Last fall the City distributed a Community Survey that was included in the winter edition of City Focus. As the City and community continue to deal with budget issues, the survey helps us monitor reaction to changes in specific services. Nearly 550 individuals returned the general survey that focused on City services and programs.

The following provides general highlights from the attached survey results and executive summary. Click on the links for more details information on each subject and for graphs that show trends over the last few years. Click here to review a comprehensive summary.

Here’s what we learned ...

• City Government – In this survey, we again asked respondents to rate the City’s efforts to-date regarding open space - 90% gave average or better ratings and regarding historic preservation - 91% gave similar marks. In addition, 90% of respondents said the City does an average or better job of keeping them informed about services, events and issues. Code/zoning regulation enforcement has declined from 85% average or better in 1998 and 2000 to 78% in 2002, a seven-point drop (though fewer people responded to this item than the entire survey). Ratings for two new items, the City’s Web site and City TV programs were favorable.

• Community Services – City services as well as non-City services were again rated in this survey. Following are some of those and the percentage of raters that gave average or better marks: harbor/marina services (96%); garbage collection/recycling (97%); bus service (81%) and availability of parking in business districts (67%).
  • Traditionally ranked City services, including fire (99% = average or better), library (97%), police (92%) and overall City services (94%) continued to receive high marks from those with an opinion. Vehicle traffic enforcement shows a significant downward trend – a decline of 12 points since 1998.
  • Regarding programs for different age groups: of the various age groups that were rated, programs for seniors, adults and children received ratings of at least 91% average or better. Programs for youth (83% = average or better) and teens (78%) received lower ratings; however, the ratings for teen programs increased by seven points from 2000.
• Your Neighborhood – Community members rated four areas regarding their own neighborhood: safety, street cleanliness and conditions and police patrols. Ratings remain favorable and constant. Respondents gave safety a 95% average or better rating. Street cleanliness, however, slipped about four points to 85% average or better.

• Safety Issues – Traditionally, we ask respondents to tell us about areas in the City where they do not feel safe at night. In general, safety concerns about various parts of the City continue to remain low, when compared with past surveys. Safety concerns about Downtown Monterey continued to decrease; however, concerns about the Coastal/Rec Trail: Wharf to the Aquarium and Lighthouse Avenue business district showed nine-point increases. At least 50% of respondents had concerns along the Coastal/Rec Trail: El Estero to Seaside and at City beaches.

• City priorities – Community members were asked to choose the three to four issues facing the area that the City should focus on during the next few years. The top two items chosen were 1) encourage development of plan to increase water supply (64%) and improve traffic management program (61%). Next in line were build multi- and single-family affordable housing and create more open space (e.g. Window on the Bay).

• Fisherman’s Wharf – One question was devoted to exploring what citizens enjoy or don’t enjoy about visiting the Wharf. Comments were slightly more favorable than unfavorable. The single most frequent comment related to parking. Comments are listed on page 12.