Birmingham to conduct professional survey

By Grace Lovins

At the request of the city commission, Birmingham will begin looking at contracting a research firm to conduct a resident survey.

Commissioners directed city manager Jana Ecker and city staff during the Monday, August 25, meeting to look at professional research firms to conduct a survey gathering insight on resident priorities and values.

The possibility of conducting a survey was originally brought up by commissioner Andrew Haig who explained that a community survey could provide the commission with insight into what residents really want to see as well as their satisfaction with current city services and programs.

During the Monday, June 9, meeting, the commission voted to move the topic forward as a formal agenda item, said assistant city manager Melissa Fairbairn.

According to Fairbairn, the survey would supply the city with reliable data to guide future policy and budget decisions.

At the August 25 meeting, the commission was presented with the option of conducting the survey in-house, similar to how the city previously conducted the aging in place survey, or contracting an outside professional firm to conduct the survey.

Fairbairn explained that conducting a survey in-house would entail sending surveys out with the city’s water bills, as was the case with the aging in place survey, and using the online platform Engage Birmingham. She wrote in the meeting packet memorandum that the cost associated with this route would be approximately $10,000 for staff time, printing and postage. Fairbairn also stated that this route could take significant time to compile the results and analyze the data.

While a more expensive route, the commission could also choose to look at hiring a professional research firm to conduct the survey and compile the data. Fairbairn explained that she received two quotes from different firms ranging between $20,000 and $30,000. According to Fairbairn, there’s a benefit to hiring a professional firm as they would take a statistically sound sample and provide benchmark questions to compare with state and federal responses.

Haig and commissioners Brad Host, Anthony Long and mayor Therese Longe all agreed that looking at hiring an outside firm to conduct the survey would be in the city’s best interest. Haig and Longe both stated that there will need to be parameters to the survey and the questions will need to be carefully curated to ensure results relevant to the city of Birmingham.

In a 4-0 vote, the commission unanimously voted to direct Ecker and city staff to look into hiring a professional firm to conduct the survey. Commissioners Jason Emerine, Katie Schafer and mayor pro tem Clinton Baller were absent from the meeting.