Your voice matters - Here are the results of my downtown survey

As "peak tourist season" here in Stillwater winds down, I created a survey about how residents feel about visiting downtown. The survey was spurred by my conversations this summer with my neighbors while canvassing in Ward 2, with business owners, and withresidents across the city at social gatherings. I wanted to get a sense of what issues were most important to people.

This is by no means a scientific study, and the results can hardly be described as statistically meaningful. The 82 people who responded across all 4 wards are a very small sample of our 19,000+ residents. I advertised the survey on Facebook and this web page, and this very likely skewed the demographics of the respondents.

Respondents' ward

Age of respondents

With all of these disclaimers, here are the results (and I invite you to participate if you haven't already!).

When asked, "What days of the week do you typically visit downtown Stillwater? How often would you LIKE to visit Stillwater but don't?", 78 people responded:

Interesting visual here (though probably surprising to no one??)

As to the main reasons that influence their decision NOT to visit downtown, 82 respondents stated:

"Other" generated some interesting additional insights.

• Three respondents said that they feel able to come downtown anytime they want to.

• Nine people stated that they shouldn't have to pay for parking in their own city. One added that they found the parking app difficult to use (I've heard this in several of my conversations, too.)

• Difficulty finding parking concerned one respondent, who stated, "Sometimes I am driving family members who have trouble walking. When it is busy downtown ... it can be hard to find a place to drop them off near our destination. Then they have to wait, alone, while I park far away and walk back to them."

• Several commented that they don't come downtown because there are too many tourists (2) and were concerned that people don't use the crosswalks appropriately (2). One suggested that "business owners [and Chamber of Commerce] care more about making a buck from visitors more so than the residents." Two others added that "many establishments are charging premium prices because tourists will pay it."

• Two people felt that stores and restaurants close too early. (I checked out Main Street businesses' closing times on weekdays: the median time was 6 PM for 41 shops, 9 PM for 16 restaurants, and 11:30 for 8 bars.)

• One person thought the Chamber puts on too many events.

• Concerningly, three respondents pointed to accessibility issues, specifically, the negative effects that remodeling Main Street, outdoor dining, and valet parking have had on handicap parking. One person also mentioned a lack of handicap-accessible entrances.

"Is there anything else you'd like to share?" I asked at the end of the survey. More than half (47 respondents) certainly did. I didn't want to edit these too much, so here are most of them, in no particular order. What are YOUR ideas and opinions? I hope I have the next four years to listen, learn, and help you find joy in our city.

It would be great if the council looked for ways to make the downtown more welcoming for locals.

I would love to see the noise pollution and noise curfews enforced.

We are a small town; let’s act like it.

Restaurants should NOT be allowed valuable spaces for outdoor dining, nor for valet parking.

I see locals downtown all the time. I honestly don't understand why people say we don't enjoy downtown Stillwater, it's simply a fabulous place to live and play.

LOVE the outdoor dining options.

Stillwater does a GREAT job of balancing the many aspects of running a city. Well done!

Cater to locals -- 6 til 6 when kids 6 and under eat free from 5 til 6 pm on Monday and a scavenger hunt for stuffed ponies named Stilly hidden in store windows; Senior Days on Wednesdays with a shuttle, maybe the trolleys, running a loop to downtown from senior housing and specials for 65 and older; scarecrow competition for scout troops; tons of possibilities.

I would like a free parking pass for Stillwater residents. Removing the second lot behind [River Market Co-op] is a problem.

Parking should be free in designated lots for residents. Maybe there could be a pass or hang tag for residents.

Frequent buyer program for the holidays (at least) sponsored by the City.

It would be nice if the parking lot next to the Zephyr was dedicated to only parking pass holders. I know it's not a lot but it's at least something dedicated to parking pass holders to be able to find spots.

This is not a real issue. People are just complaining about a reality of living in an upscale location. It comes at a price point. It is the tourists that pay for so much of what we have access to. Yes, parking is limited and hence the paid lots make sense to curb demand.

While I appreciate the work of different groups with all these festivals and events - and realize it generates revenues for our town and supports businesses - having them back-to-back weekends is exhausting for those of us who live here. I'd like to see it limited to 1 or 2 weekends each month. Maybe it already is, but it doesn't feel like it. There was an art festival, followed by the harvest festival. The snow sculpting event seems to draw a lot of people both local and tourists. However, anyone with limited mobility in terms of a walker or wheelchair is completely cut out from enjoying it. With all the dollars that are spent on promotion and photo opps, I'd like to see some dedicated to equitable access.

Love improvements made including trolley transport for Art Fair. BRILLIANT! Very hard to find parking for most events!

I have lived in Stillwater my whole life and love this town. I really enjoy the fun events, restaurants, and shops downtown. I am very grateful for the shuttles that run for events like Harvest Fest and the Rivertown Art Fair.

I like the energy that the visitors bring to downtown. I often see other locals at the events which adds to the community feel.

The downtown, while thriving, has less for non-tourists. If we lose the co-op and Main Cafe, there'll be even less character. It's begining to look the same - the shops are starting to lack uniqueness and everyday items, the restaurants are different versions of each other. It's a generic tourist town at this point, which saddens me because I remember buying clothes, bakery goods, and pharmacy items downtown.

Downtown Stillwater is only accessible to able bodied people who can walk for blocks from their parking spot. I miss driving by the river front to admire its beauty, or bringing a meal to eat in my car while gazing at the river, now I can only do that if I pay to park and there’s a parking spot available. I also don’t appreciate all the tourists. It’s not fun competing with them. I feel like I can’t enjoy my hometown. I’ve lived here my whole life.

I want free parking and more family friendly events vs catering to tourists. I want less loud bands and drinking. I have had drunk people throw up on my sidewalk before. I also would love a light laser show vs fireworks. I also think the city needs to stop celebrating the “lumberjack” history that displaced so many indigenous people from the area.

I feel like my taxes go to improving tourist's experiences, not my own. It’s really frustrating seeing property taxes go up each year when Stillwater used to be a quiet town with some of the lowest property taxes in [Washington County].

Most of our beautiful riverfront is held hostage by ugly parking lots, and instead of creating large public parks with art/music/sport/play/food booths, fill with noisy cars and shunt visitors onto a crowded Main St.

I like the tourists! We just don’t go downtown at peak times. We go to the art fairs early and by bike.

I think it is wonderful that our city is bustling with visitors from elsewhere. We wouldn’t have the variety of restaurants if it were only residents who patronize the establishments. I don’t avoid downtown, with the possible exception of July 4 and Lumberjack Days.

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