LakewoodAlive, a citizens’ economic development advocacy group committed to helping create informed and engaged residents, has announced they will conduct a follow-up citizen survey to their most recent December 2005 survey. The online survey is available to every Lakewood citizen via their website at www.lakewoodalive.com. The nine-question survey will be conducted between March 21 and April 13, 2006. All Lakewood citizens are encouraged to complete the survey and post their comments. The survey results will be shared with city officials and published for public consumption at a later date.

Recently, Lakewood City Council decided not to place a proposed income tax increase on the May 2006 ballot. On nearly the same timing, council members jointly authored an internal memo recommending that it was time for the Administration, City Council, City of Lakewood employees and Lakewood residents to formulate and adopt a longer term view regarding finances, services and resources.

Results from the most recent LakewoodAlive survey indicated that the Grow Lakewood Report provided an important roadmap for the next phase of planning. Survey respondents indicated that a detailed plan was urgently needed and that both the Mayor and City Council should jointly lead the effort. Additionally, respondents noted that housing, commercial development and city finances were prime opportunity areas to be incorporated into any planning effort. Recognizing that planning is easier in theory than in practice, LakewoodAlive is interested in how citizens believe the next phase of planning should be conducted by the city. Specifically, how does Lakewood build a comprehensive and winning strategic plan, in a timely manner that the community can enthusiastically support? The LakewoodAlive survey is intended to answer these and other important questions.