Priorities Survey   

• Results of the 2007 Priorities Survey
• Results of the 2007 Priorities Survey (PDF)

Since 1996, the City has conducted a citywide survey of residents called the "Priorities" survey. The services residents expect from their government, like police and fire protection, road maintenance and water, are important for a healthy community but expensive to provide. Because there are many needs and a limited amount of money to meet those needs, the City asks residents to help set its budgetary priorities.

Throughout the survey, residents are asked several questions about different city services by considering how important it is that the service be provided as well as how satisfied residents are with the City's ability to provide it. Ideally, the areas which respondents rate highest in importance would also be rated highest in satisfaction. While this is true for many services, some areas have discrepancies between average importance and satisfaction ratings.

The City's sample population is selected randomly from the Utility Billing database, and participation is anonymous. This year, the survey will be distributed near the end of July and results will be made available to the public in the early fall with a formal presentation to the City Council. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about the Priorities Survey please contact us at (630) 377-4422/CAO@stcharlesil.gov.

Business Retention Survey   Results of the 2006 Business Retention Survey
The Business Retention Survey has been conducted every two years since 1998 to identify and manage economic development issues and to assist the City in formulating pro-business policies. By understanding issues that are important to business owners and operators, St. Charles can maintain its reputation as a good place to do business.

The survey seeks to understand two things: First, the opinions of local business owners and operators about what they have experienced while doing business in the City. Second, what are their upcoming facility plans. For instance, if they are expanding do they have enough room at their current location, or if they are leaving, why? In either case, the City would like to know if there is anything it could do to help businesses expand and grow here in St. Charles. Throughout the survey, respondents are asked several questions about different city services by considering how important they are in determining business location as well as how satisfied they are with their location regarding those services.

The survey is sent to St. Charles businesses that are taken from the Economic Development employers database. This list includes manufacturing businesses, those operating in an office environment, and the full variety of businesses operating in our smaller business parks and multi-tenant buildings. Respondents are asked to rate several city services by considering how important they are in determining business location as well as how satisfied respondents are with the City’s ability to provide those services.

Participation is anonymous, and results from the 2004 Survey ar available here. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about the Business Retention Survey please contact the Economic Development Department at (630) 443-4093.

Police Incident Follow-up Surveys
In an effort to provide the finest police service to the residents of St. Charles, the Police Department implemented the use of the Incident Follow-up Survey as of January 1, 2002. This survey will gather data that will be used in combination with the information collected from the annual Priorities survey (see description above). The Incident Follow-up Survey asks residents about their experience with the Police Department. Each month, the survey is sent to every eighth person that has had direct contact with the department. Measures in this survey include the type of incident that was reported, the level of satisfaction with the department interaction they had, as well as some demographic information. As always, participation is anonymous. Annual results from the survey will be used to establish training and service criteria. The annual results for 2002 will be posted here in early 2003.

Internal Surveys
The City also conducts two internal surveys: the Internal Customer Survey and the Employee Input Survey. The Internal Customer Survey was developed because there were no existing tools to gauge internal customer/employee satisfaction with the services they received from the Finance, Information Systems and Human Resources areas. This survey is customer service focused and surveys all full and regular part-time employees on the quality of the service they receive from these three departments since they have divisions that only service internal customers. The Employee Input Survey has been conducted since 1996 in an effort to understand employee needs and concerns. In 2000, the City decided to administer this survey every other year. This survey measures satisfaction and understanding of compensation, performance evaluations, communication within the organization and so on. Results of these surveys are typically not released in public to ensure confidentiality and anonymity.

Up to this point, many of our communication efforts with residents have concentrated on the written word and one-way communication (surveys, City Grapevine, From the Den city newsletter, feedback cards, focus groups, etc.). The only form of two-way communications between elected officials and residents has been on an individual basis as issues arise. The premise behind the "City Hall Housecalls" program is to make the elected officials in the community and the City Administrator more accessible to residents in the community and promote one-on-one communications. This program allows residents an informal and comfortable forum in which to meet with their aldermen, the Mayor and the City Administrator to talk about issues, ask questions, discuss concerns and offer comments or suggestions. Here’s how the program works:

• Any resident, homeowners association, or alderman may host a Housecall.
• The Mayor, City Administrator, and aldermen representing that ward meet at the host’s home or another designated place.
• The host is responsible to invite guests and provide refreshments, if desired, at the meeting. A minimum gathering of 10 people is required for a good, rounded discussion. No maximum is specified.
• No meetings are held in December and July due to holidays and vacation schedules.

The City’s various commissions are an interesting and active way to get involved in City government. The commissions discuss important matters in great detail and make recommendations to the City Council. They work closely with City staff on projects large and small that have a great impact on residents and businesses, both now and far into the future. Commissions also help educate the public on issues such as tree preservation, collaborate with other organizations and community groups, and award grants to encourage revitalization, beautification, cultural programs, community assistance programs, and more. If you would like to see what it’s all about, public attendance and input at commission meetings is always welcome and encouraged. Residents of the City of St. Charles may also be appointed to a City commission. First check out our list of boards and commissions to find one of interest and see if and when there might be an opening. Additional information on the responsibilities and requirements of the commissions can be found in the St. Charles Municipal Code. A letter of interest and resume should be mailed to the Mayor’s Office, 2 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL 60174 or emailed to mayor@stcharlesil.gov. Please call Tina Nilles, the Mayor’s Administrative Assistant, at (630) 377-4445 with questions.