SEQUIM — City Council members received both exactly what they expected and several surprises this week when they heard a report on a study commissioned by the council to learn how Sequim residents see their city.
Ninety-one percent of respondents said Sequim is a good place to live, but only 44 percent agreed it is a good place to work, according to the study presented to the Sequim City Council on Monday.
Five percent of respondents gave the Sequim Police Department a “disapproval” rating, while 37 percent gave the city poor marks for land use, planning and regulations.
City leaders should pay more attention to the availability of public transportation, said 41 percent, and less to bicycle lanes, 20 percent said.
The report cross-referenced data with respondents’ ages, neighborhoods and family situation, and compared Sequim’s results with similar-size cities nationwide.
“It’s a little overwhelming,” said Mayor Ken Hays.
The 3-inch-thick binder was reduced to an hourlong presentation, during which Ron Vine, vice president of ETC Institute — the market research firm that conducted the study — explained how to use the raw data.
ETC sent out more than 1,000 questionnaires and expected to get 300 responses. Vine said.
Some 450 returned the questionnaires, he said.
“That tells us there is a lot of interest in the topic,” he said.
City Council members said the most surprising results were the low priority people placed on a new City Hall and that a majority of the population found the city lacking in teen activities while few wanted more senior activities.
They expected the high priority placed on reducing traffic congestion and improving traffic flow.
Council members had strong and conflicting reactions to the people’s placing the proposed new City Hall as their lowest priority.
“What concerns me is that the highest priority for the council is City Hall but that is the lowest priority for its citizens,” said Councilman Bill Huizinga.
“Maybe what we need is to do more on educating the public on how much this city is paying in retail space,” said Mayor Pro Tem Laura Dubois.
The council also questioned what kind of teen activities people want.
“The most important thing I picked out is that people want more for teens,” Councilman Don Hall said.
“Do they want dances? Sports? More at the YMCA?” Hall asked.
Other results that pleased the council included high approval rates of individual interaction with the Police Department and city staff.
When compared with other communities nationally, the city’s services scored in the average range in most areas.
“You’re a pretty consistent community,” Vine said.
One area stood out, he said.
“In public safety, you’re almost ‘best practices’ in the U.S.,” he said.
The complete report is available for public review from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, or from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, at Sequim City Hall, 152 W. Cedar St.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
