 |
|
Community Survey 1999 - Comprehensive Summary
The survey was divided into five focused sections: This report summarizes the results for each section. A detailed, item-by-item graphic report is linked to each section below. City Web Site City Web Site: In total, 25% of those who responded have visited the City’s Web site. However, of only those who have access to the Internet, one-third have visited it, whether their access is at home (34%), at work (35%), or at school (35%). See graph for more info. Sections: Of those who have visited the site, the sections that have been most frequently visited are, in order: See graphs 1 & 2 for more info.
Information: Of those who have visited, the other information that has been most sought, has been: See graph for more info.
Other: Other information that visitors looked for or would like to see on the City’s Web site (and wrote on the survey) were: Job opportunities, Chamber of Commerce, visitor services, historic Monterey buildings/hotels/motels, museums, "new to area" information, new library books, a search engine, annual City budget, link to MST bus, zoning laws, code restrictions, adult education classes. City Tree Program Ratings: On a 5-point scale, respondents rated the maintenance of trees on City property in the downtown area exceptionally well – 97% as "average" (3) or better; 31% rated this as "excellent." Maintenance of City trees in neighborhoods fared almost as well – 82% as "average" or better, with 22% rating this "excellent." Responses: Similarly, respondents rated the City’s response to requests about tree care: 82% rated response to requests about trees on private property as "average" or better (34% "excellent") and 85% rated responses to requests on City property as "average" or better (29% "excellent"). See graph for more info. More trees: People indicated where they would like to see more trees planted in Monterey. Those places included every major street and Window on the Bay. Some asked for less pine and more redwood, trimming branches near cables, moving utility cables underground, and replacing whatever is removed. Comments: Many of the written comments at the end of the survey dealt with trees. Most of these recommended more pruning, replanting, and complaints about the regulations for homeowners. Parks and
Recreation
Other areas that were written in included State parks, Cannery Row, etc. Improvements: When asked what improvements respondents wanted to see at these places, 35% said "none;" 34% said "other;" 24% said "more tables;" 17% "more barbecue equipment;" and 16% "more play equipment." See graph for more info. Other items written in included: more benches, less transients, keeping up paved areas, more trash cans, enforce "no posting," increased security and lighting, more Sports Center equipment and facilities, better bathroom facilities, better running track at Monterey High School, speed limit for bicyclists and roller bladders, allowing dogs, more baseball and soccer fields, phones, more free parking, more open spaces, keeping areas maintained, more flowers, and a thank you for the skate park. Programs by Age: Respondents were asked where they see a need for additional programs (recreation, cultural, community service) with respect to different age groups. Almost two-thirds (62%) listed Teens, then Elementary School children (40%), Seniors (33%), Adults (27%), and Preschool children (23%). See graph for more info. Other: Respondents were invited to list other types of programs or activities they would like to see and for whom. Among those listed were: free Sports Center, before-school care, afterschool care, bocce leagues, baseball leagues, musical events, volunteer opportunities for teens, more evening/weekend/summer activities, free activities for kids, community dances, financial planning, cooking, computer use, languages, tennis courts, entertainment, miniature golf, more library resources, group bus tours, and additional arts, cultural, parks and recreation classes. Public, Education
& Government Access TV
"Other" was listed by 12%. These included: Monterey history, art events, natural history, City services, educational programs, how to use computers. Making TV programs: Almost 100 respondents (19% of those who answered) said they were interested in learning how to make television programs for a PEG TV channel. Even more (22%) said they belong to or know of an organization that would be interested in making TV programs about their services and activities. See graph for more info. Taxi Service Ratings: Of those who have used a taxi here, they were
asked to rate this use on four dimensions, with a 5-point scale. One in six rated as
"below average": "courteous driver" (17%), "courteous
dispatcher" (16%), and "arrived quickly and/or on time" (17%). One in four
(24%) rated "cleanliness of taxi" as "below average." Overall, the
ratings were between "average" and "above average." However, this
topic initiated many (often vitriolic) comments. Comments: Since there was no place requesting comments about taxi service, many people used the space for general comments to remark about this service. The complaints included: charging more from the airport than to it, not having meters and drivers charging what they wanted, too high a price compared to elsewhere, the wait for them at the airport, that they’re not around the airport late at night, the unclean vehicles, and their excessive speeding. Written Comments
One respondent asked that unnecessary noise be the topic of a future survey. Survey prepared by: Assessment Resources, Inc., 1141 Lighthouse
Ave. |
|
In fall 1999, a community survey was distributed in the City
Focus to all residences and businesses in Monterey. By the end of October, 603 were
returned. This response rate of six percent is typical for a large-scale survey and is
comparable to last year’s survey. Many of the results in this report are accurate to
within five percent of what would be expected if all surveys were returned.
