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Statistically valid survey shows Calistoga residents prioritize speedway, RV park, evacuation center and parks for fairgrounds
Summary
FM3 Research presented a resident survey of 641 Calistoga residents (fieldwork Sep. 20–Oct. 12; MOE ~4.9%) showing clustered priorities for the Calistoga Fairgrounds — speedway, RV park, emergency evacuation center, annual fair and parks — and broad support (80%) for leasing portions of the property to generate maintenance revenue; council tasked the advisory committee with next steps.
FM3 Research and Strategy presented the findings of a statistically valid community survey about the Calistoga Fairgrounds on Nov. 18, reporting 641 resident responses collected from Sept. 20 to Oct. 12 and a reported margin of error of about 4.9 percent.
Lucia of FM3 said the survey was administered in English and Spanish via a dual‑mode outreach strategy (postcards, texts, email invitations and phone calls) and used demographic quotas to match local census characteristics. The firm reported 96% of respondents were familiar with the fairgrounds and 83% had visited it before 2018.
Open‑ended responses and ranking questions showed a clear cluster of top priorities: the speedway, the RV park, an emergency evacuation center, the annual fair, and public access to parks and open space (all within the survey’s margin of error of one another). Other uses such as a golf course, amphitheater, food bank, community center and sports fields were lower on the ranked list.
On financing, 80% supported leasing portions of the property to vendors or businesses to generate revenue for maintenance and reopening; a majority of resident respondents (56%) said they would be open to a local ballot measure to fund improvements, though only 17% strongly supported a generic tax idea when framed without specific mechanisms. FM3 cautioned that this was a resident survey (not a voter survey) and the firm did not test specific ballot language or detailed financing mechanisms at this stage.
During public comment residents cited a range of priorities including a dog park, arts space and support for maintaining community uses. Some participants questioned representativeness; FM3 and staff said outreach included ~4,700 mailed postcards, ~1,800 texts, ~1,600 emails and ~2,400 phone calls and that detailed slides and a full report will be posted and available at City Hall and to the Fairgrounds Advisory Committee.
Next steps: council members repeatedly emphasized that the survey is one data point and requested the advisory committee incorporate the results into an iterative planning process (possible feasibility studies, good/better/best options, funding analysis) and that staff keep the public informed via email and posted materials. FM3 will present the same materials to the Fairgrounds Advisory Committee at its Nov. 20 meeting and staff said copies of the slides and report will be made available.
