Title
Community Business Survey
History
Since staff last brought this item to committee on February 4, 2013, the village has had conversations with the National Research Center (NRC); the City of Novi, Michigan; and the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce.
Through discussions with NRC and the City of Novi, it was determined that because the survey is new and in order to get the best comparable "benchmark" results, it would be best to wait until early fall to conduct the survey, when the City of Novi could also conduct their survey. Given both communities' similarities, benchmark data will be more meaningful and will control for seasonal impacts by conducting them in the same time frame.
The Village is working with the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce to determine how the Chamber can assist with this project.
The anticipated cost of this survey will be $20,700.
FEBRUARY 4, 2013:
On September 19, 2011, the Board of Trustees approved staff making preparations to conduct a community-wide survey. The Village launched its first community-wide survey in January, 2012. The results were analyzed and on Monday, May 7, 2012 representatives from the National Research Center presented the findings to the Board of Trustees.
As was previously discussed, the survey enabled the Village to actively seek residents’ input. Information being sought included but was not limited to community quality, community design, recreation & wellness, civic engagement, environmental sustainability, community inclusiveness, public safety, and public trust. This was the first phase of a community-wide survey effort.
The second phase is to utilize the findings of the Phase-I survey to further evaluate specific community attitudes or concerns across service lines.
Phase II is to follow up on more of the specifics of the community-wide survey. The National Citizen Survey (NCS) noted that economic development was identified as an opportunity for potential improvement. To achieve a more comprehensive view of community livability and to understand business owners’ or managers’ perspectives on Orland Park, the Village is interested in conducting a survey of the business community. Some of the areas to be assessed include owner/manager perspectives about community quality as well as barriers to business success that the Village may be able to address.
The NRC has developed the attached business-wide survey, which was developed with the input of Village staff, Chamber of Commerce officials and in collaboration with the City of Novi, Michigan.
All of registered businesses (approximately 3,150) will be chosen based on the Village’s business registry. The Chamber of Commerce will assist in delivering the survey postcards to those businesses that are not on the registry. The NRC will notify each business selected to participate in the survey through a postcard, followed by a letter from the Village with a URL for the business to complete the survey. A second postcard with the URL will also be sent as a reminder. Each of these contacts will be sent about one week apart. Once the survey results are obtained, they will be analyzed and a report prepared.
As was noted, the Village has reached out to the Chamber of Commerce to invite them to participate in a joint effort. As stated above, they will assist in delivering the survey postcards to those businesses that are not on our business registry. The project from start to finish is approximately 12 weeks. This timetable is attached as prepared by the National Research Center.
Financial Impact
Funds are available in the PIO budget. The actual cost of the survey will be $20,700.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve accepting the proposal from National Research Center to conduct a business-wide survey utilizing the National Citizen Survey (NCS);
And
Approve the Village Manager to execute an agreement with the National Research Center to conduct the survey in an amount not to exceed $20,700.