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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe NCS Trends over Time 2015 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 Bozeman, MT Trends over Time 2015 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 2015 ratings for the City of Bozeman to its previous survey results in 2005 and 2007. Additional reports and technical appendices are available under separate cover. Trend data for Bozeman 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 2007 and 2015 surveys, otherwise the comparison between 2007 and 2015 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 commun ities that comprise the benchmarks, regional and national economic or other events, as well as emerging survey methodologies. Overall, ratings in Bozeman for 2015 remained stable or increased over time. Of the 71 items for which comparisons were available, 35 items were rated similarly in 2007 and 2015, 3 items showed a decrease in ratings and 33 showed an increase in ratings. Notable trends over time included the following:  Ratings increased for 11 aspects within the pillar of Community Characteristics. Ratings that increased from 2007 to 2015 included traffic flow, ease of travel by car and by bicycle, quality of new development in Bozeman, health care, K-12 education, opportunities to attend cultural/arts/music activities, the overall appearance of Bozeman and Bozeman as a place to raise children.  Within Governance, there were increases across most facets including Safety (police, crime and fire prevention services), Mobility (traffic enforcement, street repair, street cleaning, street lighting, snow removal, traffic signal timing and bus or transit services), Natural Environment (garbage collection and recycling), Built Environment (sewer services, storm drainage, land use, planning and zoning and code enforcement), Economy (economic development), Recreation and Wellness (recreation centers and health services) and Community Engagement (public information and the overall direction of Bozeman). Ratings also increased for overall customer service and the overall quality of services provided by the City of Bozeman. The only aspect to decrease over time was ratings for cable television.  Almost all aspects within the pillar of Participation remained stable over time; however, fewer residents reported they had watched a local public meeting or contacted Bozeman employees in 2015. On the other hand, more residents reported that they had not been the victim of a crime than in 2007. The National Citizen Survey™ 2 Table 1: Community Characteristics General Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2015 rating compared to 2007 Comparison to benchmark 2005 2007 2015 2005 2007 2015 Overall quality of life 84% 83% 90% Similar Higher Higher Similar Overall image 81% 83% 86% Similar Higher Much higher Higher Place to live 93% 87% 90% Similar Much higher Much higher Similar Neighborhood 78% 80% 82% Similar Similar Similar Similar Place to raise children 85% 81% 89% Higher Higher Higher Higher Place to retire 62% 63% 67% Similar Similar Higher Similar Overall appearance 80% 79% 90% Higher Higher Much higher Higher Table 2: Community Characteristics by Facet Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good, very/somewhat safe) 2015 rating compared to 2007 Comparison to benchmark 2005 2007 2015 2005 2007 2015 Safety Overall feeling of safety NA NA 92% NA NA NA Higher Safe in neighborhood 96% 95% 97% Similar Higher Much higher Similar Safe downtown/commercial area 97% 97% 97% Similar Much higher Much higher Similar Mobility Overall ease of travel NA NA 69% NA NA NA Similar Paths and walking trails NA NA 83% NA NA NA Higher Ease of walking 66% 69% 76% Similar Higher Much higher Similar Travel by bicycle 42% 42% 51% Higher Lower Similar Similar Travel by public transportation NA NA 36% NA NA NA Similar Travel by car 30% 40% 56% Higher Much lower Much lower Similar Public parking NA NA 39% NA NA NA Lower Traffic flow 22% 21% 37% Higher NA NA Lower Natural Environment Overall natural environment NA NA 87% NA NA NA Higher Cleanliness NA NA 91% NA NA NA Higher Air quality NA 87% 93% Similar NA Much higher Higher Built Environment Overall built environment NA NA 64% NA NA NA Similar New development in Bozeman 42% 42% 52% Higher Much lower Much lower Similar Affordable quality housing 9% 11% 10% Similar Much lower Much lower Much lower Housing options NA NA 24% NA NA NA Much lower The National Citizen Survey™ 3 Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good, very/somewhat safe) 2015 rating compared to 2007 Comparison to benchmark 2005 2007 2015 2005 2007 2015 Public places NA NA 85% NA NA NA Higher Economy Overall economic health NA NA 66% NA NA NA Similar Vibrant downtown/commercial area NA NA 86% NA NA NA Much higher Business and services NA NA 76% NA NA NA Similar Cost of living NA NA 18% NA NA NA Lower Shopping opportunities 53% 59% 59% Similar Similar Higher Similar Employment opportunities 22% 42% 43% Similar Lower Much higher Similar Place to visit NA NA 93% NA NA NA Much higher Place to work 39% 51% 57% Similar Lower Similar Similar Recreation and Wellness Health and wellness NA NA 81% NA NA NA Higher Mental health care NA NA 50% NA NA NA Similar Preventive health services NA NA 70% NA NA NA Similar Health care NA 32% 64% Higher NA Much lower Similar Food NA NA 68% NA NA NA Similar Recreational opportunities 85% 89% 93% Similar Much higher Much higher Much higher Fitness opportunities NA NA 89% NA NA NA Higher Education and Enrichment Religious or spiritual events and activities NA NA 83% NA NA NA Similar Cultural/arts/music activities 63% 61% 75% Higher Higher Higher Higher Adult education NA NA 77% NA NA NA Higher K-12 education NA 68% 83% Higher NA Higher Similar Child care/preschool NA NA 42% NA NA NA Similar Community Engagement Social events and activities NA NA 81% NA NA NA Higher Neighborliness NA NA 66% NA NA NA Similar Openness and acceptance NA NA 60% NA NA NA Similar Opportunities to participate in community matters NA NA 75% NA NA NA Similar Opportunities to volunteer NA NA 86% NA NA NA Higher The National Citizen Survey™ 4 Table 3: Governance General Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2015 rating compared to 2007 Comparison to benchmark 2005 2007 2015 2005 2007 2015 Services provided by Bozeman 65% 62% 81% Higher Similar Lower Similar Customer service 68% 65% 77% Higher Similar Much lower Similar Value of services for taxes paid 46% 47% 54% Similar Similar Similar Similar Overall direction 37% 39% 46% Higher Much lower Much lower Similar Welcoming citizen involvement 50% 53% 55% Similar Similar Similar Similar Confidence in City government NA NA 52% NA NA NA Similar Acting in the best interest of Bozeman NA NA 53% NA NA NA Similar Being honest NA NA 58% NA NA NA Similar Treating all residents fairly NA NA 53% NA NA NA Similar Services provided by the Federal Government 44% 44% 43% Similar Similar Similar Similar Table 4: Governance by Facet Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2015 rating compared to 2007 Comparison to benchmark 2005 2007 2015 2005 2007 2015 Safety Police 66% 67% 83% Higher Lower Much lower Similar Fire 92% 92% 94% Similar Similar Similar Similar Ambulance/EMS 84% 90% 92% Similar Similar Similar Similar Crime prevention 59% 56% 80% Higher Similar Lower Similar Fire prevention 69% 75% 84% Higher Lower Similar Similar Animal control 59% 62% 63% Similar Similar Similar Similar Emergency preparedness NA NA 49% NA NA NA Lower Mobility Traffic enforcement 43% 48% 58% Higher Lower Much lower Similar Street repair 31% 16% 38% Higher Lower Much lower Similar Street cleaning 52% 47% 71% Higher Similar Much lower Similar Street lighting 46% 47% 60% Higher Lower Much lower Similar Snow removal 46% 39% 56% Higher Much lower Much lower Similar Sidewalk maintenance 46% 42% 47% Similar Similar Lower Similar Traffic signal timing 29% 26% 38% Higher Much lower Much lower Lower Bus or transit services NA 33% 58% Higher NA Much lower Similar Natural Environment Garbage collection 81% 79% 91% Higher Similar Similar Similar Recycling 58% 47% 59% Higher Much lower Much lower Lower Yard waste pick-up 58% 53% 57% Similar Lower Much lower Lower Drinking water 66% 74% 80% Similar Similar Much higher Similar Natural areas preservation NA NA 54% NA NA NA Similar Open space NA NA 62% NA NA NA Similar Built Environment Storm drainage 61% 52% 66% Higher Higher Similar Similar Sewer services 74% 78% 86% Higher Similar Higher Similar The National Citizen Survey™ 5 Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2015 rating compared to 2007 Comparison to benchmark 2005 2007 2015 2005 2007 2015 Power utility NA NA 78% NA NA NA Similar Utility billing NA NA 68% NA NA NA Similar Land use, planning and zoning 23% 24% 38% Higher Much lower Much lower Similar Code enforcement 37% 39% 47% Higher Similar Lower Similar Cable television NA 57% 43% Lower NA Higher Similar Economy Economic development 39% 50% 59% Higher Similar Higher Similar Recreation and Wellness City parks 83% 87% 89% Similar Higher Much higher Similar Recreation programs 77% 78% 83% Similar Higher Higher Similar Recreation centers 64% 65% 78% Higher Similar Similar Similar Health services NA 61% 72% Higher NA Similar Similar Education and Enrichment Special events NA NA 74% NA NA NA Similar Public libraries 75% 88% 93% Similar Similar Much higher Similar Community Engagement Public information 56% 58% 73% Higher Similar Similar Similar Table 5: Participation General Percent rating positively (e.g., always/sometimes, more than once a month, yes) 2015 rating compared to 2007 Comparison to benchmark 2005 2007 2015 2005 2007 2015 Sense of community 68% 60% 66% Similar Similar Similar Similar Recommend Bozeman NA NA 82% NA NA NA Similar Remain in Bozeman NA NA 82% NA NA NA Similar Contacted Bozeman employees 60% 64% 41% Lower NA NA Similar Table 6: Participation by Facet Percent rating positively (e.g., always/sometimes, more than once a month, yes) 2015 rating compared to 2007 Comparison to benchmark 2005 2007 2015 2005 2007 2015 Safety Stocked supplies for an emergency NA NA 21% NA NA NA Lower Did NOT report a crime NA NA 82% NA NA NA Similar Was NOT the victim of a crime 82% 81% 91% Higher NA NA Similar Mobility Used public transportation instead of driving NA NA 25% NA NA NA Similar Carpooled instead of driving alone NA NA 69% NA NA NA Much higher Walked or biked instead of driving NA NA 83% NA NA NA Much higher Natural Environment Conserved water NA NA 76% NA NA NA Similar Made home more energy efficient NA NA 73% NA NA NA Similar Recycled at home 82% 84% 80% Similar NA NA Similar Built Environment Did NOT observe a code violation NA NA 59% NA NA NA Similar The National Citizen Survey™ 6 Percent rating positively (e.g., always/sometimes, more than once a month, yes) 2015 rating compared to 2007 Comparison to benchmark 2005 2007 2015 2005 2007 2015 NOT under housing cost stress NA NA 60% NA NA NA Similar Economy Purchased goods or services in Bozeman NA NA 98% NA NA NA Similar Economy will have positive impact on income 30% 26% 28% Similar NA NA Similar Work in Bozeman NA NA 77% NA NA NA Much higher Recreation and Wellness Used Bozeman recreation centers 71% 69% 73% Similar NA NA Higher Visited a City park 95% 95% 93% Similar NA NA Higher Ate 5 portions of fruits and vegetables NA NA 82% NA NA NA Similar Participated in moderate or vigorous physical activity NA NA 92% NA NA NA Similar In very good to excellent health NA NA 76% NA NA NA Similar Education and Enrichment Used Bozeman public libraries 70% 76% 74% Similar NA NA Similar Participated in religious or spiritual activities NA NA 37% NA NA NA Lower Attended a City-sponsored event NA NA 72% NA NA NA Higher Community Engagement Campaigned for an issue, cause or candidate NA NA 21% NA NA NA Similar Contacted Bozeman elected officials NA NA 14% NA NA NA Similar Volunteered 60% 63% 64% Similar NA NA Much higher Participated in a club NA NA 45% NA NA NA Higher Talked to or visited with neighbors NA NA 90% NA NA NA Similar Done a favor for a neighbor NA NA 81% NA NA NA Similar Attended a local public meeting 32% 30% 23% Similar NA NA Similar Watched a local public meeting NA 40% 20% Lower NA NA Similar Read or watched local news NA NA 73% NA NA NA Lower Voted in local elections 80% 73% 80% Similar NA NA Similar