SEQUIM — The results of a city or regional parks district election would be difficult to predict if a vote took place, a consultant told city leaders Monday.
“I think if this went to a vote today it would be a toss-up,” said Ron Vine, ETC Institute vice president, who presented the results of a city-contracted survey of citizens’ wants and needs and how they are being met.
Vine told the Sequim City Council on Monday night that the real kicker in which way the voter winds blow would be in how city parks and recreation spending is proposed to residents — what the money will be used for, how much of an expense and the cost to government.
District election
Such a taxing district election would allow voters to choose if and how they wanted to pay for park improvements, maintenance and recreation programs.
Vine presented the findings during a council work session, which was merely for initial discussion. The council took no action, as is the norm during an informational work session.
Responding to Mayor Ken Hays’ observation that it appeared that up to 60 percent supported a parks district, Vine responded that if that were the case, the city would need 40 percent or more in voter support and 20 percent or less in opposition.
The specific results for a city parks and recreation district were 42 percent “very supportive,” 21 percent not supportive, 21 percent somewhat supportive and 16 percent not sure.
For a regional Sequim-Dungeness Valley parks and recreational district, those surveyed inside and outside of the proposed district said 40 percent were very supportive, 20 percent were not supportive, 20 percent were somewhat supportive and 20 percent were not sure.
Hays said the survey did not tell the council which path voters want the city to take.
“That’s a policy decision,” Vine said.
Vine also reported that the survey’s findings conclude that most residents use the city’s trails and love Carrie Blake Park, the city’s main recreational area between North Blake Avenue and North Rhodefer Road.
The survey results, Vine said, essentially say, “We like what you are doing. Keep it up.”
Survey goals
The goal was to complete 600 surveys, he said, including 300 completed surveys within the city of Sequim and 300 surveys outside the city within the Sequim School District.
Actually completed were 722 surveys, and they were conducted by mail and phone and about even inside and outside the city.
Vine said the results have a 95 percent level of confidence with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percent.
The greatest need, according to those surveyed, is maintaining the city system of trails.
“The one thing I picked up is we gotta put aside the money to maintain those trails,” said Councilman Don Hall, the council’s representative on the city parks and recreation advisory committee.
Vine said where the city was found to be weakest was in providing recreational programs.
Another finding from the survey: Most regular users of Carrie Blake Park are 55 or older — 85 percent.
The survey also found, according to Vine, that the city was meeting the needs of about 90 percent of those surveyed when it comes to hiking and biking trails.
City Manager Steve Burkett said the city staff would now look at the survey’s data and come back to the council to further discuss what the results all mean. They will be presented to the city parks and recreation citizens advisory board.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
