BAKER CITY, Ore. -- Baker City residents appear split on whether adding population would be a good thing.

In a recent survey, roughly 25 percent of residents said they want the city to grow faster. But about 20 percent said they want the population to hold steady at 10,000.

Slightly more than half of the 189 residents polled said they disagree or strongly disagree that growth should be restricted to protect the present way of life. More than 33 percent agreed or strongly agreed.

Those are among the results of the telephone survey conducted by a city consultant. Similar surveys were done in 1988 and 1998.

Consultant Brian Cole said 97 percent rated Baker City as either a somewhat or very desirable place to live, and not one resident was "very dissatisfied" with how well the city supplies services such as water, streets, parks and public safety.