[Archived] Alexandrians Surveyed Rate Quality of Life, City Services High

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

Alexandrians Surveyed Rate Quality of Life, City Services High
Traffic and Taxes are Listed Top Concerns

October 26, 2004
PIO253-04/bg

When 1,001 Alexandria residents were surveyed by telephone in September, 97.2 percent said their quality of life in Alexandria is very good or good. Compared to two years ago, 79.5 percent said their quality of life was better (20.3 percent) or did not change (59.2 percent).

Those are just a sample of the responses to 93 questions included in a survey conducted to obtain residents opinions regarding the quality of City government services and programs.

During the week of Sept. 13, The Center for Research and Public Policy, of Trumbull, CT, asked City residents about their quality of living in Alexandria, the quality of City services, facilities, as well as the changes they feel need to be made in these areas, and the local issues of most concern to them. Trained professionals from the private firm contacted a representative sample of males and females over age 18 of various races and ethnicities. The surveyors conducted the survey in English, Spanish and Arabic, as requested by the respondents.

“This survey is part of the Council’s continuing effort to improve City government. Its primary purpose is to tell us where the City may be falling short in our delivery of services, programs, and public infrastructure to residents,” said City Manager Phil Sunderland. “Resident responses that identify areas needing improvements will result in actions designed to produce those improvements. Future surveys will be used to determine whether those improvements have been achieved.”

A complete report of the survey’s findings will be posted on the City web site tomorrow (Oct. 27) and a summary will be published in an upcoming issue of FYI Alexandria . Highlights include:

Quality of Life
< 97.2 % said quality of life in Alexandria is very good or good
< 2.5 % said quality of life is poor or very poor
< 79.5 % said their quality of life was better, not changed but good, compared to two years ago
< 8.9 % said their quality of life had worsened compared to two years ago
< 39% said location was the leading reason for living in Alexandria
< 13.9% said work was the leading reason for living in Alexandria
< 13.5% said housing was the leading reason for living in Alexandria
< 13.5% said community was the leading reason for living in Alexandria
< The top ten reasons respondents gave for what they liked most about Alexandria today (highest first) convenient in general, near D.C., friendly people, cultural diversity, City has personality, convenient for work, size of community, feels like a small town, everything in walking distance, and town is wonderful.

Local Issues

< Residents identified the following local issues as the ones they are most concerned about (in declining order): traffic (15.4%), taxes (12.1 %), quality of school system (8.4%), and crime (8.1% of responses.

Community Services

< High satisfaction ratings were given to the Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, Police Department, the courtesy of City government staff, parks and recreational facilities, refuse and yard waste collection, and recreational opportunities and programs.

< Lower, but good to fair, satisfaction ratings were given to the City’s recycling program, overall value of City services, condition of City sidewalks, performance of sanitary and storm sewer services, and City snow removal services.
< Poor satisfaction ratings were recorded for parking availability in respondents’ neighborhoods, Old Town and other business districts.
< 83.3% of respondents said the City meets their service expectations always or most of the time.
< 10.4% said the City meets their service expectations sometimes
< After removing “don’t know” responses, 89.7% of all respondents said both elected and professional City officials are honest individuals dedicated to improving the equality of life in Alexandria.
< 85.4% of those surveyed said messages, information and other communication from the City are considered credible “always” or “most of the time”
< 10.8% said City communication is “sometimes” credible.

Service Awareness and Use

< The best-known City services, among 24 measured, included City 911 emergency service, Metro Bus and Metrorail service, motor vehicle registration services, the Alexandria Library, DASH bus service, City-sponsored events, the City’s historic and cultural facilities, and animal control/shelter.
< The least known City services included Round the Clock Internet Library resource service, services of the Office of Human Rights, services of the City’s Office of Citizen Assistance, City Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcohol and Substance Abuse services, and services provided by the Alexandria Health Department.
< The services rated highest in satisfaction by users included Round the Clock Internet Library resource services, Alexandria Library materials, City-sponsored arts and cultural events, DASH service, 911 service, and the City’s historic and cultural facilities.

Communications

< When asked how they usually get information about the City, respondents said newspapers first, followed in declining order by City pamphlets, word of mouth, City newsletter FYI Alexandria, Internet, cable TV, phone book, City web site, neighborhood associations, and churches.
< 45.6% of respondents said they have visited the City web site
< 59.1% of respondents who are familiar with the City newsletter, FYI Alexandria, said they read it “always” or “most of the time”.

Community Involvement

< 25.6% of those surveyed said they have attended a City Council meeting
< 16.1% said they have attended a Planning Commission meeting.

Emergency Preparedness

< 53.9% of those surveyed said they have developed a communication plan to stay in touch with friends and relatives
< 43.3% said they have assembled an emergency kit

Community Needs

< When asked about unmet or under met needs, approximately one-third of the respondents could not name a specific need. The rest of those surveyed listed these top ten needs (most responses first) more affordable housing, more parking, traffic reduction, increased quality of public transportation, better schools and teachers, more open space, more police, more parks, need lower taxes, and more after school programs.

"I am very pleased to see that most residents surveyed said their quality of life is very good in Alexandria and that they gave high satisfaction ratings to most City services, " said Mayor William D. Euille. "The Council will use the results of this survey, along with the adopted Strategic Plan, to develop initiatives for the City's future."

The survey was conducted by The Center for Research & Public Policy (CRPP), an independent market research and public policy consulting firm. Since its founding in 1979, CRPP has conducted 1.5 million interviews for clients including federal, state and local governments, as well as corporations, associations, academic researchers, not-for-profit organizations, healthcare organizations, universities, advertising and public relations firms.

A summary of the survey’s findings are posted on the City web site www.alexandriava.gov and will be published in an upcoming issue of FYI Alexandria . Copies of the survey’s findings will be available for review in City libraries by Thursday, Oct. 28 . Residents who would like a copy of the survey results may request one in the City Manager’s Office, 3rd floor of City Hall, phone 703.838.3828.

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