Asheville Citizen Survey Results Are In

The City of Asheville contracted The National Citizen Survey group to poll city residents on a wide variety of subjects from government services to quality of life to affordable housing.  The group used a mail-in survey method.  They sent out 1,200 surveys, and over 400 were returned completed.  According to the group’s statistical measures, this results in a 5% margin of error in results.  They used data from other cities to create “benchmarks”, or mean values, and compared Asheville’s numbers to them.  To have a look at the entire report, click here.  Here’s a quick and dirty overview:

Quality of life

80% said that the quality of life in Asheville is “excellent” or “good” and that their neighborhood is an excellent or good place to live.

Transportation

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Ease of car travel – 55%
Ease of bus travel – 36%
Ease of bicycle travel – 23%
Ease of walking – 41%
Availability of paths and walking trails – 34%
Traffic flow on major streets – 27%
Street repair – 26%
Street cleaning – 51%
Street lighting – 56%
Snow removal – 58%
Sidewalk maintenance – 41%
Traffic signal timing – 37%
Bus or transit services – 46%
Amount of public parking – 19%

68% of respondents said that driving alone was their primary form of transportation.

Housing

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Availability of affordable quality housing – 12%
Variety of housing options – 28%

63% of respondents said that they pay less than 30% of their income for housing. 37% said they pay more.

Land Use and Zoning

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Overall quality of new development in Asheville – 40%
Overall appearance of Asheville – 68%
Land use, planning, and zoning – 16%
Code enforcement – 29%
Animal control – 52%

Regarding respondents’ perception of the rate of population growth in Asheville:
Much too fast – 23%
Somewhat too fast – 47%
Right amount – 29%
Somewhat too slow – 1%
Much too slow – 1%

“To what degree, if at all, are run down buildings, weed lots or junk vehicles a problem in Asheville?”
Major problem – 13%
Moderate problem – 41%
Minor problem – 36%
Not a problem – 10%

Economic Sustainability

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Employment opportunities – 15%
Shopping opportunities – 74%
Asheville as a place to work – 35%
Overall quality of business and service establishments – 67%

Regarding perceptions of speed of job growth:
Much too slow – 40%
Somewhat too slow – 51%
Right amount – 7%

Retail growth:
Much too slow – 2%
Somewhat too slow – 9%
Right amount – 46%

“What impact, if any, do you think the economy will have on your family income in the next 6 months?”
Very negative – 23%
Somewhat negative – 43%
Neutral – 24%
Somewhat positive – 7%
Very positive – 2%

Public Safety

Percentage of respondents who answered “Very Safe” or “Somewhat Safe”:
Asheville’s downtown area after dark – 44%
Asheville’s downtown area during the day – 81%
Your neighborhood after dark – 73%
Your neighborhood during the day – 94%
From environmental hazards – 61%
From property crimes – 54%
From violent crimes – 63%

“During the past twelve months, were you or anyone in your household the victim of any crime?”
Yes – 22%
No – 78%

“If yes, was this crime (these crimes) reported to the police?”
Yes – 77%
No – 23%

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Police services – 68%
Fire services – 94%
Ambulance or emergency medical services – 90%
Crime prevention – 49%
Fire prevention and education – 70%
Traffic enforcement – 57%
Emergency preparedness – 42%

Environmental Sustainability

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Cleanliness of Asheville – 57%
Quality of overall natural environment in Asheville – 68%
Preservation of natural areas – 30%
Air quality – 39%
Drinking water – 63%
Storm drainage – 51%
Yard waste pickup – 67%
Recycling – 71%
Garbage Collection – 81%

Parks and Recreation

Rating of community recreational opportunities:
Excellent – 32%
Good – 41%
Fair – 18%
Poor – 10%

Percent of respondents who did each at least once in last 12 months:
Used Asheville recreation centers – 53%
Participated in a recreation program or activity – 45%
Visited a neighborhood or city park – 82%

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
City parks – 75%
Recreation programs or classes – 69%
Recreation centers or facilities – 67%

Culture, Arts, and Education

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Opportunities to attend cultural activities – 80%
Educational opportunities – 70%
Public schools – 61%
Public library services – 50%

Community Inclusiveness

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Sense of community – 70%
Openness and acceptance of the community towards people of diverse backgrounds – 73%
Asheville as a place to raise children – 71%
Asheville as a place to retire – 76%
Services to seniors – 49%
Services to youth – 42%
Services to low-income people – 32%

Civic Engagement

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Opportunities to participate in community matters – 68%
Opportunities to volunteer – 87%

Percent of respondents who did each at least once in last 12 months:
Attended a meeting of local elected officials or other local public meeting – 30%
Watched a meeting of local elected officials or other local public meeting on cable television – 58%
Volunteered your time to some group or activity in Asheville – 63%
Participated in a club or civic group in Asheville – 41%
Provided help to a friend or neighbor – 96%

“City of Asheville residents showed the largest amount of civic engagement in the area of electoral
participation. About 88% reported they were registered to vote; 83% indicated they had voted in
the last general election.”

Information and Awareness

“When asked whether they had visited the City of Asheville Web site in the previous 12 months, 63% reported they had done so at least once.”

Social Engagement

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
Opportunities to participate in social events and activities – 78%
Opportunities to participate in religious or spiritual events and activities – 83%

“About how often, if at all, do you talk to or visit with your immediate neighbors?”
Several times a week or more – 61%
Less than several times a week – 39%

Public Trust

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good”:
The value of services for the taxes paid to Asheville – 39%
The overall direction that Asheville is taking – 33%
The job Asheville government does at welcoming citizen involvement – 47%
The job Asheville government does at listening to citizens – 27%
Overall image or reputation of Asheville – 78%
Services provided by City of Asheville – 64%
Services provided by the Federal Government – 36%
Services provided by the State Government – 40%
Services provided by Buncombe County Government – 53%

City of Asheville Employees

“Have you had any in-person or phone contact with an employee of Asheville within the last 12 months?”
Yes – 60%
No – 40%

Those who responded that the following areas are “excellent” or “good” in regard to City employees:
Knowledge – 77%
Responsiveness – 77%
Courtesy – 79%
Overall Impression – 75%

The report then goes on to suggest action areas based on the results of the survey. Go read the whole thing!