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B. .Joe Steinfeld, candidate for Council, expressed his concerns regarding a project he read about in the Council packet. Mr. Steinfeld stated the timing of the project was a serious threat to the integrity of Redwood City and the fairness of the election campaign. Mr. Steinfeld stated that "in the midst of an election campaign, Mr. Everett (City Manager) has arranged to send 28 top City staff members on a door-to-door effort to influence the voters. This is a direct violation of election law." City Attorney Schricker requested that Mr. Steinfeld state factual observations and facts known to him. Mr. Steinfeld referred to the "Walk Around Customer Survey" which will involve Mr. Everett and 28 top staff members "knocking door-to-door", and asked why the City felt the urgency to conduct the survey before the election and to spend $40,000 per week on it. Mr. Steinfeld asked that this project be stopped immediately and all materials turned over to any candidate who wanted them, and advised that if it was necessary they would file a complaint with the FPPC. Mr. Steinfeld accused Mr. Everett of involving himself in politics before when he campaigned "heavily against the reappointment of Walt Small as Port Commissioner." Mayor Buchan told Mr. Steinfeld he was engaging in a personal attack which would not be tolerated, and told Mr. Steinfeld to sit down. Vice Mayor Claire stated that Mr. Steinfeld was again misstating facts to somehow discredit the City. Vice Mayor Claire stated that Mr. Everett had never spoken against Mr. Small at any time, and that Mr. Steinfeld was using the Customer Survey Project to suggest voting tampering totally without facts. Vice Mayor Claire asked if anyone on the Council had been contacted regarding the Small issue. Councilwoman Steinfeld stated she had been contacted by Mr. Everett regarding the Small issue but had to recheck her notes to determine what was said. Councilwoman Steinfeld agreed with Joe Steinfeld, candidate for Council, regarding the purposes of the Customer Survey Project. City Manager Everett stated he would like to put this issue in perspective for the audience. Mr. Everett stated that the staff had been working on this project for approximately six months, and that the idea had come from another City that had had success with it. Mr. Everett advised that a Customer Survey was a great way to directly listen to "our customers" - the residents of Redwood City. Mr. Everett advised that City staff had recently completed a value statement which highlighted customer service as the number one priority, and listening to "our customers" was number one on our to-do list. "Unfortunately, Mr. Steinfeld would like to put his spin on (the Customer Survey), but I will assure you that this has been in the works for some time." Mr. Everett described the 3-member staff team that developed the questionnaire (which the Council previewed), and tested it with some of the City's customers. Mr. Everett stated that this Customer Survey will be done continuously with staff contacting residents on an on-going basis, not Regular Meeting Minutes MINUTE BOOK NO. 52 September 26, 1994 Page 2 Page No. 391 .'-, .",. ~p .<' ...,--._..._,.._--.--_._.._-~-,--_._-----,._.__...--.._---.-