Methodology & Data Quality

Applied Research Northwest conducted a poll for the Bellingham Bay Foundation in early June, 2006. Our poll was designed to determine people's thoughts on the cleanup and redevelopment plans, to verify an earlier poll conducted by Elway, and to find out if the cleanup initiative would pass.

Four hundred surveys were completed from randomly selected active voters living in the Bellingham City limits. The response rate for the study was 39%, meaning that of the 1027 valid contacts that were made, 39% responded to the survey. Interviewers attempted to reach voters three times, at different times of day and different days of the week. After three attempts, the case was counted as invalid.

The sampled respondents very closely resemble the characteristics of the population in terms of age and sex distributions, though the youngest age group (18-44) is under represented in the findings.

Comparison of Sample and Demographic Characteristics

Findings

People have heard about the future development plans (72%).

They are split on the amount of open public process in decisions for the site:
42% believe it’s good, 43% rate it fair to very poor.

The cleanup of mercury and other contaminants is of high importance to 81% of citizens:
45% say it’s extremely important, 36% say it’s very important. Just 1% say it’s not important.

Cleanup of mercury and other contaminants

Citizens are more likely to trust local citizen’s groups, like the Bellingham Bay Foundation, in representing their interests and values than local government:
52% trust citizen groups first, with 14% believing they’re next best (66%)
11% trust the City Council first, 33% next best (44%)
17% trust Port Commissioners first, 14% next best (31%)
2% trust the Mayor first, 7% next best (9%)

In the master plan and redevelopment, cleanup is ranked most important:
53% say making sure contaminants are safely disposed of is most important
20% say creating a large open space for recreation is most important
9% say meeting the strong demand for more marinas is most important
7% say effectively treating storm water is most important

Comparitive importance of cleanup

People support a higher level of cleanup than currently planned (72%) and believe cleanup comes first (83%).

When read the text of the Healthy Bay Initiative, 63% approve (42% strongly approve) and just 14% oppose. 18% are undecided.

Finally, regarding development plans, when asked if they prefer G.P.’s wastewater treatment lagoon to have a marina or a park, 48% chose a park, 28% chose a marina.