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Home My WebLink About2006 Community Survey (Readex) 1 2006 Community Survey Key Findings and Highlights 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 2 Objectives for Tonight The purpose of this brief presentation is to provide a quick overview of the methodology, and from our perspective, some of the more interesting and important findings. The final and full report will contain all details. The information you will see here tonight is pulled from the final report. Before we start, think of this study as a customer satisfaction study. Residents and businesses are, in a sense, your customers. The data will shed light on their attitudes and opinions on the issues you explored in this survey. 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 3 Survey Sample Readex Research selected the survey sample of 2,000 from a list provided by the City of Stillwater, which consisted of all 5,294 property owners and business owners. 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 4 Mailing Series Details Survey Packet On October 17, 2006, Readex Research mailed survey packets to all 2,000 sample members, including both business and property owners. The survey packets consisted of: A personalized cover letter on the City of Stillwater letterhead, signed by Jay Kimble, Mayor of Stillwater The survey questionnaire A business reply envelope addressed to Readex Research An outgoing City of Stillwater envelope with a first-class postage stamp Follow-up Survey Packet On November 7, 2006, Readex Research mailed follow-up survey packets to the 1,059 sample members who had not responded by that time. The follow-up survey packets were similar to the initial survey packets with the exception of an updated covering letter. 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 5 Survey Materials Survey Cover Letter Follow-up Survey Cover Letter 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 6 Survey Materials Questionnaire, page 1 Questionnaire, page 2 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 7 Survey Response A total of 1,192 responses were received for a 60% response rate. The margin of error for percentages based on all 1,192 responses is ±2.5% at the 95% confidence level. »The margin of error for percentages based on fewer responses—geographic area, for example—is larger. SAMPLE SEGMENT (GEOGRAPHIC AREA) POPULATION SURVEYS MAILED NUMBER OF RESPONSES RESPONSE RATE MARGIN OF ERROR* Area 1: Downtown 137 137 75 55% ±7.6% Area 2: Original Town 2,063 618 362 59% ±4.7% Area 3: Middle Stillwater 2,395 620 408 66% ±4.4% Area 4: West Business Park 97 97 46 47% ±10.5% Area 5: West Stillwater 602 528 301 57% ±4.0% TOTAL 5,294 2,000 1,192 60% ±2.5% *Margin of Error at the 95% confidence level 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 8 Respondent Profile Years Lived in Stillwater In Total and by Geographic Area  /  = Higher / Lower than all other geographic areas. Q3. How long have you lived in the city of Stillwater? Base: Stillwater Residents 8%5%6%7%5% 18% 23%24%17%18%18% 61% 20%24% 21%22% 14% 7% 47% 53%51%64% 11% 3%2%2% 47% 2% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% TOTALDowntownOriginal TownMiddle Stillwater West Business Park West Stillwater No Answer 20+ years 10-19 years 3-9 years <3 years N=1,122 N=38 N=357 N=407 N=22 N=298     2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 9 Respondent Profile Household Composition In Total and by Geographic Area  = Higher than all other geographic areas. Q23. How many people living in your household (including you) are in each of the following age groups? Base: All Respondents 2.0 2.2 2.02.0 2.1 2.0 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.9 0.9 1.6 3.6 3.02.9 2.6 3.1 2.8 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 TOTALDowntownOriginal TownMiddle StillwaterWest Business Park West Stillwater Mean Number Over 18 Years OldUnder 18 Years Old N=1,185 N=75 N=361 N=404 N=45 N=300   2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 10 Quality of Life Quality of Life in Your Neighborhood In Total and by Geographic Region  = Higher than Downtown, Original Town, and Middle Stillwater. Q10. How would you rate the quality of life in the neighborhood in which you live or own a business? Based on a 5-point rating scale where 1 = “Very Low” and 5 = “Very High”. 81%79%78%80% 93% 88% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% TOTALDowntownOriginal TownMiddle StillwaterWest Business Park West Stillwater % rating a "4" or "5" N=1,192 N=75 N=362 N=408 N=46 N=301   2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 11 Quality of Life Opinions of Safety in Stillwater Q6. How strongly do you disagree or agree with the following statements? Based on a 5-point rating scale where –2 = “Strongly Disagree”, 0 = “Neither Agree Nor Disagree”, and +2 = “Strongly Agree”. Base: 1,192 respondents 72% 82% 88% 39%10% 3% 8% 2% 3% 2% 1% 2% 48% 24% 9% 8% 0%20%40%60%80%100% There is a drug problem in Stillwater Fire/Police response times are acceptable I feel safe walking alone at night in Stillwater Stillwater is a safe place to raise children AgreeNeither Agree Nor DisagreeDisagreeNo Answer +1.4 +1.2 +1.1 +0.5 Mean 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 12 Quality of Life What Community Members Like Most About Stillwater Q8. What do you like most about the city of Stillwater? Base: 1,192 respondents 28% 35% 44% 51% 56% 73% 87% 67% 14% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Other Lakes Open space Trails/Bike paths Parks Downtown My neighborhood Location St. Croix River 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 13 Quality of Life Most Serious Issue Facing the City of Stillwater Q9. What is the one most serious issue facing the city of Stillwater? Note: multiple responses were allowed Base: 1,192 respondents 3% 8% 9% 23% 27% 47% 3% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Other Crime Conditions of the roads Schools Taxes Traffic conditions Growth/Development 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 14 City Services Performance of Stillwater City Government In Total and by Geographic Region  = Higher than Downtown, Original Town, and West Stillwater.  = Higher than all other geographic areas. Q12. Overall, how would you rate the performance of the Stillwater city government in meeting your needs? Based on a 5-point rating scale where 1 = “Poor” and 5 = “Excellent”. 46% 37%43%50% 61% 41% 38% 31% 37% 38% 30% 45% 32% 18%9%9%13% 2%2%1% 14% 2% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% TOTALDowntownOriginal TownMiddle Stillwater West Business Park West Stillwater No Answer Low (1/2) Moderate (3) High (4/5) N=1,192 N=75 N=362 N=408 N=46 N=301    2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 15 City Services City Services—Importance 29% 36% 38% 43% 52% 65% 66% 67% 82% 85% 86% 88% 61% 19% 0%25%50%75%100% City Web Site Stillwater Newsletter Ease of Obtaining Permits Helpfulness of Building Inspectors Ease of Access to City Information Ease of Parking Downtown Park Maintenance Public Library Ease of Travel by Car Parks/Recreation Street Repair and Maintenance Snow Removal Police Department Fire Department % rating a "4" or "5" Q13. How important are the following city services to you? Based on a 5-point rating scale where 1 = “Low Importance” and 5 = “High Importance”. Base: 1,192 respondents Low (<50%) Moderate (50%-74%) High (75%+) 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 16 38% 30% 31% 46% 17% 78% 44% 63% 38% 61% 80% 83% 61% 25% 0%25%50%75%100% City Web Site Stillwater Newsletter Ease of Obtaining Permits Helpfulness of Building Inspectors Ease of Access to City Information Ease of Parking Downtown Park Maintenance Public Library Ease of Travel by Car Parks/Recreation Street Repair and Maintenance Snow Removal Police Department Fire Department % rating a "4" or "5" City Services City Services—Performance* *City Services are listed in order of importance. Q14. How do you rate the performance of each of the following city services? Based on a 5-point rating scale where 1 = “Poor” and 5 = “Excellent”. Base: 1,192 respondents Low (<50%) Moderate (50%-74%) High (75%+) 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 17 City Services Performance Improvement Prioritization Plan Areas of Primary Strength Fire Department (83%) Police Department (80%) Public Library (78%) Low Low/Moderate Performance High Top Priority Items Street Repair (38%) Ease of Travel by Car (44%) Ease of Parking Downtown (17%) Backburner Items Ease of Access to City Information (46%) Helpfulness of Building Inspectors (31%) Ease of Obtaining Permits (30%) Stillwater Newsletter (38%) City Web Site (25%) Areas of Secondary Strength None Moderate/High Note: The percentages in parentheses are performance scores. Secondary Priority Items Snow Removal (61%) Parks/Recreation (63%) Park Maintenance (61%) 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 18 City Services Community Support of Stillwater-Hosted Events Q18. Do you support the city of Stillwater hosting each of the following events? Base: 1,192 respondents 94%93% 80%75% 4%5% 17% 19% 2%3%6%2% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Summer Art Festival Fall Art FestivalLumberjack DaysCriterion Bicycle Race No Answer No, Don't Support Yes, Support 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 19 Capital Improvements Priority of Community Projects Q20. The following community projects have been discussed over the past 5 – 10 years. How high of a priority to you are each of the following community projects? Based on a 5-point rating scale where 1 = “Not A Priority” and 5 = “Very High Priority”. Base: 1,192 respondents 2.9 Mean 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.5 16% 13% 10% 9% 14% 48% 43% 36% 34% 19% 18% 22% 18% 19% 19% 22% 21% 21% 21% 27% 29% 30% 32% 11% 11% 45% 44% 45% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Arts and Cultural Center (Current Armory Building) Trail Connection Paralleling River from Laurel St. to Nelson St. Pedestrian Plaza Between Main St. and Lowell Park on Commercial St. Alignment Expand Community/Recreation Center Parking Ramp Between 2nd & 3rd St. at Commercial Ave Terra Terminal/Aiple Property Conversion to Passive Park and Trails Lowell Park Improvement Between Mulberry St. and Myrtle St. No OpinionLow (1/2)Moderate (3)High (4/5) 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 20 Capital Improvements Receptive 68% Neutral 21% Not Receptive 11% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Community Projects—Population Segments Q20. The following community projects have been discussed over the past 5 – 10 years. How high of a priority to you are each of the following community projects? Base: 1,192 respondents Receptive: At least one community project is a high priority Neutral: All community projects are either a low or moderate priority. None are a high priority. Not Receptive: ALL community projects are a low priority 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 21 Capital Improvements Support of Capital Improvement Funding Options Q22. How much do you oppose or support the funding of capital improvement projects for the city of Stillwater through each of the following means? Based on a 5-point rating scale where –2 = “Strongly Oppose”, 0 = “Neither Support Not Oppose”, and +2 = “Strongly Support”. Base: 1,192 respondents +0.7 +0.5 +0.4 +0.3 Mean -1.3 48% 54% 55% 60% 12% 23% 78% 27% 26% 22% 15% 3% 4% 3% 4% 3% 8% 21% 18% 20% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Increase Property Tax Sales Tax: Off-Sale Liquor Entertainment Tax Sales Tax: On-Sale Liquor Lodging Tax SupportNeither Support Nor OpposeOpposeNo Answer 2006 Community Survey Prepared by: 22 Readex Research Contact Information Theresa Cabak, Director of Client Services Direct Line: 651-439-8705 E-Mail: tcabak@readexresearch.com Jack Semler, President/CEO Direct Line: 651-439-8547 E-Mail: jsemler@readexresearch.com