Erie, CO Key Findings 2017 The NCS is presented by NRC in collaboration with ICMA About National Research Center . Over 20 years conducting survey research for local government . Wrote the books on citizen surveying . Industry pioneers . Long-term partnership with . ICMA Charter members of AAPOR Transparency Initiative About The NCS . Community Livability Residents . Community Characteristics . Governance Private Communities Community- are partnerships based sector . Participation among... organizations Govern- ment Facets of Community Livability Quality of Community Overall Recreation Safety Mobility Economy and Wellness Education Natural Built Community and Environment Environment Engagement Enrichment The NCS & Erie . 3rd iteration of The NCS (2013 and 2015) . Random scientific sample of 3,000 households . 1,100 completed surveys; 37% response rate . ±3% margin of error; statistically valid Expanded Geographic Demographic Open-ended sample comparisons comparisons question Custom Presentation Opt-in Web benchmarks Scientific Survey Methods Surveys mailed to 3,000 households 3 points of contact 1,100 completed (37% response rate; ±3% margin of error) Results weighted to reflect community © 2001-2017 National Research Center, Inc. 6 National Benchmark Comparisons 2017 National Benchmark Comparisons 18 received higher 88 18 received similar ratings received ratings lower ratings 2017 Mountain Region Benchmark Comparisons 20 received higher 89 15 received similar ratings received ratings lower ratings 2017 Ratings Compared to 2015 33 received higher 76 15 received similar ratings received ratings lower ratings Legend Higher than national benchmark Key Focus Areas Similar to national benchmark Lower than national benchmark Most important Education Built Safety and Environment Enrichment Natural Recreation Environment and Wellness Community Mobility Economy Engagement Key Finding #1 Residents continue to enjoy high quality of life Overall Quality of Life Overall Quality of Life in Erie Excellent 30% Erie as a Place to Live Poor 1% Excellent 41% Fair 11% Good 58% Poor 1% Good 51% Fair 7% High Quality of Life 9 in 10 excellent or good Place to raise kids Neighborhoods Overall Image of Erie 74% 2017 Percent “very good” or “good” Quality of Life Remain in Erie Recommend Erie (88%) (90%) Percent very likely or somewhat likely High Mobility Ratings Availability of paths and trails 81% Ease of travel by car 80% Higher Ease of walking 79% than National benchmark Ease of travel by bicylce 74% Ease of public parking 71% Traffic flow 68% Percent excellent or good Recreation and Wellness Erie Community Center 87% Town parks 85% Recreation programs 84% Recreation opportunities 75% Percent excellent or good Comparison to benchmarks: Higher Similar Lower Key Finding #2 Economy ratings on the rise, reflecting successes and challenges Aspects of Economy Overall economic health 59% Business and services 42% Place to visit 40% Cost of living 35% Vibrant downtown area 34% Place to work 31% Shopping opportunities 13% Employment opportunities 11% Percent excellent or good Comparison to national benchmark: Higher Similar Lower Aspects of Economy Increased Overall economic health Vibrant downtown Businesses and services Shopping opportunities Employment opportunities Increased in in Increased 2017 Place to visit Place to work Economic development Personal Economic Outlook What impact, if any, do you think the economy will have on your family income in the next 6 months? 42% 2017 Percent very or somewhat positive Key Finding #3 Safety is a positive feature and top priority Overall Feeling of Safety Excellent 54% Higher Good 40% than benchmarks Poor 0% Fair 5% Feelings of Safety in neighborhoods At least 9 in 10 felt safe: in Historic Downtown Erie Similar to benchmarks 25 Safety Services Fire 8 in 10 excellent or good EMS Police Crime prevention Fire prevention Key Finding #4 Residents have increased trust in Town Government and services Public Trust Confidence in Town government Welcoming citizen involvement Majority Being honest excellent or good Acting in the best interest of Erie Treating all residents fairly Increased in 2017 Governance Increased Town services Customer service Higher Sense of community Quality of Contact with Town Employees Excellent Good Fair Poor Courtesy 57% 30% 10% 3% Overall 49% 37% 10% 4% impression Treating all 49% 38% 9% 5% residents fairly Responsiveness 47% 39% 11% 3% Knowledge 45% 41% 12% 2% Special Topics Potential Sustainability Initiatives Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Make government buildings 7% 3% "greener" 45% 44% Create community vegetable 11% 4% gardens 38% 47% Create community solar 13% 9% gardens 35% 42% Add public Electric Vehicle 16% 12% charging stations 20% 52% Potential Town Initiatives Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose 2% Increase local shopping 2% opportunities in Erie 73% 23% Improve regional 6% 3% transportation 42% 49% Implement Town-wide waste & recycling 33% 42% 12% 12% collection service Increase golf cart 28% 26% accessibility 15% 31% Provide golf cart accessibility on Town- 24% 36% owned and maintained 14% 26% trails Information Sources Major source Minor source Not at all a source Town website 76% 18% 6% Word of mouth 31% 53% 16% Newsletter or flyer 40% 42% 18% Email or text message 27% 39% 35% Colorado Hometown Weekly 25% 33% 41% Daily Camera 18% 35% 47% Town's Facebook page 25% 26% 49% Longmont Times-Call 6% 27% 68% Watch meetings 6% 23% 71% Town's Twitter account 8% 18% 74% Watch meetings on Comcast Channel 8 4% 20% 76% Top Reasons to Live in Erie “Access to Boulder, “Centrally Location Denver & located” CSU” What are your top three reasons for Cost of “Home “Price” choosing living value” Erie as your home? “Great Small place to “Sense of town feel raise community” kids” Conclusions . Quality of live remains high . Economy ratings are on the rise, reflecting successes and challenges . Safety is a positive feature and remains a top priority . Residents demonstrate increased trust in Town Government Questions? Thank you! National Research Center, Inc. 2955 Valmont Road Suite 300 Boulder, CO 80301 303-444-7863 • [email protected] www.n-r-c.com Erie, CO Community Livability Report 2017 2955 Valmont Road Suite 300 777 North Capitol Street NE Suite 500 Boulder, Colorado 80301 Washington, DC 20002 n-r-c.com • 303-444-7863 icma.org • 800-745-8780 Contents About .............................................................................................. 1 Quality of Life in Erie........................................................................ 2 Community Characteristics ............................................................... 3 Governance ..................................................................................... 5 Participation .................................................................................... 7 Special Topics .................................................................................. 9 Conclusions ................................................................................... 15 The National Citizen Survey™ © 2001-2017 National Research Center, Inc. The NCS™ is presented by NRC in collaboration with ICMA. NRC is a charter member of the AAPOR Transparency Initiative, providing clear disclosure of our sound and ethical survey research practices. About The National Citizen Survey™ (The NCS) report is about the “livability” of Erie. The phrase “livable community” is used here to evoke a place that is not simply habitable, but that is desirable. It is not only where people do live, but where they want to live. Great communities are partnerships of the government, private sector, community-based organizations and residents, all geographically connected. The NCS captures residents’ opinions Residents within the three pillars of a community (Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation) across eight central facets of community (Safety, Mobility, Natural Environment, Built Environment, Economy, Recreation and Wellness, Education and Communities Community- Enrichment and Community Engagement). Private are based sector partnerships organizations The Community Livability Report provides the opinions of a representative sample of 1,100 among... residents of the Town of Erie. The margin of error around any reported percentage is 3% for all respondents. The full description of methods used to garner these opinions can be found in the Technical Appendices provided under separate cover. Government 1 Quality of Life in Erie Most residents rated the quality of life in Erie as excellent or good. This rating was similar to the national benchmark (see Appendix B of Overall Quality of Life Excellent the Technical Appendices provided under separate cover). 30% Shown below are the eight facets of community. The color of each Poor community facet summarizes how residents rated it across the three 1% sections of the survey that represent the pillars of a community – Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation. When most Fair 11% ratings across the three pillars were higher than the benchmark, the Good color for that facet is the darkest shade; when most ratings were lower 58% than the benchmark, the color is the lightest shade. A mix of ratings (higher and lower than the benchmark) results in a color between the extremes. In addition to a summary of ratings, the image below includes one or more stars to indicate which community facets were the most important focus areas for the