Survey to help city prioritize services

Residents have a chance to share their thoughts on city services in an effort to make them better.
The city is participating in an online survey offered by the League of Minnesota Cities. Specifically, the survey looks at city services and how they can be improved. This is the second time the city has participated. The LMC coordinated the survey for the first time earlier this year due to a new requirement for cities to receive state aid.
Some of the areas the survey looks at include rating the appearance of the city, the overall feeling of safety within the city, the condition of city streets and quality of snowplowing of streets. By design, once a participant rates those areas of the survey, he or she can also provide additional comments.
St. Joseph Mayor Rick Schultz said the survey is more of a tool for the LMC in understanding what services are working and those that are not working in cities.
“We can react to issues or concerns that come up,” Schultz said. “This survey is more for the state than it is for the city. It helps the League of Minnesota Cities provide stats when they lobby for cities. ”
In 2010, the Legislature created the Council on Local Results and Innovation and charged it with developing 10 performance measures for cities. Part of the legislation was for the state auditor to administer the Performance Measurement Program by which cities meeting the eligibility requirements would receive funding of 14 cents per capita, up to $25,000, and be exempt from levy limits if they are in effect. In order to receive the 2013 incentive payment, cities have to file a signed resolution to adopt the 10 measures with the auditor. Participating cities will also need to administer the online survey that asks 12 questions.
A link to the  survey can be found on the city’s website, www.cityofstjoseph.com. The deadline to complete the survey is Dec. 10.