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Annual Survey Seeks Input From Zephyrhills Residents

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By LAURA KINSLER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - The city has tailored its annual citizen survey this year to find out what residents think about subjects ranging from one-way traffic on Gall Boulevard to feral poultry.

In a few weeks, Zephyrhills will mail 1,300 questionnaires to a random sampling of residents. This is the fifth year the city has partnered with the University of South Florida and its research-method students to tap the psyche of city residents.

Each year, the city poses general questions about residents' satisfaction with city services and government officials.

The 2009 survey includes questions about a Florida Department of Transportation plan to make Gall, also known as U.S. 301, a one-way street. The proposal is part of a $70 million project to improve traffic flow from State Road 39 to North Avenue.

"Every year we try to include questions that tie it to an issue that's current," City Manager Steve Spina said.

City leaders believe the majority of residents oppose the plan. At a public workshop Dec. 1, half of the people who filed comments said they opposed it. Spina said if the surveys come back with positive comments, the city may have to rethink its position.

The survey also asks whether residents agree with a proposal to move city elections from February to November so they would coincide with state and national elections.

Respondents will even get a chance to rank the most significant challenges facing Zephyrhills in 2009. Typical choices, such as traffic congestions and budget restrictions, are among the options. For the first time, residents could choose "wild chicken population" as a problem.

The city pays a trapper $10 for every stray bird he captures.

"It's a persistent problem, but it's a new question," Spina said.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 779-4617.

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