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Session 1303, Minutes Page 6 April 26, 1982 for a building of more than four stories which is closer to the nearest residence than that allowed in the Zoning Code. She asked if there were a precedence for giving this variance, and what the implications would be. She wished to have some assurance-that the variations in the proposal are consistent with what has been granted in the past. Mr. Ollendorff said he would get that information to her. PLANNING SURVEY CONSULTANT CONTRACT The City Manager said the City's Planning Department has been working, with Coun- cil approval, on updating the City's comprehensive or Master Plan. He recommended, as part of'this, the approval of a contract with Community Consultants for a citi- zen survey analysis in the amount of $1,875. Payment is to come from Community Development Block Grant funds. When the updating of the Master Plan is.completed, it will go to the Plan Commission and then to the City Council for approval. Mr. Lieberman asked what this survey would reveal that was not already known from the 1980 comprehensive census. Mr. Ollendorff said the survey would try to find out the attitudes of citizens concerning the adequacy of various City programs, such as housing assistance, residential and commercial development and other items which go into the City's Master Plan. Mr. Lieberman expressed reservations about the responses that might be given; however, Mr. Ollendorff said Community Consult- ants were considered quite skilled in doing surveys of this type. Mayor Mooney thought perhaps this should be tabled until the Council had more in- formation. Mr. Lieberman said he failed to see that any cost benefit would be produced by this survey. Mr. Ollendorff said it was a significant part of the updating of the Mas- ter Plan, which the Council approved last year, and that it was important that the City know how its citizens felt about programs which are in effect here. He noted that the City's Master Plan had not been updated for more than 20 years, and that this was one step in the process of bringing it up to date. Mrs. Thompson asked for further information about the Master Plan, and Mr. Ollen- dorff asked Mr. Goldman to respond. Mr. Al Goldman, Director of Planning, said most cities have comprehensive plans to guide their development. University City had its first plan in 1920, which was re- vised in 1931 and again in 1958, but has not been totally revised since then. He said the survey was proposed to confirm or deny staff perceptions about the issues which concern citizens in the community. It was felt a professionally conducted survey would do that. Responding to Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Goldman said that the sur- vey would not ask citizens how they feel about the sign or zoning codes, but it was possible that changes might be made in some of the codes if it was indicated that citizens felt strongly about something they perceived as being wrong. He said the issues that the staff sees as being of concern, for example, might be mainten- ance of residential or commercial property, crime, or the role schools play in the community. There would be less emphasis on traditional concerns, since the City is already fully developed, and the need now is to pull all the loose ends togeth- er and to continue to make it work. Mr. Ollendorff apologized to the Council for not getting more background informa- tion to them, so they would be somewhat more prepared.