Community Attitude and Interest Survey
Summary of Preliminary Findings

The City of University Place conducted a Community Survey to help establish priorities for the development of new improvement projects within the community, including road and street improvements, street lighting, and new parks and recreation facility improvements. The survey was carried out by a combination of mail and phone and was designed to obtain statistically valid results from households throughout the City. 

The GreenPlay/ETC Institute consultant team worked extensively with City officials and the Capital Strategies Advisory Task Force in the development of the survey questionnaire. This work allowed the survey to be tailored to issues of strategic importance to effectively plan the future system.

In October of 2005, surveys were mailed to a random sample of 2,002 households in the City.  The goal, to obtain at least 500 completed surveys was far exceeded, with a total of 549 surveys having been completed to-date.  The results of the random sample of 549 households have a 95% level of confidence with a precision of at least +/-4.2%.

Here is what respondent households had to say:

1.  The level of satisfaction with these types of facilities currently provided by the City is generally high.

2.  When asked if they knew that the City had reduced its capital expenditures from $5.5 million a year to $250,000 a year as a result of the reduction in State funding, nearly half indicated they are aware of the cutback.

3.  The top three capital improvements to streets, sidewalks and street lighting they would be most willing to fund are:

•     Street lighting in neighborhoods.
•     Develop additional sidewalks.
•     Improve condition of neighborhood streets.

4.  Continued capital funding to streets and sidewalks is very or somewhat important to nearly 80% of respondents.

5.  Continued capital funding to street lighting is very or somewhat important to 75% of respondents.

6.  Members of the households would use a wide range of indoor recreation program spaces.

7.  A walking and jogging track is the indoor space they would be most willing to support with tax dollars.

8.  They are supportive of a number of outdoor parks and recreation improvements.

9. Renovate /develop walking and biking trails is the outdoor parks and recreation improvement respondents would be most willing to fund.

10.  Continued funding of capital improvements to outdoor and indoor parks and recreation projects is very or somewhat important to over 80% of respondents.  11% indicated that it is not important.

11.  When asked about increasing property tax to maintain existing funding levels without state support, a majority of respondents generally felt the amount of funding being considered is between about right and too high. 

12.  Funding for neighborhood street lighting and improvements to outdoor trails are the top two (2) most important improvements for City to move forward in funding, however there is support for variety of other projects.

13.  Over 80% of respondents would be willing to pay some amount to fund the capital improvement projects most important to their household.

14.  They favor a wide range of actions from increasing funding to reducing funding significantly for local improvements.

15.  When asked how they would spend $100 among the various types of capital improvements, they said they favor a balanced approach.

16.  Over 60% “would vote in favor” or “might vote in favor” of funding the capital improvements they feel are most important, for the amount of property tax increase they said they would support.