City Services
| 2015 Q3 | story by MEGAN GILLILAND, Communications Manager, City of Lawrence
Are you satisfied?
The city’s recent satisfaction survey provides insight into resident satisfaction and areas for improvement.
The City of Lawrence recently completed its 2015 Citizen Survey, which occurs every four years to assess satisfaction with the quality of city services and to gather input about priorities for the community.
This year’s survey was completed in May 2015 and was mailed to a random sample of 2,500 residents. The survey had a 53% response rate and is considered statistically valid. The city uses this data from residents to establish trends over time and to determine measurable and attainable goals for department performance. The survey asked about satisfaction with core city services as well as perceptions of safety, value and quality.
The Trends. This is the third citizen survey completed since 2007. The previous survey data allowed the city to develop trends over time in respect to overall satisfaction with city services. A Composite Satisfaction Index (CSI) is derived from ratings given by residents for the major categories of city services. Since 2007, the City of Lawrence’s CSI has increased eight points, while the average CSI for other cities in the Kansas City metro area and other U.S. cities has decreased by four and three points respectively. This means our citizens continue to have increased satisfaction with overall city services.
Public Safety. Public Safety: Police, fire and emergency medical services continue to have strong satisfaction ratings in the community. Ninety-seven percent of residents surveyed said they felt safe walking in their neighborhood during the day, and 77% of respondents were satisfied with how quickly the police department responded to emergencies. The quality of police, fire and EMS (emergency medical services) was also chosen as an area that should receive the most emphasis from the city during the next two years.
Fire and EMS: 92% of residents surveyed were satisfied with the professionalism of the city’s EMS personnel, and 91% of residents were satisfied with the overall quality of fire services in the community.
Parks and Recreation. The city’s parks and recreation systems continued to see high satisfaction from residents, including 92% satisfaction with the cleanliness of the city’s parks, and 84% satisfaction with the quality of recreation programs offered. One area residents felt needed more attention in the next two years was the number of walking and biking trails.
Public Works. Infrastructure maintenance and construction continue to be the areas of top concern for our residents. Seventy-one percent of people noted the maintenance of streets and utilities should be an area emphasized by the city. Residents wanted to see more timely street repairs and added attention to the conditions of neighborhood streets.
Transportation. Of those surveyed, 50% of residents responded that they were satisfied with the availability of pedestrian pathways, and only 21% of residents felt they were satisfied with the connectivity of bicycle lanes. Traffic congestion and flow of traffic continued to be an area of emphasis noted by residents.
What’s Next? Elected leaders and city staff use this data to determine how to best use the city’s resources to address issues our residents consider areas of emphasis and need. In this case, maintenance of infrastructure, flow of traffic and congestion, and the quality of police, fire and EMS were the top three areas noted as areas for improvement in the 2015 Citizen Survey. The city will continue to use the data collected to improve performance measures and develop trends over time for the overall satisfaction of city services.
It is interesting to note that there were several significant increases from the 2011 Citizen Survey to the 2015 Citizen Survey, including a 17% increase in satisfaction of the city’s indoor recreation facilities and an 11% increase in availability of drop-off recycling services. These two areas of improvement could be correlated to the city’s completion of Sports Pavilion Lawrence and the completion of curbside recycling in Lawrence in 2014.
The entire survey and more information is available online at www.lawrenceks.org/citizen_survey.
70 Comments
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who was doing a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me lunch simply because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to talk about this issue here on your blog.
Very good information. Lucky me I discovered your site by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve bookmarked it for later!
This site definitely has all the info I needed about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
I blog quite often and I truly appreciate your information. This great article has really peaked my interest. I am going to take a note of your blog and keep checking for new details about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.
Excellent web site you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find good quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
It’s difficult to find experienced people in this particular subject, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Hi, I do believe this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return once again since I book marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.
I really like it when people get together and share opinions. Great blog, stick with it!
You’re so cool! I do not believe I’ve truly read through a single thing like that before. So wonderful to find another person with genuine thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This site is one thing that is required on the web, someone with a little originality!
Hey there! I just wish to offer you a big thumbs up for your great info you have here on this post. I’ll be coming back to your site for more soon.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up plus the rest of the website is really good.
Everything is very open with a really clear clarification of the challenges. It was definitely informative. Your site is very useful. Many thanks for sharing!
There is definately a great deal to know about this subject. I really like all the points you have made.
Hello! I simply wish to give you a big thumbs up for the great information you have right here on this post. I am returning to your web site for more soon.
Very good blog post. I definitely appreciate this website. Thanks!
It’s difficult to find well-informed people for this subject, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon everyday. It will always be exciting to read through articles from other authors and practice something from other websites.
You’re so interesting! I don’t think I’ve read through something like this before. So nice to find another person with some unique thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This web site is something that is needed on the web, someone with some originality!
I could not refrain from commenting. Well written!
I need to to thank you for this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it. I have got you bookmarked to look at new things you post…
Saved as a favorite, I really like your site!
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you should publish more on this subject, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people don’t speak about such issues. To the next! All the best!!
That is a very good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Short but very accurate info… Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read post!
Everything is very open with a precise explanation of the issues. It was truly informative. Your site is very useful. Thank you for sharing!
This is a great tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate info… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read post!
Your style is unique compared to other folks I’ve read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this web site.
I like reading a post that can make people think. Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment!
Great post. I’m experiencing many of these issues as well..
I used to be able to find good advice from your content.
I need to to thank you for this great read!! I certainly enjoyed every little bit of it. I have got you book marked to look at new stuff you post…
Howdy! This blog post could not be written any better! Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I am going to forward this post to him. Pretty sure he’s going to have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept preaching about this. I most certainly will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he’s going to have a very good read. Thanks for sharing!
This is a great tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere. Short but very precise info… Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read article!
After looking over a handful of the blog posts on your site, I seriously like your way of blogging. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Take a look at my website too and tell me how you feel.
Hi, I do believe this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may come back once again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.
Having read this I thought it was extremely informative. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this informative article together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this post plus the rest of the site is extremely good.
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who was doing a little research on this. And he in fact bought me lunch simply because I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this topic here on your website.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon on a daily basis. It’s always exciting to read through articles from other writers and use something from other websites.
Hi there! This blog post could not be written much better! Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I am going to send this post to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a good read. I appreciate you for sharing!
I love it when folks get together and share opinions. Great blog, keep it up!
This is the right site for everyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that has been discussed for decades. Excellent stuff, just wonderful!
After looking into a handful of the articles on your website, I really appreciate your way of blogging. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my website as well and tell me your opinion.
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It is the little changes that will make the biggest changes. Many thanks for sharing!
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked to check out new things you post…
Having read this I thought it was really enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worth it!
You have made some good points there. I checked on the internet to learn more about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this site.
There is definately a great deal to know about this topic. I really like all of the points you’ve made.
Just desire to say your article is as amazing. The clarity in your post is
simply excellent and i could assume you are an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep up to date with
forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work.
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you so much, However I am having problems with your RSS. I don’t know why I can’t join it. Is there anybody else getting identical RSS issues? Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanx!!
This blog was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something that helped me. Thanks!
Hello there, I do think your blog could be having internet browser compatibility issues. Whenever I look at your web site in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Aside from that, fantastic blog!
Greetings, I do think your site could be having web browser compatibility issues. When I take a look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Besides that, wonderful blog!
The very next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesn’t fail me as much as this particular one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I really believed you would probably have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of moaning about something you could fix if you weren’t too busy looking for attention.
Excellent write-up. I certainly appreciate this website. Keep it up!
This is a great tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere. Short but very accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up and also the rest of the website is really good.
You made some good points there. I checked on the internet to find out more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site.
Howdy! This blog post could not be written much better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I will send this post to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!
Very good article. I will be going through many of these issues as well..
I have to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this website. I’m hoping to check out the same high-grade content from you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own site now 😉
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Many thanks, However I am experiencing difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to join it. Is there anybody getting identical RSS problems? Anyone who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx!!
Very good article. I certainly love this site. Thanks!
This is a topic which is close to my heart… Cheers! Where are your contact details though?
I really like looking through a post that will make men and women think. Also, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful post. Many thanks for providing this info.
I really like looking through an article that will make men and women think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the finest sites on the net. I’m going to highly recommend this blog!
I love it whenever people get together and share views. Great blog, stick with it!
May I simply say what a comfort to discover a person that actually understands what they’re talking about online. You actually understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people should look at this and understand this side of the story. I can’t believe you are not more popular given that you certainly have the gift.