Transcript City of Huber Heights Public Opinion Survey

Conducted by:
Wright State University
Center for Urban and Public Affairs
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600 citizens were surveyed via a telephone
survey of Huber Heights residents
◦ 95 % confidence, +/- 4 % margin of error citywide
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At least 83 respondents from each ward
Survey conducted from May 7, 2009 through
June 11, 2009
77 question survey developed by CUPA in
partnership with City staff.
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Random digit dial (RDD) sampling method
utilized
◦ Any household with landline telephone could
participate
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Does exclude HHs that are cell phone only
(estimated at 12%)
Quota sampling method used to closely
approximate sample with demographics of
City (age, gender)
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Respondents were asked to provide their
street and hundred block for the purpose of
analyzing responses by Ward.
7 respondents were purged from the
database because they did not live in the City
limits.
No identifying information was recorded
pertaining to any individual respondent.
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Overall satisfaction with the City as a place to
live:
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Beavercreek (2007): 94.2 percent
Yellow Springs (2005): 94.2 percent
Moraine (2008): 94.0 percent
Franklin (2007): 93.6 percent
Huber Heights (2009): 92.3 percent
Urbana (2007): 90.5 percent
Clayton (2005): 83.6 percent
Trotwood (2007): 74.5 percent
Dayton (2007): 71.1 percent
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Very high level of overall city satisfaction
◦ Regression: Satisfaction with specific service
provision are primary indicators
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Demographic differences:
◦ Those 65 and older most likely to be “Very
Satisfied” with the City
◦ Respondents in Ward Three were most likely to be
satisfied (96.1 percent)
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Very high levels of satisfaction with fire and
EMS services in Huber Heights
◦ 98.7 percent satisfied with fire and EMS
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98.0 percent are satisfied with response time
Respondents who expressed dissatisfaction
were asked why- most comments related to
response time.
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Most respondents (94.5 percent) are satisfied
with police services in Huber Heights.
◦ 95.1 percent satisfied with response time
◦ 91.2 percent satisfied with how often they see
police on the street
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No differences among demographic groups,
likely due to high percentage of satisfied
respondents.
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Most residents contract with Rumpke (259) or
Waste Management (226) for waste collection
services
62.9 percent would support the city
consolidating to one hauler.
◦ Most would prefer that their hauler be the sole
provider
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78.3 percent satisfied with residential leaf
collection
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45.5 percent of respondents have used yard
waste disposal site
◦ Almost all are satisfied (94.5 percent)
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Respondents were asked about a seasonal
pass to the waste disposal site
◦ 141 respondents said nothing
◦ 110 wouldn’t use the site
◦ Of the remaining respondents, $10-20 was the
average response
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15.2 percent of respondents have used the
city pool
◦ Younger respondents more likely to have used the
pool, but also more likely to be dissatisfied
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When asked to rate the pool, more than half
of respondents (51.7 percent) could not
respond
◦ Of those who did respond, 77.9 percent were
satisfied
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Despite non-use, 77.3 percent believe the
city should continue to own the pool
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Respondents are generally satisfied with all
attributes of parks in Huber Heights
◦ 90.9 percent are satisfied with the appearance of
city parks
◦ 90.7 percent satisfied with the safety of city parks
◦ Older respondents more likely to be satisfied with
appearance and safety of parks
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Most respondents are satisfied with YMCA
programming
◦ 28.7 percent unfamiliar with programming
◦ Of those who are familiar, 86.0 percent are satisfied
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Two thirds of respondents (68.3 percent) are
satisfied with the quality of drinking water
◦ Significant differences by Ward:
 79.6 percent satisfied in Ward Three, 73.2 percent in
Ward Four
 58.8 percent in Ward Two, 63.4 percent in Ward One
◦ Respondents 25-44 most likely to be dissatisfied
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59.4 percent of residents have a water
softener
◦ Of those with a softener, 59.3 percent would prefer
their home softener.
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15.2 percent of residents have contacted
customer service regarding their water
Of those, two thirds are satisfied with the
service that they received
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More than three-quarters of respondents
(76.4 percent) indicated that using RITA was
easy or very easy
73.7 percent are satisfied with the service
Those who were dissatisfied discussed:
◦ Having trouble understanding forms
◦ Opposition to regional tax collection
◦ Difficulty having questions answered
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One in five respondents contacted city with
questions
◦ 84.5 percent were satisfied
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More than two-thirds (69.7 percent) are
satisfied with zoning codes
Views of zoning codes:
◦ Too strict: 20.5 percent
◦ About right: 57.8 percent
◦ Not strict enough: 21.7 percent
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After the move to complaint-based
enforcement, respondents were asked about
changes
◦ 65.9 percent perceived no change, 16.1 percent
perceived improvement
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87.2 percent satisfied with the appearance of
their neighborhood
◦ No differences by Ward
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83.9 percent satisfied with housing quality in
their neighborhood
◦ 89.2 percent in Ward One
◦ 75.9 percent in Ward Four
Topic
Big
Problem
Somewhat of a
Problem
Only a Small
Problem
No Problem at
all
Abandoned vehicles
1.3%
6.2%
6.5%
86.0%
Speeding vehicles
23.0%
27.7%
13.4%
35.9%
Vandalism / graffiti
3.8%
11.9%
12.5%
71.8%
Cars or pedestrians
with loud radios
9.5%
18.9%
15.9%
55.8%
Traffic congestion
7.3%
14.7%
7.2%
70.8%
Vacant houses
11.4%
14.5%
12.2%
61.9%
Stray animals
7.7%
11.2%
14.7%
66.4%
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Respondents were asked a question
pertaining to what services they would be
willing to cut as a result of the reduction in
the city income tax
◦ More than half chose not to answer
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Of those who did answer, the most common
responses were:
◦ Leaf pick-up (41 respondents)
◦ Parks and Recreation
◦ Streets
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Views pertaining to education
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84.8 percent of respondents have residential
Internet access.
◦ Most using DSL / cable
◦ 8.3 percent with dial-up
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42.9 percent have visited the City’s website
◦ Of those, 85.1 percent found it easy to navigate
◦ 88.7 percent found information useful
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29.4 percent of respondents have had contact
with a City employee in the past year
Almost all were satisfied with that contact
and felt that the employee treated them with
respect.
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13.7 percent of respondents have
volunteered with the City in the past
38.2 percent (219 respondents) are
interested in volunteering in the future
◦ 50.0 percent of those 18-24
◦ 50.5 percent of those 25-34
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Volunteer opportunities involving:
◦ Children
◦ Parks and recreation, including clean-up
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Most residents are satisfied with the City.
Respondents provided, through open-ended
comments, numerous specific suggestions
for improvements that they would like to see.
Most respondents are satisfied with RITA
Strong levels of satisfaction with emergency
services, police, parks and recreation, contact
with city employees.
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Internet
Volunteer opportunities
Education of residents
Specific neighborhood problems more
prevalent in some Wards than others
General positive views of government
◦ 73.3 percent believe government pays attention
◦ 84.2 percent believe government does the right
thing
◦ Less than half believes government wastes money
For more information, please contact:
David Jones
Survey Research Director
Wright State University, Center for Urban and
Public Affairs
(937) 775-2941
[email protected]