Survey says most citizens satisfied with city services

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1998 | 11:11 a.m.

Most Las Vegas residents are satisfied with the city services they receive, even though they can't identify their city councilman.

Those are among the findings of a telephone survey of 500 city residents conducted by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce for a committee reviewing the size of City Council and whether to increase compensation or job status of council members.

Of those surveyed, 75 percent said they were "satisfied with the level of services" they receive from the city and 55 percent said they believed City Council was moving in the right direction, according to the results.

Sixty percent of those questioned, however, could not name the councilman who represents the ward in which they live.

Only 15 percent of the residents polled had ever tried to contact their councilman's office. Of those, 75 percent said they received a timely response when they did call.

The committee, which will make its final recommendation to City Council early next year, will discuss the results of the survey at a meeting Thursday afternoon.

The survey was conducted for free, in part because Bob Forbuss, chairman-elect of the chamber, is one of seven members of the Council Review Committee.

That committee was formed in October by City Council to make a recommendation about whether the current board should expand beyond its four members, whether City Council should be a full-time job and whether the current $36,400 annual salary of council members needs to be raised.

Results of the survey won't likely prove the definitive data the committee was seeking to help it make its recommendation.

Of those called, 59 percent thought each councilman represented too many residents, while about 28 percent thought the representation level of about 112,000 residents per ward was just right.

The committee already has received scads of demographic information, growth projections and maps compiled at its request by city staff members from a host of departments.

Although the committee has yet to draw any final conclusions, its members have expressed an interest in increasing council members' salaries. The committee has also stated that a council position should not be full-time in the sense that it prohibits a person from holding an outside job.

Committee members have also stated they would be hesitant to increase the size of the council if residents were happy with the services they are receiving.

Adding one council member would cost $275,120 annually with one-time costs of $105,000 for office renovations, furniture and equipment. Adding two council positions would cost $550,240 annually with one-time costs of $170,000.

"Without having any more data to suggest we need two more seats is like adding two more wheels to a car and saying it's going to run better," Forbuss said at the Dec. 3 meeting.