacted the XYZ of ABC (in-person, phone, email or web) for help or information ☐ Contacted ABC elected officials (in-person, phone, email or web) to express your opinion ☐ Attended a local public meeting (of local elected officials like City Council or County Commissioners, advisory boards, town halls, HOA, neighborhood watch, etc.) ☐ Watched (online or on television) a local public meeting ☐ Volunteered your time to some group/activity in ABC ☐ Campaigned or advocated for a local issue, cause or candidate ☐ Voted in your most recent local election ☐ Used bus, rail, subway or other public transportation instead of driving ☐ Carpooled with other adults or children instead of driving alone ☐ Walked or biked instead of driving 4  The National Community Survey™ Welcome Packet - The National Community Survey Economy and Overall Community Characteristics Question 7 on The NCS includes many important and diverse aspects of mobility, community design, natural environment, parks and recreation, health and wellness, education, arts and culture, inclusivity and engagement. Remove Characteristic (Question 7) Remove Characteristic (Question 7, cont’d.) ☐ Traffic flow on major streets ☐ Availability of affordable quality food ☐ Ease of public parking ☐ Availability of affordable quality health care ☐ Ease of travel by car in ABC ☐ Availability of preventive health services ☐ Ease of travel by public transportation in ☐ Availability of affordable quality mental ABC health care ☐ Ease of travel by bicycle in ABC ☐ Opportunities to attend cultural/arts/music ☐ Ease of walking in ABC activities ☐ Well-planned residential growth ☐ Community support for the arts ☐ Well-planned commercial growth ☐ Availability of affordable quality childcare/preschool ☐ Well-designed neighborhoods ☐ K-12 education ☐ Preservation of the historical or cultural character of the community ☐ Adult educational opportunities ☐ Public places where people want to spend ☐ Sense of civic/community pride time ☐ Neighborliness of residents in ABC ☐ Variety of housing options ☐ Opportunities to participate in social ☐ Availability of affordable quality housing events and activities ☐ Overall quality of new development in ABC ☐ Opportunities to attend special events and festivals ☐ Overall appearance of ABC ☐ Opportunities to volunteer ☐ Cleanliness of ABC ☐ Opportunities to participate in community ☐ Water resources (beaches, lakes, ponds, matters riverways, etc.) ☐ Openness and acceptance of the ☐ Air quality community toward people of diverse ☐ Availability of paths and walking trails backgrounds ☐ Fitness opportunities (including exercise classes and paths or trails, etc.) ☐ Recreational opportunities 5  The National Community Survey™ Welcome Packet - The National Community Survey Services Question 9 on The NCS includes an extensive list of services provided in most communities. Please keep in mind that the survey does not specify which branch of government provides each service; for example, some may be provided by the local County government, while others may be provided by a City, Town, or Village within that County. Rather than removing services that are not provided by your specific municipality, we recommend asking about all services that exist within your community, as neighboring local governments or partner organizations may find these results useful. Remove Characteristic (Question 9) Remove Characteristic (Question 9, cont’d.) ☐ Public information services ☐ Police/Sheriff services ☐ Economic development ☐ Crime prevention ☐ Traffic enforcement ☐ Animal control ☐ Traffic signal timing ☐ Ambulance or emergency medical services ☐ Street repair ☐ Fire services ☐ Street cleaning ☐ Fire prevention and education ☐ Street lighting ☐ Emergency preparedness (services that ☐ Snow removal prepare the community for natural disasters or other emergency situations) ☐ Sidewalk maintenance ☐ Preservation of natural areas (open ☐ Bus or transit services space, farmlands and greenbelts) ☐ Land use, planning and zoning ☐ ABC open space ☐ Code enforcement (weeds, abandoned ☐ Recycling buildings, etc.) ☐ Yard Waste pick-up ☐ Affordable high-speed internet access ☐ XYZ parks ☐ Garbage collection ☐ Recreation programs or classes ☐ Drinking water ☐ Recreation centers or facilities ☐ Sewer services ☐ Health services ☐ Storm water management (storm drainage, dams, levees, etc.) ☐ Public library services ☐ Power (electric and/or gas) utility ☐ Overall customer service by ABC employees (police, receptionists, ☐ Utility billing planners, etc.) Custom Questions You have about half of a page to include your own custom questions. There is no charge for adding closed-ended custom questions; they’re included in the Basic Service. Over the years, hundreds of questions have been asked on The NCS, addressing many common concerns such as the budget issues, growth and more. Please see our FAQ (https://www.n-r-c.com/surveys-consulting/the-national- community-survey/faq/) for examples and advice on creating your custom questions. Additionally, our survey experts are available to provide consultation as needed. 6