A Saanich councillor is calling on the municipality to pay more attention to the interests of business.
Rebecca Mersereau made this appeal as council unanimously increased the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 budget for a series of surveys by 66 per cent from $50,000 to $83,000.
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The statistically significant surveys B次元官网网址� which the municipality conducts at the start of each new council term B次元官网网址� informs many measurements and targets in SaanichB次元官网网址檚 strategic plan by asking Saanich residents and entrepreneurs a series of questions. While Saanich had initially budgeted $50,000 for the surveys, a request-for-proposal returned four bids in excess of the initial budget, with bids ranging from $83,000 to $99,065.
B次元官网网址淚 think this is very important input for us, as an incoming council to inform our strategic planning that lies ahead, to give us a sense of levels of satisfaction and priorities in our community with respect to services,B次元官网网址� said Mersereau in justifying the increase, with the additional funding coming from SaanichB次元官网网址檚 strategic initiatives contingency fund, whose current balance stands at $339,580.
Councillors could have had the option to cancel the business section of the surveys, but rejected that recommendation from staff, which said it is uncommon for municipalities to survey residents and businesses separately.
B次元官网网址淚 personally donB次元官网网址檛 consider it palatable at this time to look at eliminating the business component of the survey,B次元官网网址� said Mersereau in her call for closer ties with the business community. B次元官网网址淚 think it is important for us to foster closer ties with our business community.B次元官网网址�
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The surveys themselves consist of a statistically significant phone survey with 1,000 residents and a statistically significant 15 minute phone survey with 400 business owners. All Saanich residents will also be able to fill out a non-statistically significant online survey.
While the questions have remained consistent over the years to allow for baselines and comparative historical trends, according to staff, council will have a chance to sign off on some additional questions next month.
B次元官网网址淲e wonB次元官网网址檛 be wordsmithing questions with this group B次元官网网址� we will take it back to the consultants and make sure the questions meet the requirements and get us the information that we need,B次元官网网址� said Laura Ciarniello, director of corporate services.
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