Chief
08-30-2007, 07:26 AM
JEFFREY MIZE, columbian staff writer
February 9, 2001; Page A1
Almost 90 percent of 307 Vancouver-area residents polled Thursday believe there should be a public vote on the $60 million downtown special events center and convention center, but only slightly more than half oppose the project, according to a KATU-TV poll conducted by Survey USA. The New Jersey company randomly called residents in the Vancouver area to find out where they stood on the project, considered a keystone in the city's drive to reshape its downtown.
The sample size was small, which means the poll has a large margin of error plus or minus 5.8 percentage points.
Project backers deemed the results of the support-or-oppose question reasonably positive, particularly since respondents were warned the city could face a $43 million debt if the events center and convention center fail.
"For the question being asked the way it was, that's a tremendous response," said Jerry Jenkins, president of Renaissance Resources Group, the project's developer.
Jenkins said respondents could have been asked if they support a project that would provide affordable family entertainment and create more than 900 jobs.
"It would be interesting to see what that answer would be," he said.
Larry Patella, a member of Citizens for Common Sense, said he wasn't surprised by the poll.
No surprise
"I think the results are pretty much along the lines that our group is pursuing," he said. "I don't think we have ever said we were definitely against it. But we do think, as most voters do, that there ought to be a public vote."
Patella, however, doesn't believe the poll will persuade the city council to hold some type of advisory vote.
"I think they have been pretty upfront and pretty adamant on the fact they don't want us to vote," he said.
City officials have said a public vote isn't necessary because no taxes would be increased. They also concede it's a complicated project that would be difficult to reduce to catchy campaign slogans and lawn signs.
Jenkins said there have been almost 70 neighborhood and public meetings on the proposed convention center and events center.
"It's not something that's new and something that people are trying to rush through," he said.
Men more supportive
Breakdowns show that men and younger people are more likely to support the convention center and events center.
Fifty-one percent of men surveyed thought the city should move ahead, while only 33 percent of women agreed.
Among those 55 and older, 60 percent opposed the project. Fifty percent of respondents 35 to 54 opposed the project, along with 48 percent of those 18 to 34.
Jenkins said he wasn't surprised by the age breakdown. Older people are more likely to be living on fixed incomes and worried about the project's effect on city finances, while younger residents have more disposable income and want entertainment to enjoy in their spare time, he said.
The poll was taken during the afternoon so KATU could broadcast results on its evening newscast. Since many people still work a traditional 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. day, the time may have skewed results.
But Fred Bierman, an editor with Survey USA, said telecommuting, flexible work hours and other factors offset that effect.
"More and more, the daytime population parallels the population as a whole," he said.
Final decision near
The Vancouver City Council this week pushed ahead with the events center and convention center, which would be built on two blocks south of Esther Short Park.
The council is expected to give the project tentative approval March 24, followed by formal approval in mid-April.
The project includes an events center with 6,500 seats, 41 luxury suites, a restaurant-sports bar and fast-food outlets; a convention center with 20,655 square feet of exhibition space and meeting rooms totaling 7,515 square feet; and a seven-story hotel with 174 rooms and 6,800 square feet of retail space.
The Vancouver Public Facilities District, which the city council formed in 1999, would pay for and own the convention center and events center. Renaissance Resources Group, would pay for and own the hotel.
February 9, 2001; Page A1
Almost 90 percent of 307 Vancouver-area residents polled Thursday believe there should be a public vote on the $60 million downtown special events center and convention center, but only slightly more than half oppose the project, according to a KATU-TV poll conducted by Survey USA. The New Jersey company randomly called residents in the Vancouver area to find out where they stood on the project, considered a keystone in the city's drive to reshape its downtown.
The sample size was small, which means the poll has a large margin of error plus or minus 5.8 percentage points.
Project backers deemed the results of the support-or-oppose question reasonably positive, particularly since respondents were warned the city could face a $43 million debt if the events center and convention center fail.
"For the question being asked the way it was, that's a tremendous response," said Jerry Jenkins, president of Renaissance Resources Group, the project's developer.
Jenkins said respondents could have been asked if they support a project that would provide affordable family entertainment and create more than 900 jobs.
"It would be interesting to see what that answer would be," he said.
Larry Patella, a member of Citizens for Common Sense, said he wasn't surprised by the poll.
No surprise
"I think the results are pretty much along the lines that our group is pursuing," he said. "I don't think we have ever said we were definitely against it. But we do think, as most voters do, that there ought to be a public vote."
Patella, however, doesn't believe the poll will persuade the city council to hold some type of advisory vote.
"I think they have been pretty upfront and pretty adamant on the fact they don't want us to vote," he said.
City officials have said a public vote isn't necessary because no taxes would be increased. They also concede it's a complicated project that would be difficult to reduce to catchy campaign slogans and lawn signs.
Jenkins said there have been almost 70 neighborhood and public meetings on the proposed convention center and events center.
"It's not something that's new and something that people are trying to rush through," he said.
Men more supportive
Breakdowns show that men and younger people are more likely to support the convention center and events center.
Fifty-one percent of men surveyed thought the city should move ahead, while only 33 percent of women agreed.
Among those 55 and older, 60 percent opposed the project. Fifty percent of respondents 35 to 54 opposed the project, along with 48 percent of those 18 to 34.
Jenkins said he wasn't surprised by the age breakdown. Older people are more likely to be living on fixed incomes and worried about the project's effect on city finances, while younger residents have more disposable income and want entertainment to enjoy in their spare time, he said.
The poll was taken during the afternoon so KATU could broadcast results on its evening newscast. Since many people still work a traditional 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. day, the time may have skewed results.
But Fred Bierman, an editor with Survey USA, said telecommuting, flexible work hours and other factors offset that effect.
"More and more, the daytime population parallels the population as a whole," he said.
Final decision near
The Vancouver City Council this week pushed ahead with the events center and convention center, which would be built on two blocks south of Esther Short Park.
The council is expected to give the project tentative approval March 24, followed by formal approval in mid-April.
The project includes an events center with 6,500 seats, 41 luxury suites, a restaurant-sports bar and fast-food outlets; a convention center with 20,655 square feet of exhibition space and meeting rooms totaling 7,515 square feet; and a seven-story hotel with 174 rooms and 6,800 square feet of retail space.
The Vancouver Public Facilities District, which the city council formed in 1999, would pay for and own the convention center and events center. Renaissance Resources Group, would pay for and own the hotel.