Lake Elmo OKs Polco community survey subscription to guide parks planning

The Lake Elmo City Council authorized staff on May 5 to receive a quote and scope of services from Polco to administer the National Community Survey (NCS) and provide access to Polco’s Engage platform. Alec Vice of Polco described a scientifically valid approach that typically samples 3,000 households (random sample via GIS shapefile) and produces benchmarkable results across ten livability facets. The national average response for the random sample is about 12 percent, though Minnesota communities commonly see higher returns (often 15–20 percent).

Polco’s offering couples the NCS (a two‑to‑three week random‑sample instrument) with an online resident panel for follow‑up engagement. Polco described anti‑ballot‑stuffing measures (IP tracking and optional unique PINs for mailed packets), optional translations, and custom benchmarking. The three‑year package presented to the council was priced at $24,000 total and would include one NCS administration, one page of custom questions, and access to the Engage platform for follow‑up polling.

Council members asked about statistical significance, open participation, ownership of raw data and practical uses for planning (for example, informing the sports‑complex and park master plan RFP discussed later in the meeting). Alec Vice said Polco owns the data for benchmark purposes but will provide the city a copy of its hard data and the report on request; he said the firm publishes methods and is accredited by the American Association for Public Opinion Research.

Council approved proceeding with Polco’s quote and scope to support upcoming engagement for a 76‑acre park/sports complex and other city projects.

Sources: Polco presentation and council Q&A during the May 5 meeting; Alec Vice (Polco).