2015 City of Virginia Beach Citizens’ Survey Highlights How do residents feel about their community and the services provided by the City? Continental Research Associates, Inc. Norfolk, Virginia 1
Presentation Overview Background & methodology Survey results What drives satisfaction? Geographic breakdowns Summary 2
Background & Methodology The benchmark study was performed in 1995 This research involved many scientific protocols 19-min. survey in October (randomly-selected households) Was well-received; people like to share their opinions Surveyed 520 households (by landline & cell phone) Excellent Margin of Error: ± 0.9% to ± 4.3% Our report displays the results since 2003 A more detailed analysis was provided 3
Participants rated their satisfaction with 30 City services & characteristics: Very Satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied To summarize: Very Satisfied + Satisfied = “Satisfied” Localities often seek satisfaction levels of 80% (or higher) . 19 of the 30 City services rated above the 80% threshold. 4
The 30 City services and characteristics: 6 Had over 95% satisfied 6 90% to 95% were satisfied 7 80% to 89% were satisfied 9 70% to 79% were satisfied 2 Fewer than 70% were satisfied 30 PLUS... 94.0% were satisfied with City services OVERALL 5
Satisfaction Levels Above 95% % Satisfied* Fire Department 98.8% Paramedic & Rescue Squad 98.3% Public libraries 97.3% Recreation centers 97.3% Museums, the aquarium, & cultural arts activities 96.5% 911 Emergency Telephone Center 95.9% * “Very Satisfied” + “Satisfied” combined 6
Satisfaction Levels of 90% to 95% % Satisfied* Horticultural & Agricultural services 93.8% City parks 93.5% Overall appearance of the City 91.7% Police Department services 91.7% Courtesy of City employees 91.0% Overall appearance of your neighborhood 90.4% * “Very Satisfied” + “Satisfied” 7
Satisfaction Levels of 80% to 89% % Satisfied* The 3-1-1 system 89.8% Public beaches 88.3% City trash collection & recycling svcs. 86.0% The public school system 85.8% Efforts to combat gang activity/violence 83.1% Mental health/intellectual disability svcs. 81.0% Condition of streets in your neighborhood 80.8% * “Very Satisfied” + “Satisfied” 8
Satisfaction Levels Below 80% % Satisfied* Protecting natural resources/green space 79.1% Drinking water & wastewater collection services 78.8% The job opportunities in Virginia Beach 76.9% Working with other communities on regional issues 76.6% The level of communication City has with residents 74.6% Services for needy or homeless families 72.5% Planning for residential development 71.9% Planning & construction of new City roads 71.7% Maintenance of City roads & bridges 71.3% The opportunity citizens have to share opinions 67.9% The flow of traffic in the City 50.4% * “Very Satisfied” + “Satisfied” 9
Remember: 94.0% were satisfied with City services OVERALL 10
What drives residents’ overall satisfaction* with City services? (in order of importance to residents) Satisfaction With: #1 Courtesy of City employees #2 Drinking water/wastewater collection services #3 Opportunity residents have to share their ideas/opinions #4 Overall appearance of the City #5 Maintenance of roads & bridges #6 Police Department services * Based on a regression analysis of survey responses 11
% Using These City Services (Past 12 Mos.) % Who Said “Yes” Visited a public beach (in VB) 80.2% Visited a City park 75.6% * Visited a VB public library or used library from home/work 71.9% * Went to a museum, the aquarium, or a cultural activity in VB 63.5% Contact with/observed Public Safety 63.1% Contacted City by phone/Internet/in person 57.5% Been to a VB recreation center 49.6% * (n=520) * Users rated their satisfaction with this sig. higher than non-users 12
What else predicts residents’ overall satisfaction* with City services? The number of things residents participate in ** predicts their overall satisfaction with City services. The more involved residents are, the more satisfied they are with City services. * Based on a correlation analysis with number used. ** Visiting a rec. center, park, beach, library, or museum/aquarium/cultural arts activity. 13
How do you prefer to get info on City programs, services, & issues? Misc. others (grouped) Pilot Online 17.3% City's website 3.7% 25.0% TV news 9.8% Email from City Printed 20.8% newspaper 11.3% Pamphlets/ newsletter in the mail 12.1% 14
% Who “Agreed” With Each Statement % Who Agree* Virginia Beach is a good place to live. 96.0% For the most part, I can conveniently access City services. 94.6% Virginia Beach, in general, is a safe place to live. 94.0% My neighborhood is a safe place to live. 90.2% * “Strongly Agree” + “Agree” 15
% Who “Agreed” With Each Statement % Who Agree* Houses in my neighborhood are well maintained. 88.7% Overall, I receive a good value for my City tax dollar. 80.0% I know how to inform the City about the way I feel on important issues. 73.1% The roads I use in Virginia Beach are generally too congested. (A “negative”) 72.7% * “Strongly Agree” + “Agree” 16
What predicts residents’ satisfaction* with the value received for their tax dollar? (in order of importance to residents) Satisfaction With: #1 Maintenance of roads & bridges #2 Drinking water/wastewater collection services #3 Overall appearance of the City #4 Level of communication with residents #5 911 Emergency Telephone Center #6 Public school system * Based on a regression analysis of survey responses 17
Residents Clearly Appreciate the City % Who Think VB is a Good Place to Live 2015 96.0% 2013 96.0% 2011 97.2% 2009 97.4% 2007 96.0% 2005 95.6% 2003 96.6% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 18
% Satisfied With: “City Services Overall” 19
% Satisfied With: “Overall Appearance of my Neighborhood” 20
% Satisfied With: “Condition of Streets in my Neighborhood” 21
Ideas for Making VA Beach a Better Place to Live 22
Full Cross-Section of Residents Participated Avg. # of years lived in VB 23.7 yrs. % homeowners 72.1% % renters 27.9% % with children in household 37.7% % registered voters 78.8% Avg. age 47.1 yrs. old % with education beyond high school 81.9% % Caucasian 69.0% % African American 17.3% Avg. household income $80,281 23
To summarize… Virginia Beach residents really do enjoy a nice quality of life here. Over 95% report this is a good place to live. During the interviews, it was clear that residents feel quite connected to the city. It’s an attractive place: 91.7% are satisfied with the appearance of Virginia Beach. It’s a safe place to live. An impressive 94.0% said that Virginia Beach is safe, and just over 90% felt that their own neighborhood is a safe place to live. The public appreciates what the City does: 80% even said they get “a good value” for their tax dollar!! 24
As departments focus on providing easy access to their services, 94.6% of your residents report being able to conveniently access City services. And, 94.0% are satisfied with City services overall. When asked what the City could do to make VB a better place to live, the suggestions were logical. Continue to focus on those areas (traffic, new roads, jobs, etc.). Residents appreciated the opportunity to express how they feel about living in Virginia Beach. Be sure to read their verbatim comments. They had 9 pages of suggestions. 25
In closing, a few quotes: “ I would not choose to live anywhere else. ” “ Virginia Beach is such a vibrant town with so much happening. ” “ I am really excited about the schools here. ” “ There are so many things here that we could never find elsewhere; we are staying even after my husband retires from the military. ” “ When relatives visit from Ohio, they are very envious of our lifestyle here .” 26
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