Transcript Document

Survey conducted:
November 6th, 8th – 10th, 2014
320-626
The City Research Priorities
1) Measure and evaluate trends in the
community’s perception of and satisfaction
with City services
2) Identify community members’ priorities for
government services
3) Gain an understanding of the level of
citizen trust in City government
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Methodology
• Survey conducted November 6th, 8th – 10th, 2014
• Interviews conducted by telephone with a random
sample of 400 City of Ventura registered voters
• Margin of error for the full sample is +/- 4.9%
• Margin of error for half the sample is +/- 6.9%
• Some percentages may not sum to 100% due to
rounding
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Almost three-quarters of residents
perceive that the City of Ventura is
headed in the right direction.
1. Would you say that things in the City of Ventura are generally headed in the right direction or do you feel that things are off on the wrong
track?
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More than nine in ten residents have
favorable views of Ventura as a place to live.
Total
Excellent/
Good
93%
Total
Just Fair/
Poor
7%
2. Generally speaking, how would you rate Ventura as a place to live: is it an excellent place to live, a good place, just fair, or a poor place to
live?
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Homelessness, the economy, the drought and
street maintenance lead the list of residents’
volunteered important issues.
(Open-ended; Ranked by Responses 2% or More)
Too many homeless
Business climate/creating more jobs/
improving the economy
Drought/water supplies
Not enough services for the homeless
Street maintenance
None/nothing
Housing costs/affordable housing
Crime
Too much growth/development
Government waste/inefficiency
Education/public schools
Public recreation/parks/open spaces
Public transportation/buses/rail
Taxes
Traffic congestion
Safety/public safety
Additional police/fire services
Too many homeless/
not enough services 18%
for the homeless
Business climate/
creating more jobs/ 10%
keeping business
Crime/gangs/violence/
7%
public safety generally
5. What do you think is the most important issue facing residents of the City of Ventura that you would like to see City government do something
about?
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Responding to a list provided to residents, the drought,
the number of homeless, drugs and drug abuse
and polluted stormwater affecting coastal waters
and beaches lead the list of serious problems.
(Ranked by Very/Somewhat Serious)
The drought
Total
Very/
Smwt.
92%
The number of homeless
87%
Drugs and drug abuse
75%
Pollution that flows through storm drains and empties
into local coastal waters and onto local beaches
73%
Gangs and juvenile violence
64%
The condition of potholes and local streets and roads
59%
The amount you pay in City taxes and fees
48%
Increased growth and development
48%
6. I’d like to read you a list of things that some people say may be problems facing the city of Ventura. Please tell me whether you think it is a
very serious problem, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all a serious problem in Ventura today. Split Sample
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Almost two-thirds rate the job city government
is doing in providing service to Ventura’s
residents and businesses as excellent or good.
Total
Excellent/
Good
63%
3. How would you rate the overall job being done by Ventura City government in providing services to Ventura’s residents and businesses?
Would you say that the job the City government is doing is …?
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Six-in-ten residents (60%) perceive that there is
a great or some need for additional funds to provide
the level of city services that residents need and want;
with two-in-ten (20%) saying a great need.
Total
Great/
Some Need
60%
Total
Little/
No Real
Need
31%
4. In your personal opinion, do you think there is a great need, some need, a little need, or no real need for additional funds to provide the level
of city services that City of Ventura residents need and want?
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Two thirds (67%) of residents trust
the City to use their tax dollars wisely.
I trust the City to use my tax dollars wisely.
Total
Agree
67%
Total
Disagree
31%
9c. I would like to read you some statements about Ventura related issues. For each one, I’d like you to tell me whether you agree or disagree
with the statement.
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Two-thirds (66%) perceive that
state cutbacks have negatively affected
city services and programs.
State cutbacks have negatively affected city services and programs.
Total
Agree
66%
Total
Disagree
22%
9b. I would like to read you some statements about Ventura related issues. For each one, I’d like you to tell me whether you agree or disagree
with the statement.
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Roughly two-thirds (65%) agree that
the City of Ventura provides better services
than other nearby cities.
Ventura provides better services than other nearby cities.
Total
Agree
65%
Total
Disagree
23%
9d. I would like to read you some statements about Ventura related issues. For each one, I’d like you to tell me whether you agree or disagree
with the statement.
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More than half of respondents agree
that the City Government listens to its
residents when making decisions.
The City government listens to its residents when making important decisions.
Total
Agree
53%
Total
Disagree
34%
9a. I would like to read you some statements about Ventura related issues. For each one, I’d like you to tell me whether you agree or disagree
with the statement.
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Fire and police protection, management of City government
finances and water conservation programs are considered to
be among the most important services/programs.
(Ranked by Importance Rating Mean Score)
Mean
Score
6.3
6.1
5.9
5.7
5.6
5.6
7. I would like to read you a list of specific services provided by Ventura’s City government to residents of the City. For each one that I mention,
please tell me how important you think that service is. We will use a scale of one to seven, where one means NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT and
seven means VERY IMPORTANT. You can choose any number from one to seven.
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Continued
Mean
Score
5.5
5.5
5.4
5.4
5.4
5.4
4.5
7. I would like to read you a list of specific services provided by Ventura’s City government to residents of the City. For each one that I mention,
please tell me how important you think that service is. We will use a scale of one to seven, where one means NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT and
seven means VERY IMPORTANT. You can choose any number from one to seven.
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Among the services/programs with which residents are most
satisfied include fire and police protection, maintenance of
City parks and recreational facilities and senior services.
(Ranked by Satisfaction Rating Mean Score)
Mean
Score
5.9
5.3
5.3
5.0
4.9
4.9
8. I am going to mention each service again. This time I would like you to tell me how satisfied you are personally with the job that Ventura’s City
government is doing in providing that service for the City’s residents. Again, we will use a scale of one to seven, where one means NOT AT ALL
SATISFIED with the service and seven means you are VERY SATISFIED with the service. You can choose any number from one to seven.
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Continued
Mean
Score
4.8
4.8
4.7
4.5
4.3
4.3
3.6
8. I am going to mention each service again. This time I would like you to tell me how satisfied you are personally with the job that Ventura’s City
government is doing in providing that service for the City’s residents. Again, we will use a scale of one to seven, where one means NOT AT ALL
SATISFIED with the service and seven means you are VERY SATISFIED with the service. You can choose any number from one to seven.
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About half of all voters have had direct contact
with Ventura government in the past two years.
10. Have you had any direct contact, either in person, by telephone, through e-mail or through the City’s website with Ventura City government
in the past two years?
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High percentages favorably rate City staff on their
courtesy, knowledge and willingness to help.
(Ranked by Excellent/Good)
(52% of sample, n=208)
11. Please tell me how you rate the following aspects of the service provided by the City employees you have dealt with. Would you rate their
_______________ as excellent, good, fair, poor, or very poor?
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Residents most frequently receive information about the City from
word of mouth, local newspapers and the radio; however, almost
half (47%) report reading My Ventura frequently or occasionally.
(Ranked by Frequently/Occasionally)
Conversation with family, friends and
neighbors
^Print and/or online editions of local
newspapers
Radio
My Ventura, which is a City-published
recreation guide
Social Media, such as Facebook, Nextdoor
and Twitter
Freq./
Occas.
85%
65%
54%
47%
45%
City of Ventura official website
Community access TV on cable, also known
as CAPS
Achieving Our Vision, which is the City’s
monthly electronic newsletter
37%
City council meetings
17%
Community meetings
15%
^The
24%
18%
12. I would like to slightly change the topic and mention some information sources from which people learn about news and issues affecting the
City of Ventura community. For each I mention, please tell me how often you use that particular information source. Is it frequently, just
occasionally, very rarely, or never? ^Not part of Split Sample
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