The feedback from the listening sessions and online poll was presented to the Council in February of 2022. During the May 16, 2023, City Council Work Session, staff provided an overview of the recommendations developed by the Study Group and shared updates on the recommendations that have been implemented to date, including the Vote Local Raleigh Education Initiative. Following the discussion, staff was directed by Council to return with information and the estimated cost of a third-party pollster to conduct a survey of the general public. Community Engagement staff worked to obtain quotes and returned to Council in June 2023 with two potential vendors, costs, and approach to conducting a statistically valid randomized sampling.
ETC Institute was the selected vendor and entered into a contract with the City on August 1, 2023. The Community Survey Findings Report, conducted by ETC Institute, asked survey participants:
- How supportive would you be of City Council members serving a 4-year term instead of a 2-year term?
- How supportive would you be of the City adopting staggered terms, where all 5 District City Council members are elected during the same election, and the mayor and both At-Large City Council members are elected two years later?
- How supportive would you be of the City adding multiple District seats?
- How supportive would you be of the City staying with 5 City Council Districts, but adding multiple At-Large City Council members?
- The remaining questions collected demographic data.
During the Jan. 16 City Council Meeting, staff will provide an overview, followed by a presentation from Jason Morado, Vice President, and Director of Community Research for ETC Institute. The ETC presentation will cover the results of the randomized survey. The City Attorney's Office will also present council with a reminder of the charter amendment process required to implement the surveyed changes, potential timelines for that process, and other key dates to consider.
