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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 72018 Community Survey City Council Work Session July 23, 2018 Survey Methods •Mail-in survey •Random sample of Lakeville residents •2018 -409 of 1,600 surveys were returned (25 percent) •2013 -434 of 1,200 surveys were returned (36 percent) •2018 survey also included an open on-line option –results consistent with mail-in survey •The survey captures the residents opinions within three pillars and eight central facets Three Pillars •Community Characteristics •Governance •Participation Community Characteristics •Pillar One: Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good)2018 rating compared to 2013 Comparison to benchmark 2013 2018 2013 2018 Overall quality of life 92%94%Similar Much higher Higher Overall image 85%88%Similar Much higher Higher Place to live 96%96%Similar Much higher Similar Neighborhood 88%91%Similar Much higher Similar Place to raise children 92%97%Similar Much higher Higher Place to retire 57%65%Higher Lower Similar Overall appearance 86%90%Similar Much higher Higher Governance •Pillar Two: Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good)2018 rating compared to 2013 Comparison to benchmark 2013 2018 2013 2018 Services provided by Lakeville 84%88%Similar Higher Similar Customer service 90%87%Similar Much higher Similar Value of services for taxes paid 65%64%Similar Much higher Similar Overall direction 69%71%Similar Much higher Similar Welcoming citizen involvement 57%60%Similar Higher Similar Confidence in City government NA 71%NA NA Similar Acting in the best interest of Lakeville NA 76%NA NA Similar Being honest NA 76%NA NA Higher Treating all residents fairly NA 75%NA NA Higher Services provided by the Federal Government 44%51%Higher Similar Similar Participation •Pillar Three: Percent rating positively (e.g., always/sometimes, more than once a month, yes)2018 rating compared to 2013 Comparison to benchmark 2013 2018 2013 2018 Sense of community 73%67%Similar Higher Similar Recommend Lakeville 94%96%Similar Much higher Higher Remain in Lakeville 91%94%Similar Much higher Higher Contacted Lakeville employees 42%40%Similar Much lower Similar Central Facets •Public Safety •Mobility •Natural Environment •Built Environment •Economy •Recreation and Wellness •Education and Enrichment •Community Engagement Public Safety Crime prevention, fire prevention, ambulance service, etc. •Responses were equal to or improved compared to 2013 •Similar or above national average •96% overall rating •Within the facet of safety, all aspects were rated positively by at least 9 in 10 survey participants and evaluations of the overall feeling of safety in Lakeville was rated higher than comparison communities Mobility/Transportation Auto, transit, bike and walking transportation system, including access to parking, street lighting, snow removal, traffic signal timing, street cleaning, sidewalk maintenance, etc. •Ease of car travel -80% Excellent or Good, above national average •Bus/Transit Services -61%, consistent with 2013 and national average •Ease of bicycle travel, walking; availability of paths and trails increased from 77% in 2013 to 81% in 2018 -above national average •Street repair increased from 45% in 2013 to 52% in 2018 •Snow removal decreased from 74% in 2013 to 69% in 2018 •85% overall rating •Respondents also rated all aspects of mobility strongly, assessing most measures higher than national averages •Additionally, assessments for traffic flow and ease of travel by car increased in 2018 Natural Environment Open space, natural area preservation, yard waste pickup/garbage collection, cleanliness, recycling, water conservation, energy efficiency, drinking water, etc. •Overall rating increased from 81% in 2013 to 91% in 2018 •About 9 in 10 residents rated the aspects of Natural Environment positively, particularly highlighting overall city cleanliness and preservation of open space as a strength Built Environment/Housing New development, housing options, public spaces, sewer services, land use planning/zoning, etc. •Affordable quality housing -decreased from 62% in 2013 to 52% in 2018 •Variety of housing options maintained at 70% •NOT under housing cost stress improved from 76% to 84% •All other facets stayed consistent or improved •Overall rating of 75% -consistent with national average •About 7 in 10 residents gave high marks to new development and the variety of housing options •Ratings for the facet of Built Environment were exceptional and higher than the national benchmark Economy Shopping and employment opportunities, cost of living, vibrant downtown, place to work, business and services, purchase goods and services in Lakeville, work in Lakeville, etc. •Employment opportunities -increased from 32% in 2013 to 49% in 2018 •Work in Lakeville 24% -lower than national average •Places to work increased from 59% in 2013 to 64% in 2018 •Vibrant downtown/commercial area 43% •Economy will have positive impact on income increased from 20% in 2013 to 45% in 2018 •All other facets stayed consistent •Overall economic health 88% -higher than national average •At least 8 in 10 surveyed were pleased with the overall economic health of Lakeville Recreation and Wellness Fitness and recreation opportunities, healthcare and wellness, city parks, recreation programs, use of recreation centers, etc. •Health services increased from 73% in 2013 to 83% in 2018 •Recreation programs decreased from 86% in 2013 to 80% in 2018 •Overall health and wellness 81% -above national average •All other facets stayed consistent Education and Enrichment K-12 education, culture/music/arts, child care, religious/spiritual events, adult education, public library, etc. •K-12 education increased from 83% in 2013 to 90% in 2018 •Cultural/arts/music activities increased from 50% in 2013 to 71% in 2018 •Participation in religious or spiritual activities decreased from 59% in 2013 to 50% in 2018 •Overall education and enrichment 86% -higher than national average •Education and enrichment opportunities and K-12 education; all outshined communities nationwide Community Engagement Opportunities to participate in community matters or volunteer, openness and acceptance, neighborliness, social events, etc. •Neighborliness –69% •Openness and acceptance increased from 61% in 2013 to 63% in 2018 •Opportunities to participate in community matters decreased from 66% in 2013 to 63% in 2018 •Confidence in city government 71% •Attending a local public meeting decreased from 22% in 2013 to 10% in 2018 •Watched a local public meeting decreased from 38% in 2013 to 16% in 2018 •Voted in local elections decreased from 92% in 2013 to 87% in 2018 •Participated in a club decreased from 31% in 2013 to 22% in 2018 •About two-thirds felt the sense of community was excellent or good •Almost all survey participants indicated they would recommend Lakeville to someone who asked and planned on staying in Lakeville for the next five years -ratings were higher than national benchmarks Special Topics/Custom Questions The City of Lakeville included three custom questions of special interest on the survey. The questions sought feedback regarding aspects that are important to the quality of life in Lakeville, future planning priorities and preferences for funding park and recreation projects. Figure 5: Aspects Important to the Quality of Life 21% 22% 26% 24% 30% 36% 32% 24% 38% 28% 29% 69% 75% 31% 32% 38% 43% 38% 36% 42% 51% 38% 48% 48% 25% 23% 36% 34% 24% 26% 25% 25% 23% 24% 19% 23% 22% 5% 1% 12% 12% 12% 6% 7% 3% 2% 2% 6% 2% 1% 1% 1% A good local transportation system A good regional transportation system A welcoming place for diverse populations A diverse set of shopping options A good place to grow old Open space preservation A commitment to environmental stewardship A broad range of employment opportunities Low taxes An aesthetically pleasing place A variety of recreational opportunities Quality schools A safe city Essential Very important Somewhat important Not at all important 9% 34% 39% 37% 31% 42% 47% 65% 80% 22% 42% 44% 51% 58% 50% 48% 31% 17% 41% 19% 14% 10% 10% 7% 4% 3% 1% 28% 5% 3% 2% 1% 1% 0% 1% 1% The City should only provide the minimum number of services necessary to meet the community’s needs Low taxes are important to a community’s success The City needs to be a leader in environmental stewardship Maintaining what the City has comes before investing in new/expanded facilities and systems The City should invest in creating jobs and business growth A community’s image is important to its success The City should invest in improvements that enhance quality of life for all residents Providing a safe environment is the highest priority of City government A high quality public school system is an important factor in the success of a community Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Figure 6: Resident Planning Priorities 4% 13% 20% 16% 13% 17% 12% 33% 28% 29% 16% 25% 30% 39% 40% 38% 43% 38% 41% 40% 32% 30% 28% 30% 33% 32% 32% 18% 21% 23% 48% 32% 22% 15% 14% 14% 13% 10% 10% 8% Skate park Water park Indoor athletic facility Community center Senior citizen-focused recreational opportunities Community playfields/athletic complexes Larger community parks Local interconnected trail system Parks within neighborhoods Open space/natural areas High priority Medium priority Low priority Not a priority Figure 7: Residents’ Priorities for Funding Questions and Discussion 2955 Valmont Road Suite 300 777 North Capitol Street NE Suite 500 Boulder, Colorado 80301 Washington, DC 20002 n-r-c.com • 303-444-7863 icma.org • 800-745-8780 Lakeville, MN Trends over Time 2018 1 Summary The National Citizen Survey™ (The NCS™) is a collaborative effort between National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The survey and its administration are standardized to assure high quality research methods and directly comparable results across The NCS communities. The NCS captures residents’ opinions within the three pillars of a community (Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation) across eight central facets of community (Safety, Mobility, Natural Environment, Built Environment, Economy, Recreation and Wellness, Education and Enrichment and Community Engagement). This report discusses trends over time, comparing the 2018 ratings for the City of Lakeville to its previous survey results in 2013. Additional reports and technical appendices are available under separate cover. Trend data for Lakeville represent important comparison data and should be examined for improvements or declines. Deviations from stable trends over time, especially, represent opportunities for understanding how local policies, programs or public information may have affected residents’ opinions. Meaningful differences between survey years have been noted within the following tables as being “higher” or “lower” if the differences are greater than seven percentage points between the 2013 and 2018 surveys, otherwise the comparisons between 2013 and 2018 are noted as being “similar.” Additionally, benchmark comparisons for all survey years are presented for reference. Changes in the benchmark comparison over time can be impacted by various trends, including varying survey cycles for the individual communities that comprise the benchmarks, regional and national economic or other events, as well as emerging survey methodologies. Overall, ratings in Lakeville for 2018 generally remained stable. Of the 90 items for which comparisons were available, 67 items were rated similarly in 2013 and 2018, 10 items showed a decrease in ratings and 13 showed an increase in ratings. Notable trends over time included the following: • Across pillars of community livability, six increases in 2018 were concentrated in the areas of Economy and Mobility: employment opportunities, economic development, traffic flow, ease of travel by car and street repair, as well as the proportion of residents who believed the economy would have a positive impact on their income, were higher than in 2013. No Economy or Mobility measures were rated lower since the last survey iteration. • Changes for Built Environment included one increase and two decreases in positive assessments between the two survey administrations. Fewer Lakeville participants reported they were under less housing cost stress in 2018, but residents were also less likely to positively rate the availability of affordable quality housing. Ratings for cable television were also less positive in 2018 than in 2013. • Overall, rates of Participation were similar over time. However, there were a few notable differences regarding resident engagement within the community; Lakeville respondents indicated they were participating in religious or spiritual activities, attending or watching local public meetings, volunteering and participating in clubs at lower levels than in 2013. The National Citizen Survey™ 2 Table 1: Community Characteristics General Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2018 rating compared to 2013 Comparison to benchmark 2013 2018 2013 2018 Overall quality of life 92% 94% Similar Much higher Higher Overall image 85% 88% Similar Much higher Higher Place to live 96% 96% Similar Much higher Similar Neighborhood 88% 91% Similar Much higher Similar Place to raise children 92% 97% Similar Much higher Higher Place to retire 57% 65% Higher Lower Similar Overall appearance 86% 90% Similar Much higher Higher Table 2: Community Characteristics by Facet Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good, very/somewhat safe) 2018 rating compared to 2013 Comparison to benchmark 2013 2018 2013 2018 Safety Overall feeling of safety NA 96% NA NA Higher Safe in neighborhood 98% 97% Similar Much higher Similar Safe downtown/commercial area 98% 98% Similar Much higher Similar Mobility Overall ease of travel NA 85% NA NA Similar Paths and walking trails 77% 81% Similar Much higher Higher Ease of walking 74% 75% Similar Much higher Similar Travel by bicycle 67% 70% Similar Much higher Higher Travel by car 80% 87% Higher Much higher Higher Public parking NA 82% NA NA Higher Traffic flow 64% 80% Higher Much higher Higher Natural Environment Overall natural environment 81% 91% Higher Higher Similar Cleanliness 91% 90% Similar Much higher Higher Built Environment Overall built environment NA 75% NA NA Similar New development in Lakeville 78% 73% Similar Much higher Higher Affordable quality housing 62% 52% Lower Much higher Similar Housing options 71% 70% Similar Much higher Higher Public places NA 75% NA NA Similar Economy Overall economic health NA 88% NA NA Higher Vibrant downtown/commercial area NA 43% NA NA Similar Business and services 63% 65% Similar Similar Similar Cost of living NA 50% NA NA Similar Shopping opportunities 42% 43% Similar Much lower Similar Employment opportunities 32% 49% Higher Similar Similar Place to visit NA 57% NA NA Similar Place to work 59% 64% Similar Similar Similar Recreation and Wellness Health and wellness NA 81% NA NA Similar Mental health care NA 52% NA NA Similar Preventive health services 71% 75% Similar Much higher Similar Health care 66% 72% Similar Much higher Similar Recreational opportunities 72% 78% Similar Higher Similar Fitness opportunities NA 78% NA NA Similar Education and Enrichment Education and enrichment opportunities NA 86% NA NA Higher Religious or spiritual events and activities 83% 89% Similar Higher Similar Cultural/arts/music activities 50% 71% Higher Lower Similar Adult education NA 73% NA NA Similar K-12 education 83% 90% Similar Much higher Higher Child care/preschool 57% 65% Higher Much higher Similar Community Engagement Social events and activities 65% 66% Similar Similar Similar Neighborliness NA 69% NA NA Similar Openness and acceptance 61% 63% Similar Similar Similar Opportunities to participate in community matters 66% 63% Similar Similar Similar Opportunities to volunteer 73% 68% Similar Similar Similar The National Citizen Survey™ 3 Table 3: Governance General Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2018 rating compared to 2013 Comparison to benchmark 2013 2018 2013 2018 Services provided by Lakeville 84% 88% Similar Higher Similar Customer service 90% 87% Similar Much higher Similar Value of services for taxes paid 65% 64% Similar Much higher Similar Overall direction 69% 71% Similar Much higher Similar Welcoming citizen involvement 57% 60% Similar Higher Similar Confidence in City government NA 71% NA NA Similar Acting in the best interest of Lakeville NA 76% NA NA Similar Being honest NA 76% NA NA Higher Treating all residents fairly NA 75% NA NA Higher Services provided by the Federal Government 44% 51% Higher Similar Similar Table 4: Governance by Facet Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2018 rating compared to 2013 Comparison to benchmark 2013 2018 2013 2018 Safety Police 92% 94% Similar Much higher Higher Fire 97% 97% Similar Much higher Similar Ambulance/EMS 95% 94% Similar Much higher Similar Crime prevention 87% 89% Similar Much higher Higher Fire prevention 90% 91% Similar Much higher Similar Animal control 76% 80% Similar Much higher Higher Emergency preparedness 74% 74% Similar Much higher Similar Mobility Traffic enforcement 79% 80% Similar Much higher Higher Street repair 45% 52% Higher Similar Similar Street cleaning 70% 68% Similar Higher Similar Street lighting 71% 75% Similar Much higher Higher Snow removal 74% 69% Similar Much higher Similar Sidewalk maintenance 70% 70% Similar Much higher Higher Traffic signal timing 69% 73% Similar Much higher Higher Bus or transit services 56% 61% Similar Similar Similar Natural Environment Garbage collection 89% 84% Similar Similar Similar Recycling 90% 81% Lower Much higher Similar Yard waste pick-up 82% 73% Lower Higher Similar Drinking water 80% 83% Similar Much higher Similar Natural areas preservation 70% 63% Similar Higher Similar Open space NA 69% NA NA Similar Built Environment Storm drainage 81% 80% Similar Much higher Higher Sewer services 87% 92% Similar Much higher Higher Power utility 89% 89% Similar Much higher Similar Utility billing NA 85% NA NA Similar Land use, planning and zoning 58% 59% Similar Much higher Similar Code enforcement 63% 69% Similar Much higher Higher Cable television 50% 40% Lower Lower Similar Economy Economic development 57% 66% Higher Much higher Similar Recreation and Wellness City parks 94% 91% Similar Much higher Similar Recreation programs 86% 80% Similar Much higher Similar Recreation centers 80% 73% Lower Higher Similar Health services 73% 83% Higher Higher Similar Education and Enrichment Special events NA 80% NA NA Similar Public libraries 91% 90% Similar Higher Similar Community Engagement Public information 79% 80% Similar Much higher Similar The National Citizen Survey™ 4 Table 5: Participation General Percent rating positively (e.g., always/sometimes, more than once a month, yes) 2018 rating compared to 2013 Comparison to benchmark 2013 2018 2013 2018 Sense of community 73% 67% Similar Higher Similar Recommend Lakeville 94% 96% Similar Much higher Higher Remain in Lakeville 91% 94% Similar Much higher Higher Contacted Lakeville employees 42% 40% Similar Much lower Similar Table 6: Participation by Facet Percent rating positively (e.g., always/sometimes, more than once a month, yes) 2018 rating compared to 2013 Comparison to benchmark 2013 2018 2013 2018 Safety Stocked supplies for an emergency NA 20% NA NA Lower Did NOT report a crime NA 85% NA NA Similar Was NOT the victim of a crime 94% 92% Similar Much higher Similar Mobility Used public transportation instead of driving NA 12% NA NA Lower Carpooled instead of driving alone NA 44% NA NA Similar Walked or biked instead of driving NA 54% NA NA Similar Natural Environment Conserved water NA 81% NA NA Similar Made home more energy efficient NA 81% NA NA Similar Recycled at home 97% 96% Similar Much higher Higher Built Environment Did NOT observe a code violation NA 75% NA NA Much higher NOT under housing cost stress 76% 84% Higher Much higher Higher Economy Purchased goods or services in Lakeville NA 93% NA NA Similar Economy will have positive impact on income 20% 45% Higher Similar Higher Work in Lakeville NA 24% NA NA Lower Recreation and Wellness Used Lakeville recreation centers 50% 57% Similar Much lower Similar Visited a City park 89% 90% Similar Higher Similar Ate 5 portions of fruits and vegetables NA 86% NA NA Similar Participated in moderate or vigorous physical activity NA 88% NA NA Similar In very good to excellent health NA 76% NA NA Similar Education and Enrichment Used Lakeville public libraries 71% 66% Similar Similar Similar Participated in religious or spiritual activities 59% 50% Lower Much higher Similar Attended a City-sponsored event NA 51% NA NA Similar Community Engagement Campaigned for an issue, cause or candidate NA 13% NA NA Lower Contacted Lakeville elected officials NA 12% NA NA Similar Volunteered 42% 29% Lower Similar Lower Participated in a club 31% 22% Lower Similar Similar Talked to or visited with neighbors NA 95% NA NA Similar Done a favor for a neighbor NA 90% NA NA Similar Attended a local public meeting 22% 10% Lower Lower Lower Watched a local public meeting 38% 16% Lower Similar Similar Read or watched local news NA 87% NA NA Similar Voted in local elections 92% 87% Similar Much higher Similar 2955 Valmont Road Suite 300 777 North Capitol Street NE Suite 500 Boulder, Colorado 80301 Washington, DC 20002 n-r-c.com • 303-444-7863 icma.org • 800-745-8780 Lakeville, MN Dashboard Summary of Findings 2018 1 Summary The National Citizen Survey™ (The NCS™) is a collaborative effort between National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The survey and its administration are standardized to assure high quality research methods and directly comparable results across The NCS communities. The NCS captures residents’ opinions within the three pillars of a community (Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation) across eight central facets of community (Safety, Mobility, Natural Environment, Built Environment, Economy, Recreation and Wellness, Education and Enrichment and Community Engagement). This report summarizes Lakeville’s performance in the eight facets of community livability with the “General” rating as a summary of results from the overarching questions not shown within any of the eight facets. The “Overall” represents the community pillar in its entirety (the eight facets and general). By summarizing resident ratings across the eight facets and three pillars of a livable community, a picture of Lakeville’s community livability emerges. Below, the color of each community facet summarizes how residents rated each of the pillars that support it – Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation. When most ratings were higher than the benchmark, the color is the darkest shade; when most ratings were lower than the benchmark, the color is the lightest shade. A mix of ratings (higher and lower than the benchmark) results in a color between the extremes. Overall, ratings for the dimensions of community livability were strong and similar to or higher than communities across the nation. Aspects for several facets were exceptionally high, including general foundational measures for the pillars of Community Characteristics and Participation. This information can be helpful in identifying the areas that merit more attention. Figure 1: Dashboard Summary Community Characteristics Governance Participation Higher Similar Lower Higher Similar Lower Higher Similar Lower Overall 16 33 0 12 34 0 6 24 6 General 4 3 0 0 3 0 2 1 0 Safety 1 2 0 3 4 0 0 2 1 Mobility 5 2 0 4 4 0 0 2 1 Natural Environment 1 1 0 0 6 0 1 2 0 Built Environment 2 3 0 3 4 0 2 0 0 Economy 1 7 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 Recreation and Wellness 0 6 0 0 4 0 0 5 0 Education and Enrichment 2 4 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 Community Engagement 0 5 0 2 6 0 0 8 3 National Benchmark Higher Similar Lower The National Citizen Survey™ Legend ↑↑ Much higher ↑ Higher ↔ Similar ↓ Lower ↓↓ Much lower * Not available 2 Figure 2: Detailed Dashboard Community Characteristics Trend Benchmark Percent positive Governance Trend Benchmark Percent positive Participation Trend Benchmark Percent positive General Overall appearance ↔ ↑ 90% Customer service ↔ ↔ 87% Recommend Lakeville ↔ ↑ 96% Overall quality of life ↔ ↑ 94% Services provided by Lakeville ↔ ↔ 88% Remain in Lakeville ↔ ↑ 94% Place to retire ↑ ↔ 65% Services provided by the Federal Government ↑ ↔ 51% Contacted Lakeville employees ↔ ↔ 40% Place to raise children ↔ ↑ 97% Place to live ↔ ↔ 96% Neighborhood ↔ ↔ 91% Overall image ↔ ↑ 88% Safety Overall feeling of safety * ↑ 96% Police ↔ ↑ 94% Was NOT the victim of a crime ↔ ↔ 92% Safe in neighborhood ↔ ↔ 97% Crime prevention ↔ ↑ 89% Did NOT report a crime * ↔ 85% Safe downtown/commercial area ↔ ↔ 98% Fire ↔ ↔ 97% Stocked supplies for an emergency * ↓ 20% Fire prevention ↔ ↔ 91% Ambulance/EMS ↔ ↔ 94% Emergency preparedness ↔ ↔ 74% Animal control ↔ ↑ 80% Mobility Traffic flow ↑ ↑ 80% Traffic enforcement ↔ ↑ 80% Carpooled instead of driving alone * ↔ 44% Travel by car ↑ ↑ 87% Street repair ↑ ↔ 52% Walked or biked instead of driving * ↔ 54% Travel by bicycle ↔ ↑ 70% Street cleaning ↔ ↔ 68% Used public transportation instead of driving * ↓ 12% Ease of walking ↔ ↔ 75% Street lighting ↔ ↑ 75% Overall ease travel * ↔ 85% Snow removal ↔ ↔ 69% Public parking * ↑ 82% Sidewalk maintenance ↔ ↑ 70% Paths and walking trails ↔ ↑ 81% Traffic signal timing ↔ ↑ 73% Bus or transit services ↔ ↔ 61% Natural Environment Overall natural environment ↑ ↔ 91% Garbage collection ↔ ↔ 84% Recycled at home ↔ ↑ 96% Cleanliness ↔ ↑ 90% Recycling ↓ ↔ 81% Conserved water * ↔ 81% Yard waste pick-up ↓ ↔ 73% Made home more energy efficient * ↔ 81% Drinking water ↔ ↔ 83% Open space * ↔ 69% Natural areas preservation ↔ ↔ 63% Built Environment New development in Lakeville ↔ ↑ 73% Sewer services ↔ ↑ 92% NOT experiencing housing cost stress ↑ ↑ 84% Affordable quality housing ↓ ↔ 52% Storm drainage ↔ ↑ 80% Did NOT observe a code violation * ↑↑ 75% Housing options ↔ ↑ 70% Power utility ↔ ↔ 89% Overall built environment * ↔ 75% Utility billing * ↔ 85% Public places * ↔ 75% Land use, planning and zoning ↔ ↔ 59% Code enforcement ↔ ↑ 69% Cable television ↓ ↔ 40% The National Citizen Survey™ Legend ↑↑ Much higher ↑ Higher ↔ Similar ↓ Lower ↓↓ Much lower * Not available 3 Community Characteristics Trend Benchmark Percent positive Governance Trend Benchmark Percent positive Participation Trend Benchmark Percent positive Economy Overall economic health * ↑ 88% Economic development ↑ ↔ 66% Economy will have positive impact on income ↑ ↑ 45% Shopping opportunities ↔ ↔ 43% Purchased goods or services in Lakeville * ↔ 93% Employment opportunities ↑ ↔ 49% Work in Lakeville * ↓ 24% Place to visit * ↔ 57% Cost of living * ↔ 50% Vibrant downtown/commercial area * ↔ 43% Place to work ↔ ↔ 64% Business and services ↔ ↔ 65% Recreation and Wellness Fitness opportunities * ↔ 78% City parks ↔ ↔ 91% In very good to excellent health * ↔ 76% Recreational opportunities ↔ ↔ 78% Recreation centers ↓ ↔ 73% Used Lakeville recreation centers ↔ ↔ 57% Health care ↔ ↔ 72% Recreation programs ↔ ↔ 80% Visited a City park ↔ ↔ 90% Mental health care * ↔ 52% Health services ↑ ↔ 83% Ate 5 portions of fruits and vegetables * ↔ 86% Health and wellness * ↔ 81% Participated in moderate or vigorous physical activity * ↔ 88% Preventive health services ↔ ↔ 75% Education and Enrichment K-12 education ↔ ↑ 90% Public libraries ↔ ↔ 90% Used Lakeville public libraries ↔ ↔ 66% Cultural/arts/music activities ↑ ↔ 71% Special events * ↔ 80% Participated in religious or spiritual activities ↓ ↔ 50% Child care/preschool ↑ ↔ 65% Attended a City-sponsored event * ↔ 51% Religious or spiritual events and activities ↔ ↔ 89% Adult education * ↔ 73% Overall education and enrichment * ↑ 86% Community Engagement Opportunities to participate in community matters ↔ ↔ 63% Public information ↔ ↔ 80% Sense of community ↔ ↔ 67% Opportunities to volunteer ↔ ↔ 68% Overall direction ↔ ↔ 71% Voted in local elections ↔ ↔ 87% Openness and acceptance ↔ ↔ 63% Value of services for taxes paid ↔ ↔ 64% Talked to or visited with neighbors * ↔ 95% Social events and activities ↔ ↔ 66% Welcoming citizen involvement ↔ ↔ 60% Attended a local public meeting ↓ ↓ 10% Neighborliness * ↔ 69% Confidence in City government * ↔ 71% Watched a local public meeting ↓ ↔ 16% Acting in the best interest of Lakeville * ↔ 76% Volunteered ↓ ↓ 29% Being honest * ↑ 76% Participated in a club ↓ ↔ 22% Treating all residents fairly * ↑ 75% Campaigned for an issue, cause or candidate * ↓ 13% Contacted Lakeville elected officials * ↔ 12% Read or watched local news * ↔ 87% Done a favor for a neighbor * ↔ 90% 2955 Valmont Road Suite 300 777 North Capitol Street NE Suite 500 Boulder, Colorado 80301 Washington, DC 20002 n-r-c.com • 303-444-7863 icma.org • 800-745-8780 Lakeville, MN Community Livability Report 2018 The National Citizen Survey™ © 2001-2018 National Research Center, Inc. The NCS™ is presented by NRC in collaboration with ICMA. NRC is a charter member of the AAPOR Transparency Initiative, providing clear disclosure of our sound and ethical survey research practices. Contents About .............................................................................................. 1 Quality of Life in Lakeville ................................................................. 2 Community Characteristics ............................................................... 3 Governance ..................................................................................... 5 Participation .................................................................................... 7 Special Topics .................................................................................. 9 Conclusions ................................................................................... 12 1 About The National Citizen Survey™ (The NCS) report is about the “livability” of Lakeville. The phrase “livable community” is used here to evoke a place that is not simply habitable, but that is desirable. It is not only where people do live, but where they want to live. Great communities are partnerships of the government, private sector, community-based organizations and residents, all geographically connected. The NCS captures residents’ opinions within the three pillars of a community (Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation) across eight central facets of community (Safety, Mobility, Natural Environment, Built Environment, Economy, Recreation and Wellness, Education and Enrichment and Community Engagement). The Community Livability Report provides the opinions of a representative sample of 409 residents of the City of Lakeville. The margin of error around any reported percentage is 5% for all respondents. The full description of methods used to garner these opinions can be found in the Technical Appendices provided under separate cover. Communities are partnerships among... Residents Community- based organizations Government Private sector 2 Quality of Life in Lakeville Almost all residents rated the quality of life in Lakeville as excellent or good. This rating was higher than the national benchmark (see Appendix B of the Technical Appendices provided under separate cover). Shown below are the eight facets of community. The color of each community facet summarizes how residents rated it across the three sections of the survey that represent the pillars of a community – Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation. When most ratings across the three pillars were higher than the benchmark, the color for that facet is the darkest shade; when most ratings were lower than the benchmark, the color is the lightest shade. A mix of ratings (higher and lower than the benchmark) results in a color between the extremes. In addition to a summary of ratings, the image below includes one or more stars to indicate which community facets were the most important focus areas for the community. Residents identified Safety and Economy as priorities for the Lakeville community in the coming two years. Ratings for most facets were positive and similar to communities nationwide, while ratings for the facet of Built Environment were exceptional and higher than the national benchmark. This overview of the key aspects of community quality provides a quick summary of where residents see exceptionally strong performance and where performance offers the greatest opportunity for improvement. Linking quality to importance offers community members and leaders a view into the characteristics of the community that matter most and that seem to be working best. Details that support these findings are contained in the remainder of this Livability Report, starting with the ratings for Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation and ending with results for Lakeville’s unique questions. Education and Enrichment Community Engagement Mobility Natural Environment Recreation and Wellness Built Environment Safety Economy Legend Higher than national benchmark Similar to national benchmark Lower than national benchmark Most important Excellent 42% Good 52% Fair 5% Poor 1% Overall Quality of Life 3 Community Characteristics What makes a community livable, attractive and a place where people want to be? Overall quality of community life represents the natural ambience, services and amenities that make for an attractive community. How residents rate their overall quality of life is an indicator of the overall health of a community. In the case of Lakeville, 96% rated the city as an excellent or good place to live. Respondents’ ratings of Lakeville as a place to live were similar to ratings in other communities across the nation. In addition to rating the city as a place to live, respondents rated several aspects of community quality including Lakeville as a place to raise children and to retire, their neighborhood as a place to live, the overall image or reputation of Lakeville and its overall appearance. At least 8 in 10 residents assessed most of these aspects positively and ratings for the overall image of the city, Lakeville as a place to raise children and overall appearance outshined municipalities elsewhere. About two-thirds awarded excellent or good marks to the community as a place to retire, which was similar to national averages. Delving deeper into Community Characteristics, survey respondents rated over 40 features of the community within the eight facets of Community Livability. Overall, ratings within the pillar of Community Characteristics were strong and similar to or higher than national benchmarks. Within the facet of Safety, all aspects were rated positively by at least 9 in 10 survey participants and evaluations of the overall feeling of safety in Lakeville was rated higher than comparison communities. Respondents also rated all aspects of Mobility strongly, assessing most measures more positively than national averages; additionally, assessments for traffic flow and ease of travel by car increased in 2018 (see the Trends over Time report for more details). About 9 in 10 residents rated both aspects of Natural Environment positively, particularly highlighting overall cleanliness as a strength. Survey respondents also provided accolades for several other areas. About 7 in 10 residents gave high marks to new development and the variety of housing options, and at least 8 in 10 were pleased with the overall economic health of Lakeville, education and enrichment opportunities and K-12 education; all of these outshined communities nationwide. 88%97%90%91% 65% Overall image Neighborhood Place to raise children Place to retire Overall appearance Higher Similar Lower Comparison to national benchmarkPercent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) Excellent 50% Good 46% Fair 4% Poor 0% Place to Live The National Citizen Survey™ 4 Figure 1: Aspects of Community Characteristics 90% 86% 88% 70% 73% 90% 80% 82% 87% 70% 81% 96% 68% 63% 63% 69% 66% 65% 73% 71% 89% 78% 78% 72% 75% 52% 81% 64% 57% 49% 43% 50% 65% 43% 75% 52% 75% 91% 75% 85% 98% 97% Opportunities to volunteer Opportunities to participate in community matters Openness and acceptance Neighborliness Social events and activities COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Child care/preschool K-12 education Adult education Cultural/arts/music activities Religious or spiritual events and activities Education and enrichment opportunities EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT Fitness opportunities Recreational opportunities Health care Preventive health services Mental health care Health and wellness RECREATION AND WELLNESS Place to work Place to visit Employment opportunities Shopping opportunities Cost of living Business and services Vibrant downtown/commercial area Overall economic health ECONOMY Public places Housing options Affordable quality housing New development in Lakeville Overall built environment BUILT ENVIRONMENT Cleanliness Overall natural environment NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Traffic flow Public parking Travel by car Travel by bicycle Ease of walking Paths and walking trails Overall ease of travel MOBILITY Safe downtown/commercial area Safe in neighborhood Overall feeling of safety SAFETY Higher Similar Lower Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good, very/somewhat safe) Comparison to national benchmark 5 Governance How well does the government of Lakeville meet the needs and expectations of its residents? The overall quality of the services provided by Lakeville as well as the manner in which these services are provided is a key component of how residents rate their quality of life. At least 8 in 10 residents rated the overall quality of services provided by the City of Lakeville as excellent or good. Marks for City services as well as services provided by the Federal Government were similar to national averages. Survey respondents also rated various aspects of Lakeville’s leadership and governance. About 7 in 10 or more of residents evaluated most aspects positively and similarly to comparisons to jurisdictions across the country. Lakeville survey participants were particularly pleased with the City’s efforts to be honest and treat all residents fairly, as these levels were higher than other ratings awarded nationwide. Respondents evaluated over 30 individual services and amenities available in Lakeville. Ratings for all services provided were rated similarly to or higher than comparisons to other communities across the U.S. Services that were especially appreciated were concentrated within the facets of Safety, Mobility and Built Environment, including police, crime prevention, traffic enforcement, sidewalk maintenance, sewer and code enforcement services, among others. Furthermore, while some aspects declined since 2013 (e.g. recycling, yard waste pick-up, recreation centers), residents’ evaluations for street repair, economic development and health services increased in 2018. 76%75%64%71%60%71%76%87% 51% Value of services for taxes paid Overall direction Welcoming citizen involvement Confidence in City government Acting in the best interest of Lakeville Being honest Treating all residents fairly Customer service Services provided by the Federal Government Higher Similar Lower Comparison to national benchmarkPercent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) Excellent 28% Good 60% Fair 10% Poor 2% Overall Quality of Lakeville Services The National Citizen Survey™ 6 Figure 2: Aspects of Governance 69% 92% 80% 73% 70% 75% 80% 80% 89% 94% 80% 80% 90% 83% 73% 80% 91% 66% 40% 59% 85% 89% 69% 63% 83% 73% 81% 84% 61% 69% 68% 52% 74% 91% 94% 97% Public information COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Special events Public libraries EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT Health services Recreation centers Recreation programs City parks RECREATION AND WELLNESS Economic development ECONOMY Cable television Code enforcement Land use, planning and zoning Utility billing Power utility Sewer services Storm drainage BUILT ENVIRONMENT Open space Natural areas preservation Drinking water Yard waste pick-up Recycling Garbage collection NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Bus or transit services Traffic signal timing Sidewalk maintenance Snow removal Street lighting Street cleaning Street repair Traffic enforcement MOBILITY Emergency preparedness Animal control Fire prevention Crime prevention Ambulance/EMS Fire Police SAFETY Higher Similar Lower Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) Comparison to national benchmark 7 Participation Are the residents of Lakeville connected to the community and each other? An engaged community harnesses its most valuable resource, its residents. The connections and trust among residents, government, businesses and other organizations help to create a sense of community, a shared sense of membership, belonging and history. About two-thirds of survey respondents felt the sense of community in Lakeville was excellent or good, which was similar to levels across the country. Almost all survey participants indicated that they would recommend Lakeville to someone who asked and planned on staying in Lakeville for the next five years, ratings that were higher than national benchmarks. About 4 in 10 residents reported having contacted a City employee in the last 12 months, a level of engagement similar to those seen in other communities. The survey included over 30 activities and behaviors for which respondents indicated how often they participated in or performed each, if at all. Overall, levels of Participation were similar to national averages. Residents reported high levels of engagement with the Natural Environment, generally on par with the benchmarks, plus a recycling rate that was higher than in other communities. Moreover, Lakeville survey participants reported code violations and being under housing cost stress at rates lower than residents in comparison communities. Levels of housing cost stress improved since 2013, as did respondents’ optimism regarding the local economy in the future (and this rate was also higher than the national average). Conversely, Lakeville residents indicated they were less likely to engage within their community than other residents: levels of campaigning for an issue, cause or candidate, volunteering and attending local meetings were lower than benchmark comparisons. Further, rates for participating in religious or spiritual activities or clubs, as well as attending or watching local meetings and volunteering decreased from 2013 to 2018. 96%94% 40% Recommend Lakeville Remain in Lakeville Contacted Lakeville employees Higher Similar Lower Percent rating positively (e.g., very/somewhat likely, yes) Comparison to national benchmark Excellent 24% Good 43% Fair 30% Poor 4% Sense of Community The National Citizen Survey™ 8 Figure 3: Aspects of Participation 45% 84% 75% 96% 87% 87% 16% 90% 95% 22% 12% 51% 50% 66% 76% 88% 86% 90% 57% 93% 81% 81% 54% 44% 92% 85% 10% 29% 13% 24% 12% 20% Voted in local elections Read or watched local news Watched a local public meeting Attended a local public meeting Done a favor for a neighbor Talked to or visited with neighbors Participated in a club Volunteered Contacted Lakeville elected officials Campaigned for an issue, cause or candidate COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Attended a City-sponsored event Participated in religious or spiritual activities Used Lakeville public libraries EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT In very good to excellent health Participated in moderate or vigorous physical activity Ate 5 portions of fruits and vegetables Visited a City park Used Lakeville recreation centers RECREATION AND WELLNESS Work in Lakeville Economy will have positive impact on income Purchased goods or services in Lakeville ECONOMY NOT under housing cost stress Did NOT observe a code violation BUILT ENVIRONMENT Recycled at home Made home more energy efficient Conserved water NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Walked or biked instead of driving Carpooled instead of driving alone Used public transportation instead of driving MOBILITY Was NOT the victim of a crime Did NOT report a crime Stocked supplies for an emergency SAFETY Higher Similar Lower Percent rating positively (e.g., yes, more than once a month, always/sometimes) Comparison to national benchmark 9 Special Topics The City of Lakeville included three questions of special interest on The NCS. City leadership sought feedback from survey respondents regarding aspects that are important to the quality of life in Lakeville, future planning priorities and preferences for funding park and recreation projects. Almost all Lakeville residents identified safety and the quality of local schools as the most essential or very important aspects to the quality of life in the community. Other aspects that ranked highly on respondents’ priority list included a variety of recreational opportunities, appearance, low taxes and employment opportunities, among others. Regional or local transportation systems were identified as lower priorities, with about half of respondents reporting these were at least very important. Figure 4: Aspects Important to the Quality of Life Please rate how important, if at all, each of the following are to the future of Lakeville: 21% 22% 26% 24% 30% 36% 32% 24% 38% 28% 29% 69% 75% 31% 32% 38% 43% 38% 36% 42% 51% 38% 48% 48% 25% 23% 36% 34% 24% 26% 25% 25% 23% 24% 19% 23% 22% 5% 1% 12% 12% 12% 6% 7% 3% 2% 2% 6% 2% 1% 1% 1% A good local transportation system A good regional transportation system A welcoming place for diverse populations A diverse set of shopping options A good place to grow old Open space preservation A commitment to environmental stewardship A broad range of employment opportunities Low taxes An aesthetically pleasing place A variety of recreational opportunities Quality schools A safe city Essential Very important Somewhat important Not at all important The National Citizen Survey™ 10 Similarly to aspects that are important to quality of life, Lakeville residents agreed that a high quality public school system and a safe environment should be the top two areas that the City should focus on for the next two years. At least 9 in 10 survey participants also strongly or somewhat agreed that Lakeville leadership should invest in improvements that enhance quality of life and that the community’s image is important to the City’s success. While a majority of residents agreed with almost all priorities listed, most residents disagreed that the City should only provide the minimum number of services necessary to meet the community’s needs. Figure 5: Resident Planning Priorities Please indicate if you agree or disagree that the Lakeville community should focus on each of the following in the coming two years: 9% 34% 39% 37% 31% 42% 47% 65% 80% 22% 42% 44% 51% 58% 50% 48% 31% 17% 41% 19% 14% 10% 10% 7% 4% 3% 1% 28% 5% 3% 2% 1% 1% 0% 1% 1% The City should only provide the minimum number of services necessary to meet the community’s needs Low taxes are important to a community’s success The City needs to be a leader in environmental stewardship Maintaining what the City has comes before investing in new/expanded facilities and systems The City should invest in creating jobs and business growth A community’s image is important to its success The City should invest in improvements that enhance quality of life for all residents Providing a safe environment is the highest priority of City government A high quality public school system is an important factor in the success of a community Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree The National Citizen Survey™ 11 When asked to identify priorities parks and recreation improvements that would be funded by a possible property tax ballot measure, open space/natural areas, neighborhood parks and a local interconnected trail system were the highest priorities for most residents. Fewer Lakeville respondents felt that a water or skate park would be a priority for potential funding. Figure 6: Residents’ Priorities for Funding If a vote were held to increase the amount of property taxes to fund the following parks and recreation improvements, please indicate which projects or services, if any, would be a priority: 4% 13% 20% 16% 13% 17% 12% 33% 28% 29% 16% 25% 30% 39% 40% 38% 43% 38% 41% 40% 32% 30% 28% 30% 33% 32% 32% 18% 21% 23% 48% 32% 22% 15% 14% 14% 13% 10% 10% 8% Skate park Water park Indoor athletic facility Community center Senior citizen-focused recreational opportunities Community playfields/athletic complexes Larger community parks Local interconnected trail system Parks within neighborhoods Open space/natural areas High priority Medium priority Low priority Not a priority 12 Conclusions Lakeville is a desirable place to live and raise a family. Almost all Lakeville residents awarded excellent or good reviews to the city as a place to live and to the overall quality of life; ratings for the quality of life in the community outshined the national average. For aspects that enhance livability, about 9 in 10 survey respondents were pleased with their neighborhood as a place to live, the overall image or reputation and overall appearance of Lakeville. Lakeville residents’ loyalty ratings were reflective of these high marks, as at least 9 in 10 indicated they would recommend living in the community and planned to remain in the city for the next five years, which were levels higher than those seen in comparison communities. Residents also reported that Lakeville is a great place to raise a family. Nearly all residents positively assessed the city as a place to raise children and 9 in 10 praised the quality of K-12 education; both of these evaluations were higher than seen in other communities across the nation. Furthermore, survey participants’ ratings for the availability of affordable quality child care/preschool increased from 2013 to 2018. Finally, about 9 in 10 respondents felt that quality schools is at least very important for the future quality of life in Lakeville and almost all agreed that a high quality public school system in an important factor in the success of a community. Lakeville’s Economy is going strong, but affordable housing may be a consideration. Lakeville residents see the Economy as an important focus area for the City in the next two years and related ratings tended to be positive. At least 8 in 10 respondents gave excellent or good marks to the overall economic health of Lakeville, which was higher than other municipalities across the U.S., and assessments of employment opportunities and the economic development of the community increased since the last administration of the survey. Additionally, over 4 in 10 participants were optimistic about the potential impact of the local economy on their income in the future, which was higher than in 2013 and eclipsed national averages. About three-quarters of respondents indicated that a broad range of employment opportunities was essential or very important to the quality of life in Lakeville and nearly 9 in 10 agreed that the City should invest in creating jobs and business growth. Similarly, residents praised new development and the variety of housing options in Lakeville, and fewer survey respondents reported they were under housing cost stress in 2018 compared to 2013; all of these ratings were evaluated higher than the benchmarks. Conversely, while participants awarded marks that were similar to their peers for the availability of affordable quality housing in the community, this rating decreased since 2013. Lakeville is a well-designed and navigable community and residents might use transportation improvements. Residents see Mobility as a strength, with at least 8 in 10 residents indicating the overall ease of travel in Lakeville was excellent or good. Respondents’ reviews for the availability of paths and walking trails, ease of travel by walking and by car and public parking were all rated higher than comparison communities. Residents also assessed all traffic-related aspects and services, including traffic flow, traffic enforcement and traffic signal timing, as higher than national averages. Lakeville participants walked, biked or carpooled instead of driving at rates similar to the rest of the country, but were less likely than residents elsewhere to use public transportation. Respondents reflected on the importance of local and regional transportation systems to their quality of life, with about half concluding that they would be essential or very important and another one-third saying they would be somewhat important for the future. The City has an opportunity to engage residents. Around two-thirds of residents were pleased with opportunities to attend social events and activities, opportunities to participate in community matters and to volunteer and nearly 9 in 10 gave positive reviews to opportunities to attend religious or spiritual events, levels which were all similar to those seen elsewhere. However, fewer Lakeville respondents had engaged in religious or spiritual activities, attended or watched local meetings, volunteered or participated in clubs in 2018 compared to 2013. Moreover, residents’ rates of campaigning for an issue, cause or candidate; volunteering and attending local public meetings were lower than national levels.