HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Rexburg_ Police Facility Community Engagement Proposal
City of Rexburg: Police Facility Community
Engagement Proposal
Overview
Portman Square Group proposes a strategic partnership with the City of Rexburg to
understand voters’ attitudes toward a future police facility bond.
The City’s recent bond received strong majority support but fell short of the 66 ⅔ %
supermajority threshold, with low overall turnout and notable variation in support across
precincts. City leaders now want clear insight into why residents didn’t vote or voted “no,”
where information gaps exist, and how to structure a possible revised proposal.
Our role is to help the City:
● Listen to and measure voter sentiment through a carefully constructed survey and
outreach plan.
● Translate those findings into concrete strategic options for the City Council.
● All activities will be designed to comply with Idaho’s Public Integrity in Elections
Act and will focus on education, transparency, and engagement.
Phase I: Community Engagement Process
Description
In Phase I, PSG will design and execute a statistically valid survey of Rexburg voters to
understand:
● Why some residents did not vote in the previous election
● Why some voters opposed the bond despite overall support for the police
● How residents perceive the current police facility, public safety needs, and tax
impacts
● What information and assurances they would need to support a future proposal
We will leverage a blended outreach model that includes text-based survey invitations,
postcard mailers with QR codes, coordinated digital outreach, and partner amplification
(e.g., from City leadership, Police Department, schools, and business/community groups).
PREPARED 02 DECEMBER 2025
The findings will provide City leadership with actionable insights and help establish a
foundation of trust and transparency..
Objectives
1. Quantify voter sentiment on a potential future police facility bond, with an
emphasis on frequent voters
2. Identify the “movable middle” voters who might be persuadable with different
information, structure, or timing
3. Understand turnout dynamics by precinct, demographic, and voting history
4. Surface key concerns, narratives, and perceptions of need in “the safest city in
Idaho”
5. Provide actionable guidance for City leadership and Council on whether, when, and
how to return the measure to the ballot
Proposed Timeline
● December 2025
○ Project kickoff, background review, data gathering (precinct results, voter
history, prior materials)
○ Draft survey instrument and introductory language
○ Coordinate with bond counsel and City Attorney for legal review
● Early January 2026
○ Launch survey (target: roughly first two weeks of January, avoiding the
holiday period for maximum engagement)
○ Active outreach via text, postcard, digital, and partner channels
● Mid–Late January 2026
○ Close survey, analyze data, and prepare presentation
○ Present findings and recommendations to City Council around January 21,
2026 (or the Council’s preferred January meeting), in time to inform a
decision on whether to place a revised bond on an upcoming ballot
Key Activities
1. Background & Data Review
○ Review previous bond language, materials, and communication efforts
PREPARED 02 DECEMBER 2025
○ Analyze past election results by precinct and turnout, highlighting
supportive but low-turnout neighborhoods
2. Survey Design
○ Develop a concise, mobile-friendly survey instrument
○ Include narrative context for the vote and project detail
○ Structure questions to gather community sentiment around historical vote,
the City and police department, and support for a possible future bond
election.
3. Legal & Compliance Review
○ Work with the City’s bond counsel and legal team to ensure compliance
with Idaho law and adherence to the City’s responsibility to educate rather
than advocate
4. Outreach & Deployment
○ Text-based survey invitations
○ Postcard mailers (as budget allows)
○ Partner outreach
○ Digital & social media
5. Analysis & Reporting
○ Determine whether the survey sample is statistically significant for
Rexburg’s voter universe, using voter rolls and turnout history.
○ Identify key barriers and information gaps
6. Briefing & Recommendations
○ Prepare a concise, visual Survey Results & Insights deck
○ Present findings to City Council, staff, and key stakeholders
○ Provide clear strategic options based on survey findings
Phase I Deliverables
● Final survey instrument
● Outreach & deployment plan, including text, postcard, and digital/social strategy
● Data set and topline results, including turnout and precinct-level analysis
● Presentation to City Council and stakeholders, in person or virtual
Phase I Estimated Budget
● Professional Services (PSG):
PREPARED 02 DECEMBER 2025
○ $6,000 –$8,000 for survey design, deployment coordination, analysis, and
reporting
● Direct Outreach Costs (billed at cost with prior approval):
○ Texting platform & sends (via outreach partner)
○ Postcard printing and mailing (quantity and targeting to be determined)
○ Any additional printing, digital tools, or travel required
PREPARED 02 DECEMBER 2025