Low response rates for town’s citizen survey

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

The Town of Strathmore citizen survey conducted earlier this year was presented to Strathmore town council during their regular council meeting on Sept. 5. The survey was available via an online form or by paper copies available in April, May and June.
Out of over 13,500 households that could have participated in the survey, only 787 survey responses were received.
“This (citizen survey) included various matters within the community, from cannabis to recreational to cultural needs. Every resident was given the opportunity to participate in the survey,” said Jennifer Sawatzky, Town of Strathmore’s manager of legislative services. She added that although 787 households responded to the survey, they did not necessarily answer every question.
Survey results indicated the top three most important services the town provides its residents is road maintenance, utilities and protective services. Social services, youth programming and community grants were among the least important.
“This could be indicative of the season we were in, in regards to road maintenance,” noted Sawatzky. “It was the number one issue at that time, so that could be indicative as part of the results for that survey.”
Last winter, Strathmore received record snowfall and the town received much scrutiny over the efficiency of their snow removal program.
Respondents ranked what they think the town’s highest priorities should be over the next three years: lower taxes, increased road maintenance, economic development and financial sustainability.
For physical activity, 66 per cent of respondents stated they most often participate in outdoor walking, seemingly a reflection for the 58 per cent of responses that consider parks and pathways to be the highest priority for Strathmore’s recreational and cultural needs, followed by 25 per cent for an accessible fitness facility, 22 per cent who would like to see new indoor ice surfaces, and 20 per cent who value arts and culture facilities.
A total of 469 people, or 64 per cent of respondents, would not support a tax increase to fund new recreational facilities and 256 respondents would support a one per cent tax increase to fund recreational facilities which could generate the town approximately $120,000 each year in total revenue.
The Town of Strathmore is also considering rolling out an all-access pass for its recreational facilities including the Aquatic Centre, Family Centre, Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre and Youth Club; 497 respondents indicated they would pay up to $200 for that pass.
Following the need for several emergency containment locations in Strathmore last year due to poor winter weather and local fires, 164 individuals indicated they would be interested in volunteering with the Town of Strathmore’s emergency management team and 133 individuals even provided their contact information.
“This is really encouraging,” said Sawatzky, who added that the town website, local newspapers and social media were indicated as the best forms of communication.
The public was also consulted on municipal legislation of cannabis. The majority of the public that responded to the survey support placing minimum distance restrictions between cannabis retail stores and elementary schools, high schools and organizations such as drug treatment centres and homeless shelters. Other responses included minimum distances from playgrounds and recreational facilities, daycares or other childcare facilities, and hospitals and community centres. Several responses stated they do not support cannabis in town at all.
Approximately 49 per cent of those surveyed agreed that rules around public consumption of cannabis should be a combination of the more restrictive rules for both drinking alcohol and smoking or vaping in public, where 20 per cent would like rules more like the rules for drinking alcohol in public. Ninety-six of the people surveyed supported consumption of cannabis products in their backyard and 67 per cent supported consumption on their front porch; there was much less support for consumption of cannabis in other public places.
Town of Strathmore Councillor Denise Peterson said there have been many questions in the community and on social media regarding the extent of involvement that council has done to communicate with the public regarding cannabis legalization.
“I think separating this (information) out and highlighting it on our website might be a good idea,” said Peterson.
Currently, the only information on the Town of Strathmore website regarding cannabis is bylaws currently in place and bylaws under review. Town of Strathmore staff is looking at the possibility of adding the citizen survey cannabis results to their website in an easier-to-view format and location for residents to access.