Watchdog challenges validity of Elk Grove's quality of live survey findings
According to Elk Grove's newly assigned innovations czar, Carrie Whitlock, the city had only 332 responses for a six percent participation rate.
During their July 24 meeting, the Elk Grove City Council received a report on a quality of life survey commissioned earlier this year. While the results were favorable, a city government watchdog questioned the validity given the small sample size.
This spring, the biennial National Community Survey was conducted. A survey postcard with an internet link was sent to 6,000 randomly selected Elk Grove households.
According to Elk Grove's newly assigned innovations czar, Carrie Whitlock, the city had only 332 responses for a six percent participation rate.
The city's estimated population is 180,000During public comment, Elk Grove governance watchdog Lynn Wheat challenged the validity of the finding, given it gauged only 332 people. The innovation czar's report states, "Elected officials can use the results to determine community needs and spending priorities."
Ms. Wheat noted that participation rates for the biennial survey have steadily dropped since they began in 2009.
"In 2009, we had a 22 percent response rate; 2011, 25 percent, 2013, 23 percent," she said.
Moving closer to today, Wheat added, "In 2019, we had a 17 percent response."To drive her point about this year's low response, Wheat compared it to the most recent survey in 2021. The data Wheat provided was gathered from previous years' reports available on the city's website."
In 2021, we sent out over 6,000, and 723 people responded, and we had an 11 percent response rate," she said. "In 2024, we sent out almost 6,000 with 332 people responding and a six percent response rate.
Wheat added, "I have concerns because in 2009, we had a 22 percent response rate, and this year, we had only a six percent response rate."
Ms. Wheat's entire commentary, including data about the number of people attending government meetings or watching online, is cited and can be viewed in the below video.
The only city council member who addressed Wheat's data was District 4 representative Sergio Robles, who tacitly acknowledged the survey's flaws.
"Everything with statistics and data, there's always room for improvement," he admitted.
