Eagan Ranks Highly in New Survey
City of Eagan
Published November 15, 2005
The 2005 City of Eagan survey is back and 95% of residents rate the quality of life in Eagan as excellent or good. 81% of the 400 residents polled in the random survey say Eagan is moving in the right direction. That’s tops in the metro area according to research consultant Dr. Bill Morris of Decision Resources, Ltd.Morris says residents like their location, their neighborhoods and the parks and trails most. Growth, traffic and airport noise were seen as the most serious issues facing the city, though 24% could find no serious issue. In terms of community characteristics—everything from entertainment to housing options—most residents surveyed felt Eagan had “about the right amount” of establishments. However, 48% said we had too little affordable housing and 46% said we had too few starter homes for young families.Cliff Road narrowly outpolled Pilot Knob as the county road perceived to be the busiest in Eagan. 48% said they commute from Eagan, with most going to St. Paul, Minneapolis or Bloomington. While more Eagan residents say their ease of getting to work is better than in 2002, nearly a third have commute times of between 26 and over 30 minutes.What’s missing from Eagan? Eagan residents appear to want more sit-down family restaurants; they would like to attract some additional upscale fine dining choices and ethnic restaurants. 77% said they would be somewhat or very likely to shop at a consumer electronics store in Eagan. The poll was conducted in August, prior to the news being widely known that a new Best Buy is planned to open in the spring of 2006 on the site of the former Eagan 9 Mann Theater and Red Robin Restaurant. 60% would be likely to shop at a women’s clothing chain store, and 59% said they would be likely to shop at an organic or natural foods grocery store.Speaking of nature, Eagan residents want to preserve more of it. 86% say it is somewhat or very important to purchase additional open space areas for preservation even if it involved the use of tax dollars. Nearly 60% say they would be willing to pay something more per month in taxes to fund land acquisition. That amount averages out to $3.54 per month, but at least two out of ten residents polled are unwilling to pay any additional property taxes and nearly 20% indicate that it would depend on the specific site being acquired. Furthering the green trend, a nearly universal 99% say it is very important or somewhat important that Eagan have good water quality in its lakes and ponds.At least seven out of ten Eagan residents rated all City services as excellent or good with park maintenance, police and fire protection all regarded highly by over 90% of residents. 94% rank the courtesy of city staff as excellent or good, 92% say the staff is prompt in responding and 91% say they got their question or inquiry answered when they contacted city staff. “While we must always strive to improve and find new ways to serve the public, these numbers are a credit to the excellent city staff and all they do each day,” said Eagan Mayor Pat Geagan. In addition, 83% of residents polled approve or strongly approve of the job the City Council is doing. Again, according to Morris, that is the highest approval rating for a City Council in the metro area.Morris summed up the survey this way: “To a degree seen in only three other metro communities (Minnetonka, Shoreview and Woodbury), Eagan residents are pleased where they are and confident about where they are moving.The survey is accurate to plus or minus five percentage points. The last time the survey was conducted was in 2002. Look for replays of the October 11 City Council Workshop survey presentation on Cable Channel 16.
