Cape Girardeau
Citizen Survey and
Business Survey Results
2012
2
Survey Background
• Citizens’ and business owners’ and managers’
input on:
▫
▫
▫
▫
Quality of life in the city
Service delivery
City government performance
Priorities for City government
• First survey of this type conducted by the City
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
3
Survey methods
Citizen Survey
Business Survey
• Survey packets mailed to 1,800
households
▫ Option to complete online
▫ Split evenly among 6 Wards
• 565 residents completed the
survey
▫ Weighted to reflect the
population profile
▫ Response rate of 33%
▫ Margin of error of ±4%
• Invitations mailed to 1,193
businesses
▫ Online only response
• 273 business owners and
managers completed the survey
▫ Response rate of 24%
▫ Margin of error ±6%
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
4
Highlights
• High quality of life for residents and business
owners and managers
• Excellent employment, educational and volunteer
opportunities
• Parks and recreation a strength of the City
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
Quality of Life
6
Overall Quality of Life in Cape Girardeau
Citizen Survey
Business Survey
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
7
Citizens’ Commitment to the Community
Remain in Cape Girardeau for the
next five years
Recommend living in Cape Girardeau
to someone who asks
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
8
Percent rating as “excellent” or “good”
Aspects of Quality of Life
Place to raise children
Neighborhood as a place to live
Place to work
70%
67%
65%
85%
Place to work
79%
Place to do business
Relationship between business and government
Citizens
Businesses
55%
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
9
Percent of citizens rating as “excellent” or “good”
Characteristics of Cape Girardeau
Opportunities to
participate in
religious or
spiritual events
and activities
82%
78%
Availability of
affordable
quality child
care
Ease of air
travel to and
from Cape
Girardeau
43%
Educational
opportunities
Ease of car
travel in Cape
Girardeau
73%
65%
Employment
opportunities
Ease of bus
travel in Cape
Girardeau
35%
24%
Opportunities to
volunteer
40%
Highest
rated
Lowest
rated
10
Percent of businesses rating as “excellent” or “good”
Characteristics of Cape Girardeau
Educational
opportunities
Overall quality of
business and
service
establishments
81%
76%
Ease of air
travel to and
from Cape
Girardeau
Employment
opportunities
43%
42%
Ease of car
travel in Cape
Girardeau
Overall image or
reputation of
Cape Girardeau
73%
73%
Ease of bus
travel in Cape
Girardeau
Amount of
public parking
downtown
Highest
rated
Lowest
rated
31%
19%
11
Potential Problems Needing Attention
Higher rated problems
57% Drugs
Lower rated problems
Trash and litter 28%
50% Run-down buildings
Weeds, unmaintained
landscaping
26%
Graffiti
23%
42% Run-down homes
38% Vacant buildings
Noise
21%
Percent of citizens responding “major attention”
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
Quality of Services
13
Overall Quality of Services
Citizen Survey
Business Survey
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
14
Percent of citizens rating as “excellent” or “good”
City Services
Fire protection
services
92%
Services to
low-income
people
40%
Emergency
medical service
provided by
Cape Girardeau
Fire Department
91%
City parks
83%
82%
Street repair
and
maintenance
Code
enforcement
(weeds,
abandoned
buildings, etc.)
35%
39%
Highest
rated
Bus or transit
services
38%
Public library
services
Lowest
rated
15
Percent of businesses rating as “excellent” or “good”
City Services
Fire protection
services
Emergency
medical service
provided by
Cape Girardeau
Fire Department
Highest
rated
93%
93%
Bus or transit
services
Code
enforcement
(weeds,
abandoned
buildings, etc.)
40%
39%
Fire prevention
programs and
education
Lowest
rated
Police services
82%
80%
Street repair
and
maintenance
Economic
development
38%
37%
16
Key Driver Analysis
• Relationship between residents’ ratings of
individual services and overall quality of services
• Drivers can be a window into improving overall
ratings
• Cape Girardeau drivers:
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Public schools
Police services
City communications
Street lighting
Emergency preparedness
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
17
Cape Girardeau 2012 Action Chart™
Community Design
Planning
and zoning
Animal
control
Code
enforcement
Street
repair
Economic
development
Snow
removal
Sidewalk
maintenance
Traffic signal
timing
Street
lighting
Street
cleaning
Recreation and Wellness
City
parks
Bicycle/walking
paths
Library
Public
schools
Recreation
programs
Recreation
facilities
Aquatic facilities
Overall Quality of City of Cape Girardeau Services
Environmental Sustainability
Public Safety
Drinking
water
Recycling
Emergency
preparedness
Police
services
Garbage
collection
Sewer
services
Fire Dept. EMS
Fire
protection services
Power
utility
Storm
drainage
Private ambulance
service
Traffic
enforcement
Civic Engagement
Cable
television
Community Inclusiveness
City
communication
Senior
services
Youth
services
Legend
Above
Benchmark
Similar to
Benchmark
Below
Benchmark
Key Driver
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
Government Performance
19
Citizen Ratings of City Government
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
20
Citizen Contact with City Employees
Have you had any in-person,
phone or email contact
with an employee of
the City of Cape
Girardeau within
the last 12 months?
Did you feel
your question
or issue was
resolved?
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
21
Percent selecting as top 1 or 2 priority
Priorities for Government
Economic
development,
business and job
retention
Crime and safety
Road
maintenance/
traffic
Beautification,
upkeep of
landscape and
buildings
32%
25%
25%
23%
Economic
development,
business and
job retention
Beautification,
upkeep of
landscape and
buildings
Road
maintenance/
traffic
Government
efficiency and
taxes
45%
19%
18%
14%
Citizens
Businesses
22
Businesses’ Perceptions of Growth Rates
Too Slow
About right
43%
Too Fast
53%
5%
49%
6%
Population
45%
Retail
78%
23%
Jobs
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
23
Businesses’ Perceptions of Managing
Growth
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
Benchmark Comparisons
25
About NRC’s Benchmarks
• Database of resident perspectives gathered in
citizen surveys from approximately 500
jurisdictions including cities and counties
• Normative comparison for 260 services
representing the opinions of over 30 million
Americans
• Comparisons made to most recent surveys
conducted within the jurisdictions
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
26
Cape Girardeau’s Benchmarks
Two custom sets of comparisons
• Communities across the nation
with populations between
30,000 and 50,000
▫ 76 communities included
▫ 99 comparisons available
• Communities in the State of
Missouri
▫ 20 communities included
▫ 40 comparisons available
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
27
Benchmark Summary: Population 30,000
to 50,000
Strengths
Areas for improvement
• Quality and use of city parks and
recreation centers and facilities
• Recycling services
• Volunteer opportunities and
rates of volunteerism
• Employment opportunities
•
•
•
•
Traffic law enforcement
Ease of bus travel
Code enforcement
Openness and acceptance of
the community toward people of
diverse backgrounds
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
28
Benchmark Summary: Missouri
Communities
Strengths
Areas for improvement
•
•
•
•
• Crime prevention
• Safety in neighborhood and
downtown
• Cleanliness
• Street sweeping and cleaning
City parks and
Recreation centers and facilities
Recycling services
Drinking water
Prepared by National Research Center, Inc.
Thank you!
2955 Valmont Rd., Ste 300
Boulder, CO 80301
303-444-7863 • [email protected]
www.n-r-c.com