Several Seattle City Council members who want to ask voters for a property tax increase to buy park land released a poll on Tuesday they say backs their cause.

The poll found that about two-thirds of respondents suported the extension of a the city's Pro-Parks Levy, they said. That levy expires at the end of this year. Mayor Greg Nickels opposes asking voters to renew it. Instead, he thinks voters should only be asked for a much smaller package for repairs and renovations at Pike Place Market.

Still, some on the council are also pursuing an extension of the parks levy.

In a prepared statement sent to the media Tuesday, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, chairman of the parks committee said: "A strong majority of the people of this city want to continue the good work of the park levy and we intend to respond to their wishes."

Here is one of the key questions asked in the March survey. The full summary is below.

"The City of Seattle's Proposition X concerns a neighborhood parks, green spaces, and trails levy. This proposition would fund improvements to existing parks, and the acquisition and development of new neighborhood parks, green spaces, playfields, and trails. This levy would cost approximately $240 million over six years, or about $135 dollars a year for the typical Seattle homeowner."
If the election were held today, would you vote yes to approve this measure or no to reject it?
Definitely Yes ------------------------------------- 36%
Probably Yes--------------------------------------- 29%
Probably No---------------------------------------- 12%
Definitely No -------------------------------------- 16%
(Don't know) --------------------------------------- 8%

Below is much of the survey's script, with results. It was conducted by Alison Peters Consulting.

CITY OF SEATTLE PARKS POLL MARCH 2008
TOPLINES (N=600) AP CONSULTING
Hello. My name is ________. May I speak with __________? I'm calling from APC, a public
opinion research company. We're calling to talk with you about issues facing the City of Seattle and we'd like you to participate.
(IF NECESSARY): We aren't selling anything and your responses will only be used for research purposes.

1. Record gender
Male------------------------------------------------- 47%
Female --------------------------------------------- 53%

2. What is your age?
18-24------------------------------------------------- 5%
25-34------------------------------------------------ 19%
34-44------------------------------------------------ 21%
45-59------------------------------------------------ 29%
60+ ------------------------------------------------- 25%
(Refused)-------------------------------------------- 1%

3. In order to ensure that we have a representative sample, please tell me if you consider
yourself conservative, liberal, or middle of the road. If (liberal/conservative), ask: Are you very or somewhat (liberal/conservative)?
Very liberal ---------------------------------------- 22%
Somewhat liberal --------------------------------- 16%
Middle of the road-------------------------------- 35%
Somewhat conservative ------------------------- 12%
Very conservative -------------------------------- 10%
Something Else------------------------------------- 5%
(DON'T READ) DK ---------------------------------- 0%

4. Let's get started. I'm going to read you a list of facilities in the Seattle area and I'd like you tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of each one. (Let's start with/next) ________. Is your impression very favorable, somewhat favorable, not too favorable, or not favorable at all?
ROTATE Very Swt. Not Too Not Fav. (DON'T Fav. Fav. Fav. At All READ) DK
( )A. Neighborhood parks and playgrounds 61% --------- 32% ---------- 3% ----------- 2% ----------- 2%
( )B. Seattle's community centers---------- 36% --------- 44% ---------- 4% ----------- 1% ---------- 14%
( )C. Neighborhood p-patches --------------- 43% --------- 29% ---------- 4% ----------- 1% ---------- 23%
( )D. Public sports facilities, including
athletic fields, pools, and tennis courts--- 36% --------- 45% ---------- 8% ----------- 3% ----------- 8%
( )E. Green space, creeks, and natural
habitat areas ----------------------------------- 56% --------- 32% ---------- 4% ----------- 2% ----------- 6%
( )F. Seattle's trail system, including the Burke-Gilman trail, Lake Union trail,
and others you may know-------------------- 61% --------- 28% ---------- 3% ----------- 1% ----------- 7%

5. In the coming years, do you think the City of Seattle needs to focus more on improvements to existing parks or adding parks and open space to the current system?
Improve existing parks--------------------------- 59%
Add more parks and open space --------------- 35%
(DON'T READ) DK ---------------------------------- 6%

6. Back in 2000, Seattle voters approved the Parks for All Levy which currently provides funding for park improvements, acquisition and development and costs the average household $105 dollars per year. Would you say this levy has been successful or unsuccessful? If you feel you don't have enough information to answer, please just say so.
(GET ANSWER, THEN ASK): Is that very or somewhat (successful/unsuccessful)?
Very successful------------------------------------ 16%
Somewhat successful ---------------------------- 24% /
Somewhat unsuccessful -------------------------- 8%
Very unsuccessful---------------------------------- 6% /
Don't have enough information---------------- 36%
(DON'T READ) DK --------------------------------- 11%

Later this year, voters in the City of Seattle may be asked to vote on a ballot proposal to renew the expiring parks levy. There are at least two different ballot options under consideration.

7. Here is the first proposal that may be on the ballot and we'd like to get your reaction.
"The City of Seattle's Proposition X concerns a neighborhood parks, green spaces, and trails levy. This proposition would fund improvements to existing parks, and the acquisition and development of new neighborhood parks, green spaces, playfields, and trails. This levy would cost approximately $240 million over six years, or about $135 dollars a year for the typical Seattle homeowner."

If the election were held today, would you vote yes to approve this measure or no to reject it?

(GET ANSWER, THEN ASK): Is that definitely (yes/no) or probably (yes/no)?

Definitely Yes ------------------------------------- 36%
Probably Yes--------------------------------------- 29% /
Probably No---------------------------------------- 12%
Definitely No -------------------------------------- 16% /
(DON'T READ) DK ---------------------------------- 8%

8. Here is a description of an alternative proposal and we'd like to get your reaction. The
alternative proposal would target the same types of improvements, but it would raise less
money and fund fewer projects.
"The City of Seattle's Proposition Y concerns a neighborhood parks, green spaces, and trails levy. This proposition would fund improvements to existing parks, and the acquisition and development of new neighborhood parks, green spaces, playfields, and trails. This levy would cost approximately $140 million over six years, or about $80 dollars a year for the typical Seattle homeowner."
40%
14%
65%
28%
3

If the election were held today, would you vote yes to approve this measure or no to reject it?
(GET ANSWER, THEN ASK): Is that definitely (yes/no) or probably (yes/no)?
Definitely Yes ------------------------------------- 37%
Probably Yes--------------------------------------- 30% /
Probably No---------------------------------------- 10%
Definitely No -------------------------------------- 17% /
(DON'T READ) DK ---------------------------------- 6%

9. It is possible that voters may also be voting on a measure to fund Sound Transit this
November. If a new package is proposed, it will likely be only a transit package, thereby
reducing its overall cost from $12 billion to between $6 and $7 billion because no new road
capacity will be included. Money will be raised through a new sales tax rather than a property tax and projects will be completed by 2020.
Now that you know more about the Sound Transit package and if the election were held today, how would this affect your vote on the parks levy? Would you vote for ______?

Both Sound Transit and a parks levy ---------- 43%
Sound Transit but not a parks levy ------------ 12%
A parks levy but not Sound Transit ------------ 21%
Or reject both Sound Transit and a parks levy- 12%
(DON'T READ) DK --------------------------------- 12%

10. Finally, voters may also be faced with a measure to fund maintenance projects, seismic
stabilization, and other repairs at Pike Place Market. This levy would cost approximately $80 million over six years, or about $45 a year for the typical Seattle homeowner."
Now that you know more about this proposal, and if the election were held today, how would this affect your vote on the parks levy? Would you vote for _____?
Both a parks levy and Pike Place Market ----- 44%
A parks levy but not Pike Place Market------- 22%
Pike Place Market but not a parks levy------- 11%
Or no to reject both measures ----------------- 14%
(DON'T READ) DK ---------------------------------- 9%

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