Executive Summary of Envision 2020 Community Survey

Survey was completed a total of 585 times, 8 on mobile devices, 134 on paper surveys and the 443 taken online.

People that were involved in phase 1 of E2020

• 91 respondents identified themselves as being involved in phase 1 of Envision 2020.

Rank of Key Performance Areas that are believed to be the most important to our future

• 22% – 378 votes – Livability
• 20% – 344 votes – Education
• 6% – 337 votes – Economic Development
• 1% – 242 votes – Community Planning & Regional Governance
• 8% – 238 votes – Health & Human Services
• 5% – 180 votes – Transportation

Top 5 most important goals and priorities

• 759 – Business Development
• 748 – Retain and attract an educated workforce
• 688 – Optimize our existing resources/businesses to support a livable, sustainable and regional economy that supports controlled growth
• 531 – Address affordable housing and the preservation of housing stock
• 501 – Encourage the development of a multi-sport complex

Other Goals and Priorities

• A sizable amount of respondents want a competition level swimming pool.
• Many people want better sharing of resources between Mankato and N. Mankato
• Attract jobs that provide a living wage
• More youth opportunities and limiting activity fees for the youth (Including transportation)
• Issues around poverty, affordable housing and diversity
• Issues pertaining to public safety (i.e. domestic violence, number of police and fire, education)
• Education for all ages (Especially early childhood and lifelong learners)
• Address sprawl and sustainability
• Transportation (i.e. for youth, future, cycling, to and from other regional hubs)

Avenues of how people would like to become involved

• 263 people would like to be a part of focus groups
• 98 people would like to become a KPA team member
  • Below is the breakdown of which KPA people specified they wanted to be a part of
    • 17 – Livability
    • 9 – Transportation
    • 9 – Education
    • 8 – Health & Human Services
    • 7 – Economic Development
    • 7 – Community Planning & Regional Governance
    • 3 – Any KPA
    • 1 – To be determined
    • 37 – Didn’t specify
  • 38 people would like to provide some sort of administrative help

Areas in which respondents reside

• 452 respondents reside in Mankato or North Mankato
  • 300 from Mankato
  • 152 from North Mankato
• 115 respondents reside outside of Mankato and North Mankato

Age

• Average age is around 42 years old
• 16 – 24 = 5.5%
• 25 – 34 = 17.6%
• 35 – 44 = 24.2%
• 45 – 54 = 21.8%
• 55 – 64 = 19.8%
• 65+ = 11.1%

Key observations from subjective responses

• Clarification must be made of how E2020 is considered to be a steering organization, rather than a rowing organization. Some respondents were confused why E2020 took credit for some of the accomplishments. Envision 2020 is an engine to raise awareness and apply pressure to organizations that enact change.
• Community Planning & Regional Governance as defined in phase 1 is nearly completed.
• New areas of focus can be applied to these KPAs based on comments from the survey. Areas which KPAs could now include are issue revolving around living wages, affordable housing, community diversity, expanding youth opportunities including transportation and the collaboration of Mankato and North Mankato for City services.