2009 Lane County Community Survey

Demographic Breakdown

The Survey

Random sample of 3000 Lane County addresses received survey by mail

974 completed surveys – 34% response rate Some services always rate higher than others 2009 is Lane County’s Baseline, plan to

survey again in 2011

Focus AreasCommunity QualityCommunity Quality

Quality of lifeQuality of neighborhoodCounty as a place to live

Community DesignCommunity Design

TransportationEase of travel, transit services, street

maintenance

HousingHousing options, cost, affordability

Land Use and ZoningNew development, growth, code

enforcement

Economic SustainabilityEmployment, shopping and retail,

County as a place to work

Public SafetyPublic Safety

Safety in neighborhood and downtownCrime victimization

Police, fire, EMS servicesEmergency preparedness

Environmental SustainabilityEnvironmental Sustainability

CleanlinessAir quality

Preservation of natural areasGarbage and recycling services

Recreation and WellnessRecreation and Wellness

Parks and RecreationRecreation opportunities, use of parks and facilities, programs and classes

Culture, Arts and EducationCultural and educational

opportunities, libraries, schools

Health and WellnessAvailability of food, health services,

social services

Community InclusivenessCommunity Inclusiveness

Sense of communityRacial and cultural acceptance

Senior, youth and low-income services

Civic EngagementCivic Engagement

Civic ActivityVolunteerism

Civic attentivenessVoting behavior

Social EngagementNeighborliness, social and religious

events

Information and AwarenessPublic information, publications,

Website

Public TrustPublic Trust

Cooperation in communityValue of services

Direction of communityCitizen involvement

Employees

Subgroup Comparisons

Subgroup comparison report for Annual Household Income, Age, Race, Gender

Statistically significant differences occur most between age groups, and next most frequently between white and non-white respondents

Demographic characteristics of the survey were compared to Lane County and the survey results were then weighted

Gender Men consistently rated questions lower than

women with the exception of the following; Educational opportunities Availability of affordable, quality housing & child care Growth related questions Environment related questions Feel safe in downtown after dark Participation in and opinion of local government

Few of these differences were statistically significant except the last one regarding government

Overall Community Quality The overall quality of life in Lane County was rated as

“excellent” or “good” by 67% of respondents Younger and not white respondents rated the overall quality of

life excellent or good only 56% and 52% of the time respectively

Majority of all respondents likely to remain in the County for next 5 years. Lowest household incomes, between 18-34 yrs old, or not white were less likely to stay

Likely to retire in Lane County? Large discrepancy between white (61%) and not white respondents (39%)

Non white respondents were also the least likely to recommend living in Lane County to someone who asks

Community Transportation

Above benchmarks in all questions in this focus area.

Availability of walking paths/trails one of the most favorable ratings in our survey.

Ratings vary depending on where the respondents live, but overall still strong.

Far above benchmarks for recent use of bus for transportation with younger, non white, and those with less means reporting highest levels of bus use.

Housing Characteristics & Cost Availability of affordable quality housing is one of

lowest ratings in our survey.

Housing costs LESS than 30% of income

54%

Housing costs 30% or MORE of income

46%

Land Use & Zoning As a whole, respondents rated the overall appearance

of Lane County near national benchmarks – however, non white respondents ratings were significantly lower.

Respondents rated the quality of new development low. The oldest respondents were most satisfied and non white respondents the least satisfied.

The quality land use, planning and zoning are far below the national benchmarks with those in the 35-54 age range least satisfied.

Of all respondents, the oldest are least satisfied with code enforcement (weeds, abandoned buildings, etc.)

Economic Sustainability

Overall, the most positively rated features were shopping opportunities and overall quality of business/service establishments – however, not white respondents were much less satisfied with either of these characteristics

Lowest rating was employment opportunities and job growth with all subgroups in agreement

Personal Economic Prospects

Very negative27%

Somewhat negative43%

Neutral24%

Somewhat positive5%

Very positive2%

What impact, if any, do you think the economy will have on your family income in the

next 6 months?

Sense of Safety About 48% of respondents said they feel very or

somewhat safe from violent crime with the youngest and non white respondents feeling least secure.

Only 25% felt the same regarding property crime with those lowest income group feeling least secure.

Of all ages, 18-34 yr olds felt the most safe in their neighborhoods in the day – yet the least safe at night

The greatest insecurity was experienced by the youngest, non whites and the lowest income at night and by non whites and those with the highest income during the day.

Crime Victimization

25% of respondents reported that someone in the household had been a crime victim in the last year - 70% of them had reported that crime.

35% of not white, 33% of 18-34 yr olds, and 31% of the lowest income group had been victimized with far fewer not white or low income respondents reporting it.

Public Safety Services

Emergency preparedness and crime prevention received the lowest ratings.

All rankings were far below benchmarks. The quality of Sheriff services and traffic

enforcement responses varied depending on where respondents live - rural residents rate these services higher than urban residents.

The oldest residents were most satisfied while those with the most means were the least satisfied.

Environmental Sustainability

The aesthetic qualities of our community (air, water, storm drainage, open spaces, etc.) ranked similar or above benchmarks.

74% of respondents rated the overall natural environment excellent or good.

All subgroups of respondents reported recycling. Those subgroups that were least satisfied with

recycling services were the youngest (18-34) and those with household incomes below $24,999.

Recycling

Resident recycling was greater than in comparison communities with 70% or respondents recycling more than 26 times in the last year.

Once or twice3%

3 to 12 times9%

13 to 26 times14%

More than 26 times70%

Never3%

Parks & Recreation,Culture, Arts & Education The quality of our community’s recreational

opportunities and the residents’ participation in these opportunities are some of the highest scores in our survey.

While opportunities to participate in cultural activities were rated well and above benchmarks, not whites responses were much lower than other subgroups for cultural, social, and recreational opportunities. Those over 55 yrs old indicated the greatest opportunities for these activities.

Health & Wellness One of the least positive ratings in our survey was the availability

of quality affordable health care. Ratings of health and wellness services were also low and below

benchmark.

4%

5%

6%

27%

30%

22%

36%

5%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Adult protective services

Drug and alcohol services

Mental health services

Health services

Percent of respondents

Excellent Good

Community Inclusiveness

Moderate results in most areas.

Availability of affordable quality child care one of least positive ratings in survey.

18%

16%

11%

8%

41%

51%

20%

43%

46%

5%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Lane County as a place to retire

Lane County as a place to raise children

Availability of affordable quality child care

Openness and acceptance of the community towardspeople of diverse backgrounds

Sense of community

Percent of respondents

Excellent Good

Civic Engagement

Lane County residents perceive they have many opportunities to volunteer and participate in community matters, though non whites and 18-34 yr olds indicated fewer

opportunities.

A modest number had attended (25%) or watched (45%) a local elected officials meeting with 18-34 yr olds least likely to have attended or watched and

those who make less than $24,999 least likely to have watched.

59% reported volunteering with those in the highest income subgroup and between 34-54

yrs old volunteering the most

Civic Engagement

Consistent across all subgroups, an overwhelming majority (97%) report providing help to friends an neighbors.

81% of them having contact with neighbors at least one per month.

With those 18-34 yrs old and not white a bit less likely to have as frequent neighbor contact.

Public Information

46% of respondents reported visiting the County’s website in the last year. Those with the smallest household income or are

over 55 were least likely to visit the website. Non white visitors to the website were most critical

of the current site’s appearance, navigation, search function, and content.

41% rated our public information services good or excellent, below the benchmark.

8%

3%

3%

3%

51%

21%

32%

23%

22%

3%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Overall image orreputation of Lane County

The job Lane Countygovernment does atlistening to citizens

The job Lane Countygovernment does atwelcoming citizen

involvement

The overall direction thatLane County is taking

The value of services forthe taxes paid to Lane

County

Percent of respondents

Excellent Good

Public Trust

Less than half of respondents felt the value of services for taxes paid were excellent or good.

Though residents gave higher ratings to their Lane County compared to the state and federal governments.

Lane County Employees

51% of respondents reported having an in-person contact with an employee in the last year. More likely to have contact if higher household

income or under 55. County employees were rated positively;

67% of respondents rated their overall impression excellent or good. Consistent across all subgroups.

Which three services does Lane County government do the best job providing?”

Question #18F: Which three services does Lane County government do the best job of providing?

  Percent of Respondents

Parks and recreation, events, fairgrounds 32%

Health and Human Services (services to youth, judicial services) 21%

Public Safety/Law Enforcement, crime, traffic enforcement 19%

Fire and ambulance/EMS services 18%

Waste Management, trash removal, recycling, bulk pick up 14%

None/Did not apply to question asked 12%

Public transportation services 12%

Infrastructure, public works, utilities 11%

Education/Cultural and Community opportunities 10%

Code enforcement and land use issues, appearance 9%

Governance issues (public meeting, elections, taxation, public information) 7%

Environmental- clean air, water, land preservation 5%

Don’t Know/No Comment 13%

Other 12%

Total may exceed 100% as respondents could select more than one category.

Survey Steering Committee

Sascha Cosio, Diversity Action Cmt Chair Bill Fleenor, West Lane Commissioner Amber Fossen, Public Information Officer Jennifer Inman, Sr. Management Analyst Liane Richardson, County Counsel Lisa Smith, Youth Services Director Jeff Spartz, County Administrator