Insight from a recent Sioux Center Community Survey will help shape current projects and long-term planning. The Sioux Center City Council recently reviewed the results from the Community Survey, which was completed this past fall by 448 people.
“The survey is a great tool for staff to use in working with the Mayor and City Council to keep identifying priorities that align with community feedback,” City Manager Scott Wynja said. “It helps guide various discussions and future decisions as we plan for our community.”
Survey respondents gave high marks for utility and city services and programs, ranging from library to emergency services, showing increases in favorability compared to the surveys from 5 and 10 years ago.
“From the utility side, this feedback affirms our efforts to serve our community well, and we want to use this survey to continue to guide our part in equipping this community for a strong future,” said Utilities Manager Murray Hulstein. The utilities each saw 90% or higher “Good” or “Very Good” ratings.
Respondents also ranked key areas for Sioux Center to focus on for community development, transportation, parks, and recreation.
Two-thirds of respondents ranked “housing choices for all ages/incomes” as one of the top priorities for community development, with other top priorities in that area being “retail and commercial growth” and “ease of bicycle and walking travel in town,” with a number of comments highlighting residential upkeep. In transportation priorities, “street repairs/replacements” was ranked highly by more than two-thirds of respondents, followed by “walking/bicycle paths” and “sidewalk expansion.” For parks, the number one area selected by respondents for future investments was “expand recreation trails.” Following that were “maintenance of park grounds/facilities” and “sidewalks and accessibility.” Priorities for future recreation investments that rose to the top were “indoor recreation facilities,” “improving existing facilities,” and “outdoor recreation facilities,” with a trend in comments highlighting pickleball.
“We appreciate everyone who took time to fill out the Community Survey,” Mayor Dale Vander Berg said. “ It’s a value to us as we continue to look toward the future. This insight will help guide our planning and conversations as council and with City staff.”
The survey was offered in English and Spanish, in print and online, and it asked for public feedback on city and utility services, programs and future planning. Responses from the recent Community Survey will be available on the City website at www.siouxcenter.org/surveyresults.
