1/27/2022
COMMUNITY OPINION SURVEY
C O ND U CTED FO R TH E
C I TY OF M ANH AT TAN B EACH
P RESENTED BY
T I MOTH Y M CL ARNEY P H. D.
2 2
PURPOSE OF STUDY
o Assess perceptions of quality of life and important
issues in the City
o Measure resident satisfaction municipal services
o Gather opinions on specific topics including public
safety, code enforcement, homelessness, and budget
priorities
o Identify the sources residents rely on for City news and information
3 3
o Dates: December 6 th to December 12 th, 2021
o Stratified Random Sample : 560 adult residents within City of Manhattan Beach
o Mixed Methodology
o Email, Text & Telephone Recruiting
o Online & Telephone Data Collection
o Margin of error : ± 4.1%
METHODOLOGY OF STUDY
4 4
RATING THE CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
57.6 48.3
49.9 38.3
31.8 23.2
36.8 36.8
33.8 43.0
28.4 31.1
4.6 7.7
9.1 15.2
17.0 13.3
1 1
2 7
4 2 4
2 3
1 1
12 27
6 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
The overall quality of life
in Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach as a place
to recreate
Manhattan Beach as a place
to raise a family
Manhattan Beach as a place
to shop and dine
Manhattan Beach as a place
to retire
Manhattan Beach as a place
to work
% Respondents
Excellent Good Fair Poor Very poor Not sure/Prefer not to answer 5 5
LIKE & WANT TO PRESERVE
16.7 16.2
14.2 12.6
11.6 10.5
10.3 9.2
8.7 6.6
5.7 5.0
4.2 3.5
2.7 2.0
5.4 7.1
0 5 10 15 20
Small town feel, charming beach community
Public safety, low crime rate
Beach, ocean
Cleanliness, appearance, beauty of City
Community, friendly people, family atmosphere
Local businesses, downtown area
Parks, rec facilities
Schools, education
Not sure / Cannot think of anything
Low density development, single family homes
Community events, activities
Open spaces, greenbelts
Outdoor shops, dining options
Relaxed, casual lifestyle
Walkability of commercial, residential areas
The Strand, pier
Proximity to other areas
Weather, climate
% Respondents
6 6
CHANGES TO IMPROVE CITY
9.8 9.6
8.5 5.6
5.5 5.1
5.0 5.0
4.7 3.8
3.7 3.6
3.6 3.5
2.7 2.6
2.6 2.3
2.0 2.0
1.8 1.8
1.6 1.7
3.8 3.7
0 2 4 6 8 10
Not sure / Cannot think of anything
Improve public safety, more police presence
Address parking issues
No changes needed / Everything is fine
Enforce traffic, e-bike laws
Limit growth, development
Encourage, support diversity, address inequity
Preserve, support outdoor dining
Beautify City, cleanliness, landscaping
Improve City planning, development
Attract variety of less expensive restaurants, shops
Add, improve park, rec facilities
Provide more affordable housing
Reduce traffic congestion
Improve government leadership, communication
Address homeless issues
Enforce City codes, ordinances
Improve walkability, sidewalks
Underground utilities
Increase support for small businesses
Improve quality of education
Reduce taxes, fees
Reduce cost of living
Improve permitting process
Address Bruce’s Beach issue
Provide more activities, events for all ages
% Respondents
7 7
OVERALL SATISFACTION
Not sure/Prefer
not to answer
2.8 Very
dissatisfied
1.9 Somewhat
dissatisfied
7.5 Very satisfied
39.5 Somewhat
satisfied
48.4 8
8 IMPORTANCE OF SERVICES
59.3 64.9
63.5 74.8
61.6 54.8
51.2 64.3
48.4 61.1
51.4 52.5
33.0 35.9
27.4 37.9
41.1 25.3
27.2 27.8
20.1 16.3
14.2 11.7
37.1 27.2
28.1 16.6
28.4 33.6
36.7 23.3
39.2 22.4
28.6 25.8
37.7 34.7
43.1 30.4
25.1 37.3
35.3 30.0
33.3 35.0
19.4 21.7
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Maintaining parks and open spaces
Providing emergency medical services
Maintaining sewer and storm drain systems
Maintaining a low crime rate
Providing fire protection and prevention services
Preparing the City for emergencies
Maintaining and repairing local streets and roads
Preserving the City’s small, beach-town character
Keeping public buildings, parks and facilities clean and attractive Providing neighborhood police patrols
Protecting the environment
Addressing homelessness
Maintaining public athletic fields
Addressing bike safety and e-bikes
Providing a variety of recreation programs for all ages Enforcing traffic laws
Removing graffiti
Providing special events such as concerts in the park, holiday fireworks Enforcing animal control laws such as leash-laws and waste cleanup Providing after-school programs and diversion programs for youth Providing services and programs for seniors
Providing cultural and arts opportunities
Providing eastside library services
Providing a variety of public art
% Respondents
Extremely important Very important
96%
92%
92%
91%
90%
88%
88%
88%
88%
84%
80%
78%
71%
71%
71%
68%
66%
63%
63%
58%
53%
51%
34%
33%
9 9
49.7 65.2
49.9 34.8
41.6 48.8
44.9 35.1
39.8 31.9
40.4 39.0
27.8 30.5
27.9 31.7
33.5 25.8
27.6 25.8
22.5 25.6
24.8 18.1
48.9 31.3
46.3 60.1
53.0 44.9
48.1 57.2
52.1 59.7
50.7 50.2
57.1 53.3
55.1 50.7
46.3 48.8
46.7 44.2
46.7 42.9
42.6 34.7
10.0 6.9
8.0 6.6
1 4
3 5.2
3.8 4.2
6.5 6.5
13.2 12.6
16.1 9.8
13.5 19.7
15.8 25.1
21.3 19.2
20.3 27.1
3.5 7.9
5.7 9.8
5.0 9.5
12.4 12.3
20.1 2
1 1
2 1
6.7 1
2 1
1 2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Provide emergency medical services
Provide fire protection and prevention services
Remove graffiti
Provide services and programs for seniors
Provide a variety of recreation programs for all ages
Provide special events such as concerts in the park, holiday fireworks Keep public buildings, parks and facilities clean and attractive Maintain public athletic fields
Maintain sewer and storm drain systems
Prepare the City for emergencies
Maintain parks and open spaces
Provide after-school programs and diversion programs for youth Provide cultural and arts opportunities
Protect the environment
Provide a variety of public art
Provide eastside library services
Maintain a low crime rate
Maintain and repair local streets and roads
Preserve the City’s small, beach-town character
Provide neighborhood police patrols
Address homelessness
Enforce traffic laws
Enforce animal control laws such as leash-laws and waste cleanup Address bike safety and e-bikes
% Respondents Who Provided Opinion
Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied
SATISFACTION WITH SERVICES
10 10
PERCEIVED SAFETY OF CITY
Very safe
47.8 Somewhat safe
45.6 Prefer not to
answer
0.3 Very unsafe
0.9 Somewhat
unsafe
5.4 11
11 SATISFACTION WITH CITY’S EFFORTS TO
ENFORCE CODE VIOLATIONS
Very satisfied
22.2 Somewhat
satisfied
35.5 Prefer not to
answer
1.1 Somewhat
dissatisfied
14.8 Very
dissatisfied
7.0 Not sure
19.4 12
12 23.5
21.4 17.8
13.3 10.1
8.5 8.3
7.6 7.2
5.4 4.4
1.9 5.8
0 5 10 15 20 25
Construction issues, concerns
No-smoking regulations, violations
Noise ordinance violations
Dog laws, violations
Lack of consistent enforcement
Cannot think of anything specific
Traffic law violations
Parking issues
Bike, e-bike issues
Building code concerns
Homelessness issues
Crime, public safety concerns
Short-term rental issues
% Respondents Dissatisfied With Code Enforcement (Q9)
ISSUES & VIOLATIONS OF CONCERN
13 13
Decreased
4.2 Stayed about
the same
42.9 Increased
37.0 Not sure
15.8 Prefer not to
answer
0.2 1 YEAR TREND IN HOMELESSNESS
14 14
STRATEGIES FOR HOMELESSNESS
64.2 62.7
57.1 56.1
19.4 21.8
23.4 22.8
15.1 14.2
18.0 19.3
1 2
2 1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Join with other cities, County to create more regional
homeless shelters
Enhance lighting and modify benches in public areas to
deter overnight camping
Provide funding for mental health facilities, street outreach, and housing placement
Provide counseling and rehab for drug and alcohol
addiction
% Respondents
Yes No Not sure Prefer not to answer
15 15
SPENDING PRIORITIES
54.6 50.5
32.0 33.1
13.4 8.4
16.6 18.3
4.0 35.0
33.8 48.2
26.7 32.3
37.3 26.1
23.6 16.1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Fix potholes and repair and improve city streets and sidewalks Repair and upgrade the City’s sewer and wastewater systems Improve maintenance of parks and park amenities including restrooms, sports courts, dog runs
Redesign public spaces to allow for outdoor dining areas Restore and enhance nature areas throughout Sand Dune Park Renovate, improve the City’s Community Centers including the Joslyn, Manhattan Heights, Sand Dune Community Centers
Reconstruct and improve the City’s swimming pool - Begg Pool Provide low-cost, on-demand rideshare services so residents can visit restaurants, shops, and business areas in the City without having to park a vehicle
Create a Manhattan Beach Historical Museum to preserve and store historical documents
% Respondents
High priority Medium priority
16 16
18.5 14.3
12.7 12.9
48.4 51.3
43.2 34.3
13.1 13.4
16.9 13.1
5.6 7.6
5.4 14.3
15.5 19.6
34.3 5.7
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
I trust the City of
Manhattan Beach
City is responsive to
residents’ needs
City listens to residents
when making important
decisions
City manages its finances
well
% Respondents
Strongly agree Smwt agree Smwt disagree Strongly disagree DK/NA
AGREEMENT WITH STATEMENTS
17 17
CONTACT WITH STAFF IN PAST 12
MONTHS
Prefer not to
answer
1.4 Not sure
3.5 Yes, contact
with City staff
46.5 No contact
with City staff
48.6 18
18 59.8
42.9 43.3
32.8 45.6 41.6
12.1 2.8 3.3 2.94.6 8.2
0 10
20 30
40 50
60 70
80 90
100
Professionalism Accessibility Helpfulness
Q16 Perception of city staff . . .
% Respondents With Staff
Contact in Past 12 Months
Not sure
Not at all
Somewhat
Very
PERCEPTION OF CITY STAFF
19 19
Prefer not to
answer
1.2 Not sure
8.5 Very
dissatisfied
4.2 Somewhat
dissatisfied
11.3 Very satisfied
24.4 Somewhat
satisfied
50.4 SATISFACTION WITH COMMUNICATION
20 20
49.3 24.9
22.2 22.0
21.0 17.3
15.8 15.4
13.7 10.3
9.5 8.4
8.0 2.6
2.3 2.0
1.1 1.0
1.0 0.7
9.0 10.9
0 10 20 30 40 50
The Beach Reporter
Nextdoor.com
Nixle/Alert South Bay notification system
City website
Email notifications from City
Friends/Family/Associates/word of mouth
Easy Reader
Non-City Social Media, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube The Daily Breeze
Manhappenings brochure
Patch.com
Internet (not City’s site)
Letters, postcards, flyers or brochures mailed from City to your home Los Angeles Times
City’s social media posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Television (general)
Other
City Council Meetings
HOA or neighborhood association
Not sure
Do Not Receive Information about City
Radio
% Respondents
INFORMATION SOURCES
21 21
KEY CONCLUSIONS
Despite the pandemic and challenges of the past year, resident have high opinions of their community and City government
o Quality of life
o City ’s Overall Performance
o Specific Services
City Government is viewed positively and staff receives high marks for customer service
Opportunity Areas:
o Bike safety/e -bikes
o Improving public safety
o Addressing parking issues
o Code enforcement
o Enforcing animal control laws
o Street repair/maintenance
o Repairing /upgrading sewer and wastewater systems
o Park maintenance and amenities