City surveys residents' satisfaction

SANDPOINT — An online survey is available to pave the way for an intensive study of Sandpoint courtesy of the Idaho state government.

Sandpoint City Planner Jeremy Grimm is encouraging Sandpoint residents to take part in an Internet questionnaire. The approximately 15-minute survey gauges local satisfaction with community convenience and public services. Residents can access the survey at www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1329861/Sandpoint-Community-Review-Survey-Final.

“On behalf of the mayor and city council, we are hopeful that residents will check in through the survey ... and let us know what they think we are doing right and what we need to do differently,” Grimm said.

It is the second step in preparations toward a state review conducted by the Idaho Rural Partnership next month, following a batch of similar surveys mailed to select Sandpoint homes at the beginning of the month. Between the two distribution methods, the collected data will provide a foundation for an intensive community study by some of the state’s best economic and social development specialists.

“This is truly a grass roots effort resulting in a document that will guide us into the future,” Grimm said.

According to Grimm, some of the survey questions center around the ease of accessibility to downtown Sandpoint, while others center on public services like the SPOT bus. One of the more important sections evaluates what qualities make Sandpoint living special and should be preserved or developed.

The survey results will pave the way for the full Idaho Rural Partnership, scheduled for Sept. 17-19. At that point, community members will have opportunities to give the visiting team a sense of Sandpoint during tours, interviews and meetings. The entire process will culminate in a report recommending methods to improve the local economy and overall quality of life, Grimm said.