220-3657 survey conducted may 6-8, 2013. 1 project objectives & results a recently commissioned...

220-3657

Survey Conducted May 6-8, 2013

City Of Modesto Community Survey

2

Project Objectives & Results

A recently commissioned project of The Lew Edwards Group--with survey research conducted by FM3 Research--evaluated public perceptions in the City of Modesto on quality of life issues, financial management, attitudes toward city services and customer satisfaction levels, including assessing potential revenue options.

We are pleased to inform you that your respondents hold positive views about the quality of life in Modesto and that viable revenue options exist, should the City need them.

3

Methodology

Telephone survey of 400 randomly-selected City of Modesto residents• Interviews were conducted via landline and cell phones,

and in English and Spanish• Survey was conducted May 6-8, 2013

The margin of sampling error is +/-4.9% at the 95% confidence level• Margins of error for population subgroups will be higher• Some percentages do not sum to 100% due to rounding

4

Key Findings Most feel largely positive about life in Modesto – and Modesto City

government.

Chief among those concerns are public safety – particularly drugs and gangs – and the local economy.

75% feel the City has “great” or “some” need for additional funding, and most would prefer to see additional funding prioritized for public safety services and economic programs.

Should the Council be interested in revenue generation, viable options exist at this time.

5

Life in Modesto

6Q2.

Close to two-thirds say that the overall quality of life in Modesto is “Excellent” or

“Good”—something to be proud of.

Excellent

Good

Only fair

Poor

Don't know

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

6%

58%

29%

6%

1%

TotalOnly Fair/

Poor35%

TotalExcellent/

Good65%

And how would you rate the overall quality of life in Modesto?

7Q1.

A plurality of respondents feel the City is headed in the “right direction…”

Would you say that things in the City of Modesto are generally headed in the right direction or are they pretty seriously off on the wrong track?

Right Di-rec-tion48%

Don't Know18%

Wrong

Track34%

8Q1.

…and an overwhelming percentage feel their neighborhoods are headed in the

right direction.

Would you say that things in your neighborhood are generally headed in the right direction or are they pretty seriously off on the wrong track?

Right Di-rec-tion71%

Don't Know5%

Wrong

Track24%

9

Attitudes Towards Modesto City Government

10

The Modesto Regional Fire Au-thority

The Modesto Police Department

Modesto City Water Services

The Modesto Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

21%

21%

10%

7%

59%

55%

53%

42%

9%

18%

26%

33%

10%

5%

7%

7%

13%

Exc. Good Only Fair Poor DK/NA TotalExc./Good

Total Only Fair/

Poor

80% 11%

76% 24%

63% 33%

49% 46%

3. I am going to read you a list of a few community services and organizations that are a part of Modesto’s City government. Please tell me if you think they are doing an excellent, good, only fair or poor job.

Of the City/local services evaluated, police and fire services are viewed most favorably.

11

The Modesto Public Works Department

Modesto City Government overall

The Modesto Community & Economic Development

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

6% 42%

40%

23%

37%

44%

34%

10%

24%

8%

16%

Exc. Good Only Fair Poor DK/NA TotalExc./Good

Total Only Fair/

Poor

48% 42%

44% 52%

26% 50%

3. I am going to read you a list of a few community services and organizations that are a part of Modesto’s City government. Please tell me if you think they are doing an excellent, good, only fair or poor job.

Service Ratings (continued)

12

Yes 33%

No 66%

DK/NA 1%

One-third of respondents have had contact with a Modesto City employee in the past

two years.

Q10.

Have you had any direct contact, either in person or by telephone, with an employee or employees of a Modesto City

government department over the past two years?

13

Courtesy shown to you

Overall customer service provided

Competence displayed in handling your issue

Timeliness of the response

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

64%

52%

49%

47%

20%

19%

23%

24%

6%

12%

8%

10%

9%

16%

19%

15% 0.05

Very Sat. Smwt. Sat. Smwt. Dissat. Very Dissat. Neither/DK/No Opin.Total Sat.

Total Dissat.

85% 15%

72% 28%

72% 26%

70% 25%

Of those who have had contact with a City employee recently, a sizeable majority

are satisfied with the experience.

11. Were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the ___________ by the Modesto city employee or employees with whom you had contact?

14

Community Concerns & Challenges

15

Drugs and narcotics

Gang and youth violence

Jobs and the local economy

Auto thefts

Unemployment

Crime overall

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

48%

48%

43%

38%

37%

29%

39%

34%

37%

37%

35%

41%

10%

13%

15%

20%

23%

23% 6%

Ext. Ser. Very Ser. Smwt. Ser. Not Too Ser. DK/NA

TotalExt./Very Serious

Total Smwt./Not

Too Serious

86% 12%

82% 15%

80% 18%

76% 23%

73% 25%

70% 29%

7. I'd like to read you some problems facing the City of Modesto that other people have mentioned. Please tell me whether you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or not too serious a problem in Modesto. Split Sample

Drug, gangs and the economy are seen as the most pressing issues facing Modesto.

16


Total Smwt./Not

Too Serious

69% 28%

68% 28%

57% 43%

56% 43%

53% 42%

48% 48%

Home burglaries

Cuts to police protection services

Deteriorating streets and potholes

Graffiti

Abandoned and foreclosed homes

Cuts to fire protection services

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

32%

32%

26%

29%

22%

23%

37%

35%

30%

26%

32%

25%

25%

18%

35%

30%

29%

32%

11%

8%

12%

13%

15%

5%

5%



Two-thirds are very worried about home burglaries and police service cuts.

17

Waste and inefficiency in local government

The City’s budget

Lack of tree trimming

Traffic congestion

911 emergency response times

The quality of drinking water

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

21%

18%

17%

16%

18%

9%

27%

29%

21%

17%

13%

12%

26%

33%

33%

40%

24%

28%

16%

6%

28%

26%

25%

48%

10%

14%

20%



Total Smwt./Not

Too Serious

48% 42%

47% 39%

38% 61%

34% 66%

31% 50%

21% 76%


Tree trimming, traffic congestion and water quality are not seen as top concerns.

18

Views on City Budgetary Needs

19Q8.

Three-quarters feel the City of Modesto has “great” or “some” need for additional

funding.Would you say that to provide essential services, the City of Modesto has a great need for additional funding, some need, a little need, or

no real need for additional funding?

Great need

Some need

Little need

No need

Don't know

0% 20% 40% 60%

29%

46%

7%

10%

8%

TotalLittle/No

Need17%

TotalGreat/Some

Need75%

20

Maintaining 911 emergency response times

Expanding gang crime prevention services

Making neighborhoods safer

Investigating and preventing property-related crimes like theft and burglary

Expanding programs to attract business to Modesto

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

46%

47%

40%

39%

35%

37%

35%

41%

38%

42%

11%

14%

18%

22%

19%

6%

5%

Ext. Imp. Very Imp. Smwt. Imp. Not Imp./DK/NA

TotalExt./Very Important

83%

82%

81%

77%

77%

12. I am going to read you a list of specific services and programs and that could be improved or expanded upon if funding were available. Please tell me how important it is to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important. Split Sample

Strong majorities would like to see any additional funding spent on public safety or

business attraction services.

21

Increasing the number of police officers patrolling City streets

Restoring eliminated police officer positions

Expanding after school programs for at-risk youth

Expanding neighborhood-based community policing

Investigating and preventing auto thefts

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

32%

33%

30%

30%

24%

40%

39%

35%

35%

39%

20%

18%

23%

27%

29%

8%

11%

11%

7%

8%



72%

71%

66%

65%

63%


Many would also like to see funds spent putting more police officers on City streets

and restoring police officer positions.

22

Restoring eliminated fire fighter posi-tions

Repairing potholes

Repairing deteriorating streets and roads

Expanding programs for at-risk youth to obtain work experience

Expand community policing programs like neighborhood watch and national

night out0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

28%

22%

29%

27%

22%

33%

39%

30%

33%

37%

27%

32%

38%

28%

27%

13%

7%

12%

14%



61%

61%

60%

60%

59%


Majorities would also like to see funds spent on road repairs and helping at-risk

youth.

23

Expanding drug prevention programs

Maintaining City parks

Increasing the number of school safety police officers

Putting a police officer in every Modesto high school

Expanding graffiti removal services

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

24%

21%

25%

20%

20%

33%

35%

27%

30%

27%

29%

34%

31%

32%

39%

14%

11%

17%

19%

14%



57%

56%

52%

49%

47%


Park maintenance, graffiti removal and school police officers are comparatively lower budget priorities.

24

Relieving traffic congestion

Improving traffic corridors for local businesses

Expanding Modesto’s airport and providing service to Los Angeles

Hiring private security patrols to monitor and report neighborhood crime

Creating more bike lanes

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

14%

9%

14%

7%

11%

22%

26%

17%

24%

18%

40%

42%

28%

31%

32%

25%

23%

41%

38%

39%



36%

35%

31%

31%

29%


Few see expanding airport services, hiring private security or creating more bike lanes as high

priorities.

25Q9.

Close to three-quarters would prefer to enact new revenue rather than cut City

services to increase public safety funding.

Series1

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

73%

12%

16%

OR

I am going to read you two different approaches the City could take to increase funding for police and fire protection. Please tell me which you would prefer the City to pursue.

Enact a one-half-cent sales tax measure to provide additional funding for police and fire protection

Reduce services such as street paving, pothole repair, tree trimming and park maintenance to provide additional funding for police and fire protection

Both/Neither/DK/NA

26

Potential Revenue Options

27

Survey respondents were asked about two conceptual revenue measures:

A one-half cent Special Purpose sales tax dedicated to public safety (Two-thirds vote threshold)

A one cent General Purpose sales tax (Majority vote threshold)

28

Definitely yes

Probably yes

Undecided, lean yes

Undecided, lean no

Probably no

Definitely no

Undecided

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

45%

24%

2%

0%

9%

19%

1%

Though both measures are viable, the General Purpose measure has a greater

margin for error relative to their respective vote thresholds.

4/5. If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure or “no” to oppose it?

Series1

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

27%

30%

3%

0%

14%

24%

1%

TotalNo

39%

TotalYes60%

TotalNo

29%

TotalYes71%

One-half Cent Public Safety(2/3s vote requirement)

One Cent General Purpose(simple majority req.)

+4% above vote

threshold

+10% above vote

threshold

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Key Demographic Trends

Majorities of all major demographic groups (e.g., gender, age, partisan affiliation, and ethnicity) support both measures.

Additionally, majorities of respondents from each City Council District also support both measures.

However, support for the one-half cent special purpose measure (dedicated to public safety) falls short of the two-thirds vote threshold in some demographic categories.

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After three ballot tests, support for the general purpose measure remains high…

5 Total and 14/16-Split Sample D. If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure or “no” to oppose it?

Initial Vote Second Test Third Test

0%

20%

40%

60%

60%65% 64%

39%

34% 35%

1% 1% 1%

Total Yes

Total No

Undecided

One cent City of Modesto Public Safety and Essential Services Measure

Majority Vote Threshold (50%)

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…as does support for the public safety measure.

4 Total and 14/16-Split Sample C. If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure or “no” to oppose it?

Initial Vote Second Test Third Test

0%

20%

40%

71%79% 76%

29%

20%22%

1% 1% 2%

Total Yes

Total No

Undecided

One-half cent City of Modesto Public Safety/Crime Reduction Measure

Two-thirds Vote Threshold (66.66%)

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Consultant Conclusions & Recommendations

33

Conclusions Your constituents feel that the City overall--and their

neighborhood—are headed in the right direction. They value their quality of life.

For those who have been in direct touch with City Staff, they are satisfied—a great finding.

Significant percentages believe the City needs additional funding, and are willing to support a revenue measure, provided that a sunset is included.

Constituent priorities for funding include public safety, jobs and economic development programs.

Should the City desire additional revenue, we recommend that you place a one-cent General Purpose measure on the Nov. 2013 Ballot. By law, such a measure can only be placed on a regularly scheduled municipal election.

For more information, contact:

Curtis Below

[email protected]

The Lew Edwards

Group

[email protected]

220-3657 survey conducted may 6-8, 2013. 1 project objectives & results a recently commissioned...

Documents

city services

modesto city employee

good total

modestos city government

fair poor

total dissat

community services

right direction