2016 Community Planning
Survey
FINAL Report
Conducted for
Mid-America Regional Council
by
ETC Institute
725 W. Frontier Circle
Olathe, Kansas 66061
(913) 829-1215
February 2017
MARC 2016 Community Planning Survey: Final Report
Section 4:
Survey Instrument
ETC Institute (2017)
Page 103
December 2016
Dear Kansas City Area Resident:
As part of a regional environmental program, local businesses, governments, and other
organizations are working together to educate area residents about environmental issues and to
encourage people to make lifestyle choices that can contribute to protecting and conserving our
natural resources.
To make these efforts more successful, the Mid-America Regional Council solicits input from
community residents on a wide range of issues related to environment. Please help us by
taking a few minutes to complete the enclosed survey. Your completed survey enters you
into a drawing to win a $100 gift card.
You may return your survey in the enclosed postage paid return-reply envelope to ETC
Institute, 725 W. Frontier Circle, Olathe, KS 66061.
If you have questions, please feel free to call me at 816-701-8233.
Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Alecia Kates,
Water Quality Planner
2016 Community Planning Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your input is an
important part of MARC's efforts to help plan the future of the Kansas City
area. If you have questions, please call Alecia Kates at 816-701-8233. Thank
you for your participation.
REGIONAL ISSUES
1. Using a scale of 1 to 5 where “5” means “Very Good” and 1 means “Very Poor”, how would you rate the
following in the Kansas City area?
How would you rate the following in the Kansas City area:
01.
02.
03.
04.
05.
06.
07.
08.
09.
10.
Air quality
Economic development and job creation
Efforts to minimize the impacts of flooding
Level of safety from crime in neighborhoods
Local governmental services
Opportunities for health and fitness
Public education (K-12)
Recycling programs
Regional efforts to acquire and protect natural areas
Water quality in lakes, streams, and rivers
Very
Good
Good
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Adequate Poor
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Very
Poor
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Don’t
Know
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
2. Which THREE of the issues listed above should be the TOP PRIORITIES for the metropolitan Kansas City
area over the next five years? [Write in the numbers below using the numbers from the list in Question 1 above].
1st: _____
2nd: _____
3rd: _____
PERCEPTIONS OF LAKES AND STREAMS
3.
Do you think the water in lakes and streams near your home is safe for your pets to drink?
____ (1) Yes ____ (2) No ____ (9) Don’t know
4.
Do you think the water in lakes and streams near your home is safe for children to play in?
____ (1) Yes ____ (2) No ____ (9) Don’t know
5.
How often does the water in lakes and streams near your home smell bad?
___ (1) All of the time ___ (2) Most of the time ___ (3) Some of the time ___ (4) Seldom or never ___ (9) Don’t know
6.
How often do you see litter and junk in lakes and streams near your home?
___ (1) All of the time __ (2) Most of the time __ (3) Some of the time __ (4) Seldom or never ___ (9) Don’t know
7.
How concerned are you about pollution in lakes, streams and other waterways in the Kansas City area?
____ (1) Very concerned ____ (2) Somewhat concerned ____ (3) Not sure ____ (4) Not concerned
8.
Do you think the water quality in lakes, streams, rivers, and other waterways in the Kansas City area is:
____ (1) Getting much better
____ (4) Getting somewhat worse
____ (2) Getting somewhat better
____ (5) Getting much worse
____ (3) Staying about the same
____ (9) Don’t know
BEHAVIORS
The following questions are sensitive, but they will help us understand the magnitude of various issues in the
Kansas City area, so please answer them honestly. Your responses will remain completely confidential.
9.
Have you or other members of your household disposed of yard waste (including grass clippings) in the
street, a stormwater drain, or a lake/stream during the past year? ___ (1) Yes ___ (2) No ___ (9) Don’t know
© 2016 ETC Institute for MARC
1
10. Have you or other members of your household dumped paint, motor oil, or other household waste into the street,
stormwater drain, or a lake/stream during the past year?
____ (1) Yes ____ (2) No ____ (9) Don’t know
11. Have you or other members of your household littered or dumped debris along or a lake or stream during the past
year?
____ (1) Yes ____ (2) No ____ (9) Don’t know
12. Do you think it is safe to eat fish that are caught in lakes and streams near your home?
____ (1) Yes ____ (2) No ____ (9) Don’t know
13. Do you think you can personally do anything to help improve water quality in lakes, streams and other
waterways in the Kansas City area?
____ (1) Yes ____ (2) No ____ (9) Don’t know
14. Please indicate if you currently participate in the behavior listed by circling YES or NO. If you DO NOT currently
participate, please indicate whether you would be “Very Willing,” “Somewhat Willing,” “Not Sure,” or “Not
Willing” to do each of the following by circling the corresponding number below.
If NO, How Willing Would You Be?
ACTIVITY
Do You Do This?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Use environmentally friendly
products on your lawn
Pick up trash in your
community
Take household hazardous
waste, such as paint & motor
oil to a disposal facility
Manage yard waste (dispose
of, or compost)
Do you pick up and dispose of
your pet’s waste?
Report illegal dumping
Very Willing
Somewhat Willing
Not Sure
Not Willing
YES
NO
4
3
2
1
YES
NO
4
3
2
1
YES
NO
4
3
2
1
YES
NO
4
3
2
1
YES
NO
4
3
2
1
YES
NO
4
3
2
1
15. Have you or other members of your household done anything to help clean-up lakes or streams in the Kansas
City area during the past year?
____ (1) Yes [Answer 15a & 15b] ____ (2) No [Answer Q16] ____ (9) Don’t know [Answer Q16]
15a. [If Yes to #15] What did you do? ______________________________________________________________
15b. [If Yes to #15] Why did you do it? _____________________________________________________________
16. Please indicate how often you do the following:
How often do you:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Swim in lakes and streams in the Kansas City area
Walk or bike along lakes & streams in the Kansas City
area
Let your children play in creeks or streams near your
home
Fish in lakes or streams near your home
© 2016 ETC Institute for MARC
At least
once per
week
At least
once per
month
A few
times per
year
Seldom
Never
Not
applicable
5
4
3
2
1
9
5
4
3
2
1
9
5
4
3
2
1
9
5
4
3
2
1
9
2
ATTITUDES
17. Using a scale of 1 to 5 where “5” means “Strongly Agree” and “1” means “Strongly Disagree,” please indicate
your level of agreement with each of the following statements.
Statements
01.
02.
03.
04.
05.
06.
07.
08.
09.
10.
11.
The quality of local streams where I live affects my quality of life
The quality of local streams where I live affects property values
The quality of local streams where I live affects drinking water
quality
I think it is important to improve the quality of water in lakes
and streams in my community
I have confidence in my community’s ability to address flooding
related problems
I would be willing to pay more for a property in a community
that focuses on protecting water quality by conserving natural
areas
I would be willing to pay more in utilities to improve the quality
of water in lakes and streams in the community where I live
I would be willing to pay an increase in taxes to improve the
quality of water in lakes and streams in the community where
I live
I would support my local government working with other cities
and counties to improve water quality
I would support my local government allocating resources to
improve water quality
Public entities should be doing more to directly implement
protection and restoration of urban waterways
Strongly
Neither Agree
Agree
Disagree
Agree
or Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
AWARENESS
18. Where does stormwater (rain water) go after it enters a storm drain in your community? [Check only one]
____ (1) Directly to lakes and streams without treatment
____ (2) To lakes and streams after receiving some treatment
____ (3) To a wastewater treatment plant
____ (9) Don’t know
19. Compared to two years ago, would you say you:
____ (1) Are more aware of the water quality of lakes and streams in the Kansas City area
____ (2) Have about the same level of awareness about water quality issues
____ (3) Are less aware of the water quality of lakes and streams in the Kansas City area
____ (4) Not applicable (did not live in Kansas City two years ago)
20. Have you seen or heard any information in advertisements, brochures, outdoor advertisements, displays or other
promotional materials about water quality in lakes and streams in the Kansas City area during the past year?
____ (1) Yes [Answer #20a] ____ (2) No [Answer Q21] ____ (9) Don’t know [Answer Q21]
20a. [IF YES to #20]: What types of information have you seen or heard (Check all that apply)
____ (01) Newspapers, magazines or other print media
____ (07) Watershed festival
____ (02) Brochures
____ (09) Social media
____ (03) City or county newsletters
____ (09) Water bill inserts
____ (04) Television stories/ads
____ (10) Other: Community Event
____ (05) Radio stories/ads
____ (11) Other: ______________________
____ (06) Internet
© 2016 ETC Institute for MARC
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SUPPORT FOR INITIATIVES
21. Using a scale of 1 to 5 where “5” means “Very Supportive” and “1” means “Not Supportive at All,” please
indicate how supportive you would be of having cities or counties adopt ordinances or participate in practices,
such as the ones described below, that protect streams and wildlife habitat in your community.
How supportive are you of having local governments in the
Very
Not
Not Supportive
Supportive Not Sure
Supportive
Supportive
at All
Kansas City area do the following:
Provide incentives to residents and businesses to plant
1.
native flowers/grasses, rain gardens, or for water harvesting
5
4
3
2
1
(rain barrels, cisterns, etc.)
Adopt ordinances that require developers to conserve natural
2.
5
4
3
2
1
areas
Adopt ordinances that require developers to preserve trees
3.
5
4
3
2
1
and open space during the building process
4.
Adopt plans to restore urban waterways
5
4
3
2
1
5.
Fund the restoration of urban waterways
5
4
3
2
1
Encourage the development of sustainable practices to
6.
5
4
3
2
1
minimize negative impacts on waterways in the area
7.
Purchase land along stream corridors
5
4
3
2
1
8.
Fund the restoration of stream corridor
5
4
3
2
1
22. Have you done any of the following to manage how and when rain leaves your property? (Circle YES or NO)
Yes No (A) Captured rain water in a rain barrel
Yes No (B) Placed flower beds and other landscaping in a location where they will absorb water and allow rainwater to
filter naturally through the soil rather than run off the top into the storm drain (Installed vegetation or
landscaping in a location to retain rainwater of the property)
Yes No (C) Disconnect downspout from standpipe
Yes No (D) Redirected downspout to vegetated area/retain water on property
Yes No (E) Install permeable pavers or surfaces including sidewalks, driveways, patios
DEMOGRAPHICS
23. What is your age? ______ years
24. In which county do you live?
____ (1) Clay
____ (2) Jackson
____ (3) Johnson (KS)
____ (4) Platte
____ (5) Wyandotte
____ (6) Leavenworth
25. Which of the following BEST describes your race/ethnicity?
___ (1) American Indian/Alaskan Native ___ (2) Black/African American
___ (4) Asian
___ (5) Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
26. Are you Hispanic or Latino? ___ (1) Yes
27. What is your gender? ___ (1) Male
____ (7) Cass
____ (8) Miami
____ (9) Other: ____________
___ (3) White
___ (6) Other: ___________
___ (2) No
___ (2) Female
28. What is your home zip code? _____________
29. Would you say your total annual household income is:
____ (1) Under $25,000
_____ (4) $75,000 to $99,999
____ (2) $25,000 to $49,999
_____ (5) $100,000 to $124,999
____ (3) $50,000 to $74.999
______ (6) $125,000 or more
© 2016 ETC Institute for MARC
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This concludes the survey. Thank you for your time!
Please return your completed survey in the enclosed postage-paid envelope addressed to:
ETC Institute, 725 W. Frontier Circle, Olathe, KS 66061
Your responses will remain completely confidential. The information shown
to the right will ONLY be used to help ensure the survey results are
statistically representative of residents in the KC metro area. If your address
is not correct, please provide the correct information. Thank you.
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