a 2012 Residential Survey in their residential mailboxes and email inboxes asking them to express their thoughts regarding a host of city services. The survey, administered through the city's Community Relations Department, was recently mailed to a cross-section of residents to gain statistically significant responses the city can use to prioritize services, gauge satisfaction levels and formulate future policy. According to Community Relations Director Steve Guitar, questions on the four-page document cover a wide range of topics, from importance of various city departmental programs and services to overall quality of life questions, to gauge residents' feelings about Sterling Heights as a place to live, work and play. "If you receive this survey -- either by mail or email -- please take a few minutes to respond," Guitar said. "It will only take about 7 minutes to complete, and your thoughts and opinions will mean a great deal to the future development of our city. We hope to receive all responses by the end of November." Infogroup, a survey and marketing firm contracted by the city, will independently conduct the survey using a multi-tiered approach including direct mail and email to distribute the survey. Survey recipients will also be given the option of participating in a telephone survey if they do not wish to fill out the printed or electronic forms. To assure statistical validity, the sample size will be a sufficient size to achieve a plus-5 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level in survey responses (the