survey conducted by: national research center, inc. 3005 30 th st. boulder, co 80301 (303) 444-7863 ...

Survey conducted by: National Research Center, Inc. • 3005 30 th St. • Boulder, CO 80301 • (303) 444-7863 • www.n-r-c.com

The National Citizen Survey™

LOWER PROVIDENCE LOWER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP, PATOWNSHIP, PA

Summary of FindingsSummary of FindingsSeptember 2008September 2008

National Research Center, Inc. 2


The National Citizen Survey™ (The NCS) Background

ICMA/NRC initiativeTurnkey omnibus citizen survey service Benchmark comparisonsOver 160 participants in The NCS in over 40

statesOver 500 jurisdictions in full database



Primary Purposes of Survey

To assess resident satisfaction with community characteristics and amenities

To help evaluate Lower Providence local governmentUsing comparisons to other jurisdictions

To determine resident participation in local activities



Uses of Survey Results

Results can be used to:

Inform Inform budget, land budget, land use, strategic use, strategic

planning planning decisionsdecisions

Measure Measure government government performanceperformance

Benchmark Benchmark service service ratingsratings

Monitor Monitor trends in trends in resident resident opinionopinion



Study Methods Mailed survey to approximately 1,200

residents 340 households returned the survey 29% response rate

Margin of error+/- 5% for any given percentage point



Quality of Community

All Above the National comparison

Populations less than 40,000 in

the East

Similar

Above

Similar26%

36%

22%

63%

51%

61%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Lower Providence as aplace to live

Your neighborhood as aplace to live

The overall quality oflife in Lower Providence

Percent of respondents

Excellent Good



Likelihood of Remaining in Communityand Recommending Community

Percent responding (Very + Somewhat) Likely

Recommend living inLower Providence to someone who asks

89%89%

Remain in Lower Providence for thenext five years

88%88% Similar

Above

National Benchmark

Comparison



Community Characteristics

Percent responding "excellent" or "good"

National Benchmark Comparison

Abovethe

benchmarkAvailability of affordable quality housingAvailability of affordable quality housing 43%

Variety of housing optionsVariety of housing options 64%

Quality of new development in townshipQuality of new development in township 64%

Code enforcement Code enforcement (weeds, abandoned buildings, etc)(weeds, abandoned buildings, etc) 50%

Animal controlAnimal control 69%

Street repair /maintenanceStreet repair /maintenance 60%

Snow RemovalSnow Removal 68%

Also rated above when compared to Populations less that 40,000 in the

east



Place to work 66%66% Above

Above

SimilarOverall quality of business and service establishments in Lower Providence 60%60% Comparison

not available

Employment opportunities 42%42% SimilarAbove

Community Characteristics


National comparison

Populations less than 40,000

in the East

Shopping opportunitiesShopping opportunities 54%54% Above

Above



Township Services

Fireservices

98%

Ambulance/EMS

services

97%

Policeservices

91%

Township parks

88%

Highest Rated

Percent responding "excellent" or "good"= = Populations less than 40,000 in the EastPopulations less than 40,000 in the East

= national benchmark comparison= national benchmark comparison



Township ServicesLowest Rated

Services to low-income

people

38%

Land use, planning and

zoning

40%

Percent responding "excellent" or "good"= = Populations less than 40,000 in the EastPopulations less than 40,000 in the East

= national benchmark comparison= national benchmark comparison

Traffic signal timing

Preservation of natural

areas such as open space,

farmlands, and greenbelts

47%



Government Performance


Overall image or reputation ofOverall image or reputation ofLower ProvidenceLower Providence 70% Similar Similar

National comparison

Populations less than 40,000

in the East

Value of services for the taxesValue of services for the taxespaid to Lower Providencepaid to Lower Providence 50% Below Below

The overall direction that The overall direction that Lower Providence is takingLower Providence is taking 49% Below Below

Job Lower Providence governmentJob Lower Providence governmentdoes at welcoming citizen involvementdoes at welcoming citizen involvement 40% Below Below



Lower Providence Employees

33%

38%

29%

45%

45%

42%

48%

36%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Overall impression

Courtesy

Responsiveness

Knowledge


Excellent Good



Ratings of Nuisance Problems

45%21% 30% 5%

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

To what degree, if at all,are run down buildings,

weed lots or junk vehiclesa problem in Lower

Providence?

Not a problem Minor problem Moderate problem Major problem



From Violent From Violent CrimeCrime 90%

Public SafetyFe

lt “

very

” or

“som

ew

hat”

safe

Felt

“very

” or

“som

ew

hat”

safe

NeighborhoodNeighborhood

97%

DowntownDowntown

Afterdark

77%

87%

95%Duringthe day

64%From From

Environmental Environmental HazardsHazards

From Property From Property CrimeCrime 74%



Community’s Natural Environment

9%

10%

13%

46%

37%

52%

57%

13%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Air quality

Preservation of natural areas such as openspace, farmlands and greenbelts

Quality of overall natural environment inLower Providence

Cleanliness of Lower Providence


Excellent Good



Support for Funding:

Programs for teens 97%

Programs for seniors 96%

Preserving open space 95%

"Growing greener" initiative (such as alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy) 93%

Building projects for Parks and Recreation 92%

Acquiring open space 89%

Percent Responding “Strongly” or “Somewhat” Support



Support for Raising Taxes to Fund:

Percent Responding “Strongly” or “Somewhat” Support

Preserving open space 69%

Programs for teens 68%

Building projects for Parks and Recreation 66%

"Growing greener" initiative (such as alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy) 66%

Programs for seniors 64%

Acquiring open space 51%



To what degree do you support or oppose a single Township-wide zip code for

Lower Providence?

A Single Zip Code

56%

strongly or somewhat support

45%

strongly or somewhat oppose



Lower Providence Action Chart

NationalNationalBenchmarkBenchmark

ComparisonsComparisons

““Key Drivers”Key Drivers”

Key Driver Analysis (KDA) Key Driver Analysis (KDA) •Cornerstone of customer Cornerstone of customer satisfaction research in the satisfaction research in the private sectorprivate sector•Tells what service evaluations Tells what service evaluations best predict how well you do best predict how well you do overalloverall•Focuses managers and staff on Focuses managers and staff on activities that could “get the most activities that could “get the most bang for the buck”bang for the buck”



Action Chart

Overa

ll Qu

ality

of L

ow

er P

rovid

en

ce

Tow

nsh

ip S

erv

ices

Legend

Above Benchmark

Similar to Benchmark

Below Benchmark

Key Driver

Recreation and Wellness

Township parks

Recreationprograms

Library

Civic Engagement

Public information

Public Safety

Traffic enforcement

Fire services

Policeservices

EMS

Emergency preparedness

Environmental SustainabilityPreservation

of natural areas

Sewer services

Storm drainage

Garbagecollection

Recycling

Community Design

Streetrepair

Economic development

Animal control

Code enforcement

Planningand zoning

Snowremoval

Streetlighting

Street cleaning

Traffic signal timing



ConclusionsStrengths

Overall service provision

Community quality

Civic engagement

Challenges

TransportationPublic TrustEconomic

Sustainability



Possible Next Steps

Policy Policy exploration exploration

surveysurvey

Focus Focus groupsgroups

Staff Staff workshopworkshop

Survey conducted by: National Research Center, Inc. • 3005 30 th St. • Boulder, CO 80301 • (303) 444-7863 • www.n-r-c.com


Questions

Thank You!

survey conducted by: national research center, inc. 3005 30 th st. boulder, co 80301 (303) 444-7863 ...

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