HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe NCS Dashboard 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
Dashboard Summary of Findings
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 res ults 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 Bozeman’s performance in the eight facets of community
livability with the “General” rating as a summary of results from the overarchin g 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
Bozeman’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. The aspects of Natural Environment and Education and Enrichment within the pillar of
Community Characteristics were rated exceptionally high, as was the aspect of Mobility in the pillar of
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 19 28 5 0 42 4 8 25 3
General 3 4 0 0 3 0 0 3 0
Safety 1 2 0 0 6 1 0 2 1
Mobility 1 5 2 0 7 1 2 1 0
Natural Environment 3 0 0 0 4 2 0 3 0
Built Environment 1 2 2 0 7 0 0 2 0
Economy 2 5 1 0 1 0 1 2 0
Recreation and Wellness 3 4 0 0 4 0 2 3 0
Education and Enrichment 3 3 0 0 2 0 1 1 1
Community Engagement 2 3 0 0 8 0 2 8 1
Legend
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
Ge
n
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r
a
l
Overall appearance ↑ ↑ 90% Customer service ↑ ↔ 77% Recommend Bozeman * ↔ 82%
Overall quality of life ↔ ↔ 90% Services provided by
Bozeman
↑ ↔ 81% Remain in Bozeman * ↔ 82%
Place to retire ↔ ↔ 67% Services provided by the
Federal Government
↔ ↔ 43% Contacted Bozeman
employees
↓ ↔ 41%
Place to raise children ↑ ↑ 89%
Place to live ↔ ↔ 90%
Neighborhood ↔ ↔ 82%
Overall image ↔ ↑ 86%
Sa
f
e
t
y
Overall feeling of safety * ↑ 92% Police ↑ ↔ 83% Was NOT the victim of a crime ↑ ↔ 91%
Safe in neighborhood ↔ ↔ 97% Crime prevention ↑ ↔ 80% Did NOT report a crime * ↔ 82%
Safe downtown/commercial
area
↔ ↔ 97% Fire ↔ ↔ 94% Stocked supplies for an
emergency
* ↓ 21%
Fire prevention ↑ ↔ 84%
Ambulance/EMS ↔ ↔ 92%
Emergency preparedness * ↓ 49%
Animal control ↔ ↔ 63%
Mo
b
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l
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t
y
Traffic flow ↑ ↓ 37% Traffic enforcement ↑ ↔ 58% Carpooled instead of driving
alone
* ↑↑ 69%
Travel by car ↑ ↔ 56% Street repair ↑ ↔ 38% Walked or biked instead of
driving
* ↑↑ 83%
Travel by bicycle ↑ ↔ 51% Street cleaning ↑ ↔ 71% Used public transportation
instead of driving
* ↔ 25%
Ease of walking ↔ ↔ 76% Street lighting ↑ ↔ 60%
Travel by public transportation * ↔ 36% Snow removal ↑ ↔ 56%
Overall ease travel * ↔ 69% Sidewalk maintenance ↔ ↔ 47%
Public parking * ↓ 39% Traffic signal timing ↑ ↓ 38%
Paths and walking trails * ↑ 83% Bus or transit services ↑ ↔ 58%
Na
t
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a
l
En
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o
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Overall natural environment * ↑ 87% Garbage collection ↑ ↔ 91% Recycled at home ↔ ↔ 80%
Air quality ↔ ↑ 93% Recycling ↑ ↓ 59% Conserved water * ↔ 76%
Cleanliness * ↑ 91% Yard waste pick-up ↔ ↓ 57% Made home more energy
efficient
* ↔ 73%
Drinking water ↔ ↔ 80%
Open space * ↔ 62%
Natural areas preservation * ↔ 54%
Bu
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t
E
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v
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New development in Bozeman ↑ ↔ 52% Sewer services ↑ ↔ 86% NOT experiencing housing
cost stress
* ↔ 60%
Affordable quality housing ↔ ↓↓ 10% Storm drainage ↑ ↔ 66% Did NOT observe a code
violation
* ↔ 59%
Housing options * ↓↓ 24% Power utility * ↔ 78%
Overall built environment * ↔ 64% Utility billing * ↔ 68%
Public places * ↑ 85% Land use, planning and
zoning
↑ ↔ 38%
Code enforcement ↑ ↔ 47%
Cable television ↓ ↔ 43%
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
Ec
o
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o
m
y
Overall economic health * ↔ 66% Economic development ↑ ↔ 59% Economy will have positive
impact on income
↔ ↔ 28%
Shopping opportunities ↔ ↔ 59% Purchased goods or services in
Bozeman
* ↔ 98%
Employment opportunities ↔ ↔ 43% Work in Bozeman * ↑↑ 77%
Place to visit * ↑↑ 93%
Cost of living * ↓ 18%
Vibrant downtown/commercial
area
* ↑↑ 86%
Place to work ↔ ↔ 57%
Business and services * ↔ 76%
Re
c
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e
a
t
i
o
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a
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d
W
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Fitness opportunities * ↑ 89% City parks ↔ ↔ 89% In very good to excellent health * ↔ 76%
Recreational opportunities ↔ ↑↑ 93% Recreation centers ↑ ↔ 78% Used Bozeman recreation centers ↔ ↑ 73%
Health care ↑ ↔ 64% Recreation programs ↔ ↔ 83% Visited a City park ↔ ↑ 93%
Food * ↔ 68% Health services ↑ ↔ 72% Ate 5 portions of fruits and
vegetables
* ↔ 82%
Mental health care * ↔ 50% Participated in moderate or
vigorous physical activity
* ↔ 92%
Health and wellness * ↑ 81%
Preventive health services * ↔ 70%
Ed
u
c
a
t
i
o
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a
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d
En
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h
m
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K-12 education ↑ ↔ 83% Public libraries ↔ ↔ 93% Used Bozeman public libraries ↔ ↔ 74%
Cultural/arts/music activities ↑ ↑ 75% Special events * ↔ 74% Participated in religious or
spiritual activities
* ↓ 37%
Child care/preschool * ↔ 42% Attended a City-sponsored event * ↑ 72%
Religious or spiritual events and
activities
* ↔ 83%
Adult education * ↑ 77%
Overall education and
enrichment
* ↑ 86%
Co
m
m
u
n
i
t
y
E
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a
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Opportunities to participate in
community matters
* ↔ 75% Public information ↑ ↔ 73% Sense of community ↔ ↔ 66%
Opportunities to volunteer * ↑ 86% Overall direction ↑ ↔ 46% Voted in local elections ↔ ↔ 80%
Openness and acceptance * ↔ 60% Value of services for taxes
paid
↔ ↔ 54% Talked to or visited with
neighbors
* ↔ 90%
Social events and activities * ↑ 81% Welcoming citizen
involvement
↔ ↔ 55% Attended a local public meeting ↔ ↔ 23%
Neighborliness * ↔ 66% Confidence in City
government
* ↔ 52% Watched a local public meeting ↓ ↔ 20%
Acting in the best interest
of Bozeman
* ↔ 53% Volunteered ↔ ↑↑ 64%
Being honest * ↔ 58% Participated in a club * ↑ 45%
Treating all residents fairly * ↔ 53% Campaigned for an issue, cause
or candidate
* ↔ 21%
Contacted Bozeman elected
officials
* ↔ 14%
Read or watched local news * ↓ 73%
Done a favor for a neighbor * ↔ 81%