Board advances hurricane after‑action survey process; seeks edits and faster timeline

The Citizen Advisory Board continued its hurricane after‑action review on Jan. 29 and agreed to a fast‑track schedule for finalizing a community survey to gather public feedback on the city’s hurricane response.

Dr. Davis, who is leading the after‑action project, told the board that city staff will support the survey process and that Lorraine Anderson, public information officer in the city manager’s office, will assist with putting the questions into the city’s Microsoft survey tool and summarizing responses. Board members discussed question scope, length, distribution methods and a timeline that would allow preliminary recommendations to reach city departments before the 2025 hurricane season.

Board members and staff said the survey will be hosted on the city website with a QR link and that the city can provide assistance for residents without internet access. Lorraine Anderson said the city can use an internal Microsoft survey product rather than third‑party SurveyMonkey. Dr. Davis said the board’s current working plan is to circulate the survey in March, collect responses for roughly a month, and then compile results for preliminary recommendations at the end of March; he added the group could use follow‑up public meetings in mid‑March and again after results are analyzed.

The scope of questions and question count were prominent topics of debate. Members submitted more than 100 suggested questions; Dr. Davis proposed consolidating them into a shorter instrument. Board members and staff suggested keeping the survey concise to limit dropouts, with one staff suggestion of 15–20 questions as an ideal range and other participants noting 25–30 questions could be workable for testing. Lorraine Anderson estimated two to three days to load a 30‑question draft into the survey tool for testing.

Board members emphasized that the survey should distinguish respondents who experienced the summer 2024 storms from those who were not present at the time; Dr. Davis agreed to add a screening question. The group also discussed demographic and location items (evacuation zone, neighborhood) to allow geographic analysis and asked for clarity on which services the city controls versus those under county, utility or private jurisdiction. The city clerk’s office advised that questions should focus on information the board is charged to provide to the City Council and to avoid asking about matters outside city control without context.

Several local partners offered distribution support. Dr. Davis said Venice Main Street and the Chamber would circulate the survey link to their memberships. A hospital representative, Sharon Rausch, told board members that the hospital had already provided a report to the city on its internal storm response and would distribute the survey link to hospital staff. Board members also discussed options for in‑person or kiosk access at city facilities and the library for residents without internet access.

For process and schedule, the board agreed that: members will submit edits to the draft survey via the city clerk (Amanda) within one week; the clerk will provide a Word version of the draft; Dr. Davis and staff will produce a beta survey for board members to test; Lorraine will format the tool within two to three days after receiving finalized questions; and the board’s next meeting to review the draft is Feb. 19 (agenda materials due Feb. 11). The board voted to continue the hurricane after‑action discussion to the next meeting so those steps can be completed.

Board members repeatedly cautioned that some survey topics (power restoration, county debris contracting, telecommunications) involve county or private providers; staff urged question wording that clarifies which agencies provide which services so responses are informative for city recommendations. Dr. Davis said the board’s goal is to produce evidence‑based recommendations to the City Council that city departments can use before the June 1 hurricane season start.