2015 Summit Poll Prepared for: City of Akron Mayor’s Office Prepared by: 470 Portage Lakes Drive, Suite 102 Akron, OH 44319 www.cmoresearch.com 1. 2 Table of Contents Page SURVEY QUESTIONS 3 KEY FINDINGS 4 SURVEY RESULTS 7 CITY SERVICES 7 PUBLIC SAFETY 9 EMPLOYMENT 14 APPENDICES 16 Quality of Life 16 Quality of Life Comparison – Akron and Summit County 26 Respondent Demographics 27 Research Methodology 36 2015 Summit Poll 2. www.CMOResearch.com 1. 3 Survey Questions CITY SERVICES How would you rate your satisfaction with services delivered by the City of Akron, other than police and fire? Would you say very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, neither satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? If you had to choose, which of the following problem areas concern you the MOST? What about second most? And third? a. Snow plowing f. Trash on private property or vacant lots b. Pot hole repair g. Abandoned or dilapidated houses c. Trash pickup h. Street resurfacing d. High grass and weeds i. Stray animals e. Parks maintenance j. Something not on this list PUBLIC SAFETY In the last two years do you think, overall, crime in Akron has increased by 6%, increased by 3%, stayed the same, decreased by 3% or decreased by 6%? Has your sense of safety in Akron improved, stayed the same or gotten worse in the last few years? How satisfied are you with the quality of police protection in the City of Akron? Would you say very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, neither satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? How satisfied are you with the quality of fire and EMS protection in the City of Akron? Would you say very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, neither satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? How serious of a problem are each of the following in your neighborhood? Is it a serious problem, a moderate problem, a minor problem, or no problem at all? a. Abandoned, vacant and unoccupied houses b. Abandoned, vacant and unoccupied commercial properties c. Occupied houses that may have housing code violations or are in a state of disrepair EMPLOYMENT The City of Akron has invested millions of dollars rebuilding and revitalizing downtown Akron in the last 20 years. Do you think that investment has been very worthwhile, somewhat worthwhile, or not at all worthwhile? Downtown Akron is the largest place of employment in Summit County increasing from 15,000 to 30,000 jobs in 20 years. The incremental increase in income tax pays the equivalent of 140 police officers who Akron would otherwise not be able to afford. Knowing the increase in jobs in Downtown Akron, do you think it is an excellent, good, fair, poor, or very poor investment? 2015 Summit Poll 2. www.CMOResearch.com 1. 4 Key Findings CITY SERVICES About two-thirds of respondents (67.2%) were very or somewhat satisfied with city services other than police and fire. Those ages 45 and older were more likely to be satisfied. Pothole repair was cited most frequently when asked what concerned respondents the most, given a set of ten items (chosen by 80.2% of respondents as one of their top three concerns). Akron Summit Number of Summary Table Values Poll responses Very satisfied 18.9% 19.8% Somewhat satisfied 49.1% 47.4% Rate satisfaction Neither 10.9% 13.1% 393 with city services Somewhat dissatisfied 15.2% 13.7% Very dissatisfied 5.9% 6.0% Rate satisfaction Satisfied 68.0% 67.2% with city services Neither 10.9% 13.1% 393 (combined) Dissatisfied 21.1% 19.7% Pot hole repair 61.2% 80.2% Abandoned/Dilapidated houses 44.6% 53.7% Snow plowing 33.1% 33.6% Street resurfacing 30.5% 28.3% Problem areas Trash on private property/Vacant lots 23.0% 22.3% (combined % of 1st, 400 Stray animals 12.6% 13.8% 2nd, and 3rd choice) High grass and weeds 22.4% 12.4% Trash pickup 9.5% 11.9% Parks maintenance 7.6% 6.7% Something else 10.9% 5.5% 2015 Summit Poll 2. www.CMOResearch.com 1. 5 PUBLIC SAFETY Close to two-thirds of the respondents (64.3%) said their sense of safety had improved or stayed the same over the past few years. Nearly two-thirds of respondents reported being very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of police protection. Respondents who were more likely to be satisfied included retired respondents, those who are married, over the age of 45, homeowners, and white respondents. More than nine in ten respondents reported being satisfied with the quality of fire and EMS protection. Akron Summit Number of Summary Table Values Poll responses Increased by 6% 36.3% 40.8% Increased by 3% 23.3% 28.3% Change in overall Stayed the same 7.5% 18.9% 362 crime in Akron Decreased by 3% 22.2% 9.7% Decreased by 6% 10.7% 2.3% Improved 14.0% 9.7% Change in sense of Stayed the same 44.1% 54.5% 397 safety Gotten worse 41.9% 35.8% Very satisfied 30.4% 24.0% Satisfaction with Somewhat satisfied 44.9% 41.9% quality of police Neither 14.1% 13.4% 395 protection Somewhat dissatisfied 6.6% 11.1% Very dissatisfied 4.1% 9.6% Satisfaction with Satisfied 75.3% 65.9% quality of police Neither 14.1% 13.4% 395 protection (combined) Dissatisfied 10.7% 20.7% Very satisfied 51.8% 62.0% Satisfaction with Somewhat satisfied 37.5% 29.6% quality of fire/ Neither 9.0% 5.3% 384 EMS protection Somewhat dissatisfied 1.0% 2.1% Very dissatisfied 0.7% 1.0% Satisfaction with Satisfied 89.3% 91.5% quality of fire/EMS Neither 9.0% 5.3% 384 protection (combined) Dissatisfied 1.7% 3.1% Seriousness Abandoned/Vacant/Unoccupied houses 20.8% 399 of problems Abandoned/Vacant/Unoccupied commercial properties 13.8% 397 (% answering serious) Occupied with code violations/state of disrepair 16.9% 391 2015 Summit Poll 2. www.CMOResearch.com 1. 6 EMPLOYMENT About one-third of respondents rated the investment in downtown as very worthwhile. The vast majority (85.7%) rated it as very or somewhat worthwhile. After respondents heard about the increase in jobs, 44% of those who had initially said the investment was not at all worthwhile ended up rating the invest as excellent or good. In total, 74.8% of respondents rated the investment positively. Akron Summit Number of Summary Table Values Poll responses Very worthwhile 46.5% 33.6% Rate investment Somewhat worthwhile 42.2% 52.1% 393 in downtown Not at all worthwhile 11.3% 14.4% Rate investment Positive 75.0% 74.8% in downtown given knowledge Fair 17.5% 18.4% 388 of downtown job growth Negative 7.5% 6.8% Change in perception given information (original rating of investment as not at all worthwhile; 27.8% 44.2% change to Excellent/good) 2015 Summit Poll 2. www.CMOResearch.com 1. 7 Survey Results City Services Satisfaction with Services Delivered by City (other than police and fire) 47% 20% 13% 14% 6% Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Neither Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied Satisfaction with Services by select demographics Satisfied Neither Dissatisfied All Respondents 67.2% 13.1% 19.7% Demographic Subgroup Male 70.4% 10.8% 18.8% Gender Female 64.7% 15.0% 20.3% Full-time 62.0% 16.9% 21.1% Part-time 67.8% 13.6% 18.6% Employment Status Retired 77.0% 9.5% 13.5% Unemployed 73.2% 5.4% 21.4% Other 62.9% 14.3% 22.9% Married 69.2% 11.9% 18.9% Marital Status Not Married 66.9% 14.0% 19.0% 18 - 24 62.9% 12.9% 24.2% 25 - 44 58.4% 20.0% 21.6% Age* 45 - 64 73.1% 7.5% 19.4% 65 plus 77.3% 12.1% 10.6% High School or Less 73.9% 9.4% 16.7% Education Some College 64.6% 16.7% 18.8% attainment College Grad or More 63.0% 13.0% 24.1% Under $25,000 68.5% 12.0% 19.4% $25-$49,999 64.9% 15.8% 19.3% Income $50-$74,999 74.6% 14.3% 11.1% Over $75,000 66.7% 12.5% 20.8% Own 67.4% 12.4% 20.2% Home Ownership Rent/Other 66.3% 14.2% 19.5% White 67.4% 13.2% 19.4% Race Non-white 68.3% 14.4% 17.3% Question: How would you rate your satisfaction with services with services delivered by the City of Akron, other than police and fire? 2015 Summit Poll 2. www.CMOResearch.com 1. 8 Top Problem Areas Pot hole repair 80% Abandoned or dilapitated houses 54% Snow plowing 34% Street resurfacing 28% Trash on private property and vacant lots 22% Stray animals 14% High grass and weeds 12% Trash pickup 12% Parks maintenance 7% Something else 6% Top Problem Areas Total % Pothole repair 80.2% Abandoned or dilapidated houses 53.7% Snow plowing 33.6% Street resurfacing 28.3% Trash on property/vacant lots 22.3% Stray animals 13.8% High grass and weeds 12.4% Trash pickup 11.9% Parks maintenance 6.7% Something else 5.5% 2015 Summit Poll 2. www.CMOResearch.com 1. 9 Public Safety Change in Overall Crime More than two-thirds, 69.1%, believe crime has increased and only 12% believe it has decreased with only 2.3% 41% correctly indicating a 6% decrease. 28% 19% 10% 2% Increased 6% Increased 3% Same Decreased 3% Decreased 6% Change in Overall Crime by select demographics Increased Increased Decreased Decreased Same 6% 3% 3% 6% All Respondents 40.8% 28.3% 18.9% 9.7% 2.3% Demographic Subgroup Male 35.3% 29.9% 16.8% 15.6% 2.4% Gender* Female 45.4% 27.0% 20.9% 4.6% 2.0% Full-time 39.0% 32.5% 16.9% 11.0% .6% Part-time 33.3% 42.6% 11.1% 5.6% 7.4% Employment Status* Retired 30.8% 23.1% 35.4% 9.2% 1.5% Unemployed 55.4% 23.2% 8.9% 10.7% 1.8% Other 51.6% 6.5% 25.8% 9.7% 6.5% Married 36.3% 31.1% 22.2% 8.1% 2.2% Marital Status Not Married 43.0% 26.2% 17.2% 10.9% 2.7% 18 - 24 35.8% 35.8% 11.3% 17.0% 0.0% 25 - 44 44.3% 27.9% 13.1% 11.5% 3.3% Age 45 - 64 40.7% 26.0% 24.4% 7.3% 1.6% 65 plus 33.3% 30.0% 26.7% 6.7% 3.3% High School or Less 43.9% 25.9% 18.7% 9.4% 2.2% Education Some College 38.8% 32.6% 17.8% 7.8% 3.1% attainment College Grad or More 38.7% 25.8% 21.5% 12.9% 1.1% Under $25,000 51.9% 17.9% 14.2% 11.3% 4.7% $25-$49,999 28.0% 39.3% 21.5% 11.2% 0.0% Income $50-$74,999 45.6% 22.8% 19.3% 8.8% 3.5% Over $75,000 26.9% 34.3% 26.9% 9.0% 3.0% Own 36.4% 29.8% 22.7% 8.6% 2.5% Home Ownership Rent/Other 45.6% 26.3% 14.4% 11.3% 2.5% White 37.6% 29.0% 19.9% 11.3% 2.3% Race Non-white 45.4% 26.2% 17.7% 8.5% 2.3% Question: In the last two years do you think overall crime in Akron has: Increased 6%; Increased 3%; Stayed the same; Decreased 3%; Decreased 6%? 2015 Summit Poll 2.