Simi Surveys 10,000 on City’s Future : Planning: Questionnaires solicit residents’ ideas and preferences for development of blueprint dubbed Vision 2020.

Out they went Friday like message-bearing bottles tossed into the sea: 10,000 questionnaires mailed to Simi Valley residents asking what they want their hometown to be in the year 2020.

City officials said they expect thousands of responses--raw data to be used in drafting an ambitious blueprint for the city’s future, called Vision 2020.

“We’re looking for a very strong response, especially in light of the response we had at the community workshop” three weeks ago, said Alex Walker, the city’s coordinator for the project. “There’s a lot of momentum and excitement on this project.”

Officials sent out questionnaires to 10,000 addresses picked at random by computer. The four-page survey asks questions ranging from idealistic to nit-picky.

“What three things do you like best about living in Simi Valley?” the survey asks. Then it queries: “What three things would you like to see done to make Simi Valley a better place to live?”

Respondents are asked to grade aspects of the city by importance and their own satisfaction, including the appearance of residential and shopping areas, parks and recreational facilities, property values, hillside preservation and disaster preparedness.

The questionnaire solicits opinions about activities for teen-agers, Simi Valley’s rural atmosphere, the quality of its schools, hospital, library and air.

Then the survey offers a wish list of 20 facilities, asking respondents to gauge the desirability of a civic auditorium, an enclosed mall, a large center for the performing arts, a theme park, a local airport and a gambling casino.

Respondents also will rate the desirability of a permanent fairgrounds, a sports stadium, an off-road-vehicle area, a convention center, a horse and auto racing track and more movie theaters, golf courses and hotels.

Residents must mail their responses by Nov. 17 to be counted. Harbich Research Inc. of Arcadia will tabulate the results, Walker said.

City workers will combine the results with recommendations offered by about 200 residents at an Oct. 7 brainstorming session. Staff members will identify topics for further study.

Committees of residents, government officials and community leaders will be appointed in January and report back to the City Council in six months.

Finally, city staff and the City Council will draft the Vision 2020 master plan that will guide Simi Valley’s development for the next 25 years, with annual reviews and tuneup sessions, Walker said.

“Our mission is to develop a consensus vision for our community’s transition into the future,” reads the cover letter attached to the survey. “Your opinion is important.”