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Eldridge council approves $10,400 community survey to test support for new civic facilities
Summary
The council authorized up to $10,400 for a third‑party community perceptions survey to gauge support for a possible new city hall, police station and related facility moves; members emphasized using an objective outside vendor and said funds will come from miscellaneous administration.
The council voted to approve a community‑perceptions survey, not to exceed $10,400, to measure resident support for potential projects including a new city hall, a new police station and relocating the public works facility. City staff said funds for the work would come from the miscellaneous administration line in the current fiscal year and that the vendor proposed has prior municipal experience.
City staff framed the survey as a strategic, objective step to "take the temperature" of the community before advancing design or referendum plans. "If we are at or above that threshold, that's a good indicator that we can move forward and go out and do more community education about the project and getting more input from the community," staff said.
Council members stressed the importance of an independent, third‑party vendor to avoid bias in survey administration and analysis, and several members said they would prefer an outside vendor rather than a regional bi‑state organization. One council member moved to approve a contract not to exceed $10,000 and a second amended it to $10,400; the motion passed unanimously.
Staff said the survey would present basic project information and proposed options and return a report that the council could use to decide whether to pursue a public rollout or adjust the proposals. Council members suggested the city later combine the survey findings with public outreach and committee participation if the results pointed toward moving forward.
