MICA survey to assist city leader decisions

MARCO ISLAND — Animated dad Homer Simpson may have said it best when he came up with this quip about surveys and statistics: “Aw, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. Forty percent of all people know that.”

However, the annual Marco Island Civic Association’s membership survey lends some serious insight into what Islanders want.

The MICA Board will share the results with the membership and the Marco Island City Council as well, since many of the questions relate to city issues, reported Ruth McCann, MICA’s executive director.

“All seven councilors agreed that the survey is the only tool available to them to gauge property owners’ opinions and that the survey results are directionally accurate,” she wrote in an e-mail to the Eagle Wednesday.

Councilmen mentioned the survey as a steering tool and gauge of community desires at their day-long, annual goal-setting session at the Marco Hilton in January.

When it comes to questions about hot city topics such as electric municipalization, a potential future Island high school, a fire assessment and what to do with Tract K, councilmen are likely to get the direction they need with this year’s survey results.

“The survey received a minor makeover this year and was mailed a little earlier than usual to attain an even greater rate of return,” said McCann.

The 2008 survey was sent out in May to about 7,000 MICA members and about 2,600 responded. This year, the survey was sent out in late March.

Among the new topics on the survey are whether Islanders believe there should be limits in the number and length of term individuals serve on city committees and advisory boards.

“Should there be a limit to the number of City of Marco Island boards and advisory committees on which a single individual may serve at the same time? Currently there is no limit,” one of the questions read.

Another topic that receives a lot of attention in city government and politics is the city’s spending cap.

The city charter limits operating expenditures each year to an increase from the prior year’s spending of 3 percent plus the Federal Cost of Living Adjustment (C.O.L.A.) This spending cap does not apply to emergencies, capital expenditures, grants or enterprise funds.

Since a committee is now reviewing the city charter, MICA asked members if they believed the city’s spending cap should be retained, raised or eliminated.

Survey results due back this summer and should let councilors know if taxpayers think the city should get more money each year or not.

Other questions include whether Islanders would like Wednesday’s Farmers’ Market at Mackle Park to continue in the summer and fall, but perhaps with fewer vendors, and whether Islanders would prefer Marco Urgent Care Center was open 24 hours per day, to avoid a 13-mile trek to the nearest 24-hour medical center, which is Physicians Regional.

Respondent’s will have the opportunity to share their level of satisfaction with the city manager, City Council and Planning Board.

MICA-specific questions gauge Islanders’ satisfaction with MICA and Residents’ Beach. Other questions pertain to awareness of MICA’s discount program with local businesses for MICA members and whether members would prefer less US Postal Service mail and more e-mail.