• Police safety.
• Prioritizing urban forestry, parks and open spaces.
• Protect the livability of the neighborhoods
• Proximity to Stanford. The city flourishes in spite of its government. • Public parks and library
• Public schools
• Recreation services
• Reduce expenses, lower taxes, use taxes for quality of life improvements for residents, focus on well being of residents, make more money go to better educational opportunities for kids, increase challenge level of education in schools or provide opportunities for kids to push farther.
• Safety
• Services to the elderly or homeowners is excellent, as long as you are in those groups. • street maintenance
• Subdued affluence.
• The art center, children's library and children's theater • The city-owned utilities.
• The effort of some City Councilmembers to control Staff to actually work toward improving City. • The libraries are important to our democracy.
• The parks, especially Foothills and Bay Shore.
• Traffic management
• transparent communication, like open zoom meetings, recordings • Trash pick-up
• Trees
• Trying to inform and engage the residents
• Utilities
• Utilities
• utilities, city council meetings televised
• Water quality.
City of Palo Alto Community Survey
October 2023
Report of Results
Question 16: If you plan to purchase a car within the next two years, what is the likelihood of it being one of the following: (Other) • ?
• Gas
• Gas car
• gas only or regular hybrid- updating our electricity for our old house is too expensive so we can't get electric. also electricity seems not very reliable with blackouts a few times a year • Gas or hybrid
• Gasoline
• Gasoline car
• Gasoline powered
• hybrid
• Internal combustion car
• May get another ICE car
• not likely to changecars
• TBD I don't really plan on buying a car for at least 5-10 years so it would depend on my needs at that time and what's available in the market.
City of Palo Alto Community Survey
October 2023
Report of Results
Appendix E: Survey Materials
The following pages contain copies of the survey materials sent to randomly selected households within the City of Palo Alto.
Dear Palo Alto Resident,
Our annual Community Survey is a critical feedback tool that helps the City Council and City staff understand resident perspectives on current services and programs, as well as unmet needs and priorities. You can wait for a paper survey in the mail, or you can go online and complete the survey at:
www.cityofpaloalto.org/communitysurvey2023A
Please do not share your survey link. This survey is for randomly selected households only.
The City will conduct a separate survey that is open to all residents just a few weeks from now.
If you have any questions about the survey, please call (650) 329-2392.
For additional ways to join the conversation and provide input, go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/engage Thank you for your time and participation!
Sincerely,
Ed Shikada
City Manager
Para contestar la encuesta en línea en su
idioma, seleccione su idioma en el menú
desplegable que aparece en la parte
superior de la página de encuesta.
想要使用您的语言回答在线调查，请在调查
页面顶部的下拉菜单中选择您的语言。 Scan the QR code to take the
survey on a mobile device!
250 Hamilton Avenue, 7th Floor
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Presorted
First Class Mail
US Postage
PAID
Boulder, CO
Permit NO. 94
August 2023
Dear City of Palo Alto Resident:
Please help us shape the future of Palo Alto. Your household has been selected at random to participate in the 2023 Palo Alto Community Survey. Thank you in advance for sharing your feedback.
The annual Community Survey is a critical feedback effort that helps the City Council and City staff understand resident perspectives on current services and programs, as well as unmet needs and priorities. The survey is one way among many through which we gain insights from residents throughout our community.
Please take a few minutes to fill out the enclosed survey. Your participation is very important – especially since your household is one of only a small number of households being surveyed. The survey results are reviewed by the City Council and City staff and community input helps inform the City’s decision-making and potential changes to City services.
A few things to remember:
• Your responses are completely confidential.
• You may return the survey by mail in the enclosed postage-paid envelope, or you can complete the survey online at:
www.cityofpaloalto.org/communitysurvey2023A
If you have any questions about the survey, please call (650) 329-2392.
For additional ways to engage with the City, go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/engage.
Thank you for your time and participation!
Sincerely,
Ed Shikada
City Manager
Para contestar la encuesta en línea en su
idioma, seleccione su idioma en el menú
desplegable que aparece en la parte
superior de la página de encuesta.
想要使用您的语言回答在线调查，请在调查
页面顶部的下拉菜单中选择您的语言。
Scan the QR code to take
the survey on a mobile
Dear Palo Alto Resident,
Just a reminder—if you have not yet completed Palo Alto’s 2023 Community Survey, please do so.
If you have completed it, thank you! Please do not respond twice.
Your participation in this survey is very important—your answers will help the City of Palo Alto make decisions that affect our community. Please complete the confidential survey online at:
www.cityofpaloalto.org/communitysurvey2023A
Please do not share your survey link. This survey is for randomly selected households only.
If you have any questions about the survey, please call (650) 329-2392.
For additional ways to join the conversation and provide input, go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/engage Sincerely,
Ed Shikada
City Manager
Para contestar la encuesta en línea en su
idioma, seleccione su idioma en el menú
desplegable que aparece en la parte
superior de la página de encuesta.
想要使用您的语言回答在线调查，请在调查
页面顶部的下拉菜单中选择您的语言。
Scan the QR code to take the
survey on a mobile device!
250 Hamilton Avenue, 7th Floor
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Presorted
First Class Mail
US Postage
PAID
Boulder, CO
Permit NO. 94
2023 Community Survey
Please complete this survey if you are the adult (age 18 or older) in the household who most recently had a birthday (the year of birth does not matter). Your responses are anonymous and will be reported in group form only.
1. Please rate each of the following aspects of quality of life in Palo Alto.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know
Palo Alto as a place to live.............................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Your neighborhood as a place to live .............................................................1 2 3 4 5 Palo Alto as a place to raise children..............................................................1 2 3 4 5 Palo Alto as a place to work ..........................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Palo Alto as a place to visit ............................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Palo Alto as a place to retire ..........................................................................1 2 3 4 5 The overall quality of life in Palo Alto .............................................................1 2 3 4 5
2. Please rate each of the following characteristics as they relate to Palo Alto as a whole.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know
Overall “built environment” of Palo Alto (including overall design, buildings, parks and transportation systems) ..............................................1 2 3 4 5 Overall feeling of safety in Palo Alto ..............................................................1 2 3 4 5 Overall quality of natural environment in Palo Alto .........................................1 2 3 4 5 Overall health and wellness opportunities in Palo Alto ....................................1 2 3 4 5 Residents’ connection and engagement with their community .......................1 2 3 4 5
3. Please indicate how likely or unlikely you are to do each of the following.
Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Don’t
likely likely unlikely unlikely know
Recommend living in Palo Alto to someone who asks .................... 1 2 3 4 5 Remain in Palo Alto for the next five years .................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Recommend Palo Alto’s libraries to friends .................................... 1 2 3 4 5
4. Please rate the job you feel the Palo Alto community does at each of the following.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know
Making all residents feel welcome .................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Attracting people from diverse backgrounds ..................................................1 2 3 4 5 Valuing/respecting residents from diverse backgrounds .................................1 2 3 4 5 Taking care of vulnerable residents (elderly, disabled, homeless, etc.) ...........1 2 3 4 5
5. Please rate each of the following characteristics as they relate to Palo Alto as a whole.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know
Overall quality of business and service establishments in Palo Alto .................1 2 3 4 5 Variety of business and service establishments in Palo Alto ............................1 2 3 4 5 Vibrancy of downtown/commercial area ........................................................1 2 3 4 5 Employment opportunities ............................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Shopping opportunities .................................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Cost of living in Palo Alto...............................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Overall image or reputation of Palo Alto ........................................................1 2 3 4 5 Traffic flow on major streets .........................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Ease of public parking ...................................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Ease of travel by car in Palo Alto ...................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Ease of travel by public transportation in Palo Alto .........................................1 2 3 4 5 Ease of travel by bicycle in Palo Alto ..............................................................1 2 3 4 5 Ease of walking in Palo Alto ..........................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Variety of housing options.............................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Availability of affordable quality housing ........................................................1 2 3 4 5 Overall quality of new development in Palo Alto.............................................1 2 3 4 5 Availability of paths and walking trails ...........................................................1 2 3 4 5 Fitness opportunities (including exercise classes and paths or trails, etc.) .......1 2 3 4 5 Recreational opportunities.............................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Availability of affordable quality mental health care ........................................1 2 3 4 5 Opportunities to attend cultural/arts/music activities ......................................1 2 3 4 5
6. Please rate each of the following characteristics as they relate to Palo Alto as a whole.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know
Availability of affordable quality childcare/preschool .......................................1 2 3 4 5 K-12 education .............................................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Adult educational opportunities .....................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Opportunities to participate in social events and activities ..............................1 2 3 4 5 Opportunities to participate in community matters .........................................1 2 3 4 5 Openness and acceptance of the community toward people
of diverse backgrounds..............................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Opportunities to learn about City services through social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and Nextdoor ...................................................1 2 3 4 5
7. Please indicate whether or not you have done each of the following in the last 12 months.
No Yes
Used Palo Alto recreation centers or their services ................................................................................... 1 2 Visited a neighborhood park or City park ................................................................................................. 1 2 Used Palo Alto public libraries or their services ......................................................................................... 1 2 Participated in religious or spiritual activities in Palo Alto .......................................................................... 1 2 Attended a City-sponsored event ............................................................................................................ 1 2 Participated in a club .............................................................................................................................. 1 2 Talked to or visited with your immediate neighbors ................................................................................. 1 2 Done a favor for a neighbor .................................................................................................................... 1 2 Used the City’s website to conduct business or pay bills ........................................................................... 1 2 Used the Utilities webpage to conduct business or pay bills ...................................................................... 1 2 Contacted the City of Palo Alto (in-person, phone, email or web) for help or information .......................... 1 2 Contacted Palo Alto elected officials (in-person, phone, email or web) to express your opinion ................. 1 2 Attended a local public meeting (of local elected officials like City Council or County Commissioners, advisory boards, town halls, HOA, neighborhood watch, etc.) .................................... 1 2 Watched (online or on television) a local public meeting .......................................................................... 1 2 Volunteered your time to some group/activity in Palo Alto ....................................................................... 1 2 Voted in your most recent local election .................................................................................................. 1 2 Used bus, rail, or other public transportation instead of driving ................................................................ 1 2 Carpooled with other adults or children instead of driving alone ............................................................... 1 2 Walked or biked instead of driving .......................................................................................................... 1 2 Observed a code violation or other hazard in Palo Alto (weeds, abandoned buildings, etc.)....................... 1 2 Household member was a victim of a crime in Palo Alto .......................................................................... 1 2 Reported a crime to the police in Palo Alto .............................................................................................. 1 2 Stocked 14 days’ worth of supplies in case of a major disaster where you have no electricity, water, internet, or telephone service .................................................................................. 1 2
8. Please rate the following categories of Palo Alto government performance.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know
The value of services for the taxes paid to Palo Alto ......................................1 2 3 4 5 The overall direction that Palo Alto is taking ..................................................1 2 3 4 5 The job Palo Alto government does at welcoming resident involvement .........1 2 3 4 5 Overall confidence in Palo Alto government ...................................................1 2 3 4 5 Generally acting in the best interest of the community ...................................1 2 3 4 5 Being honest ................................................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Being open and transparent to the public ......................................................1 2 3 4 5 Informing residents about issues facing the community .................................1 2 3 4 5 Treating all residents fairly ............................................................................1 2 3 4 5 Treating residents with respect .....................................................................1 2 3 4 5
9. Overall, how would you rate the quality of the services provided by each of the following? Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know
The City of Palo Alto .....................................................................................1 2 3 4 5 The State Government .................................................................................1 2 3 4 5 The Federal Government ..............................................................................1 2 3 4 5
2023 Community Survey
10. Please rate the quality of each of the following services in Palo Alto.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know
Traffic enforcement ............................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Traffic signal timing ............................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Street repair ....................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Street cleaning ................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Street tree maintenance ..................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Sidewalk maintenance ........................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Land use, planning, and zoning ........................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Code enforcement (weeds, abandoned buildings, etc.) ....................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Preservation of natural areas (open space, farmlands and greenbelts) ................. 1 2 3 4 5 Building and planning application processing services .......................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Affordable high-speed internet access ................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Electric utility ...................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Gas utility ........................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Utility payment options ....................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Drinking water .................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Sewer services ................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Storm water management (storm drainage, dams, levees, etc.) ......................... 1 2 3 4 5 Refuse collection (garbage, recycling, yard waste, and e-waste) .......................... 1 2 3 4 5 Police emergency services .................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Crime prevention ................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Animal control .................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Ambulance or emergency medical services .......................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Fire emergency services...................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Fire prevention and education ............................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Palo Alto open space (e.g Foothills, Baylands) ..................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 City parks ........................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Recreation programs or classes ........................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Recreation centers or facilities ............................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Public library services (e.g., hold requests, storytimes, teen events, bookclubs) .... 1 2 3 4 5 Library facilities (buildings, computer equipment, accessibility) ............................. 1 2 3 4 5 Variety of library materials (books, e-books, streaming, databases, audiobooks) ... 1 2 3 4 5 Art programs and theater ................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 City-sponsored special events ............................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 City website (cityofpaloalto.org) .......................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Public information (Police/public safety) .............................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Public information (non-Police/public safety) ....................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Overall customer service by Palo Alto employees
(police, receptionists, planners, etc.) ............................................................... 1 2 3 4 5
11. Please rate the following as they relate to Palo Alto Utilities’ services:
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t know
Reliability of utility services ................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Affordability of utility services ............................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Community value received from the City owning and operating its own municipal utility services ......................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Utilities online customer self-service features ..................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Providing opportunities for energy and water efficiency at home or business ...... 1 2 3 4 5 Working hard to keep utilities prices competitive ............................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Value of all the services Palo Alto Utilities provides for the price you pay ............ 1 2 3 4 5 Ease of obtaining information or performing a transaction through the City’s website ................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Value of Palo Alto Utilities’ customer communications ........................................ 1 2 3 4 5 Ease of contacting Utilities department staff ...................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Speed of response after contacting Utilities department staff ............................. 1 2 3 4 5
12. Please rate how important, if at all, you think it is for the Palo Alto community to focus on each of the following in the coming two years. Very Somewhat Not at all Essential important important important
Overall “built environment” of Palo Alto (including overall design, buildings, parks and transportation systems) .................................................. 1 2 3 4 Overall economic health of Palo Alto ................................................................. 1 2 3 4 Overall feeling of safety in Palo Alto .................................................................. 1 2 3 4 Overall quality of natural environment in Palo Alto ............................................. 1 2 3 4 Overall health and wellness opportunities in Palo Alto ........................................ 1 2 3 4 Overall opportunities for education, culture and the arts .................................... 1 2 3 4 Residents’ connection and engagement with their community ........................... 1 2 3 4 Reducing community greenhouse gas emissions ............................................... 1 2 3 4 Increasing local solar generation capacity within city boundaries ........................ 1 2 3 4 Increasing electric storage capacity within city boundaries ................................. 1 2 3 4 Faster notification systems (online, mobile or email) for Utilities billing issues, efficiency tips, outage information ............................................. 1 2 3 4 Faster notification systems (online, mobile or email) for public safety issues ....... 1 2 3 4
13. In a typical week, how likely are you to: Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Don’t likely likely unlikely unlikely know
Participate in organized group activities (such as clubs, sports teams, volunteer your time, attend church/temple) ......................... 1 2 3 4 5 Spend quality time with local friends, family, and/or neighbors ........... 1 2 3 4 5
14. What mode of transportation do you use most for your typical daily needs for getting around town? Driving Biking Train Taxi Carpooling
Walking Bus Free shuttle Uber/Lyft or similar rideshare service
15. If you did not have access to a car for your usual daily transportation around town, how convenient (based on time and proximity) would you consider each of the following methods of getting around? Very Somewhat Somewhat Very
convenient convenient inconvenient inconvenient
Walking ............................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 Biking ................................................................................................ 1 2 3 4 Bus ................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 Train ................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 Free shuttle ....................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 Taxi................................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 Uber/Lyft or similar rideshare service ................................................. 1 2 3 4 Carpooling ......................................................................................... 1 2 3 4
16. If you plan to purchase a car within the next two years, what is the likelihood of it being one of the following: Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Don’t
likely likely unlikely unlikely know
All-electric ......................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Plug-in hybrid .................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5 Hydrogen fuel cell .............................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 Other:_____________________________________________ .......... 1 2 3 4 5
17. Palo Alto is committed to addressing climate change by engaging in strategies that reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs). Space heating is the largest source of GHG in most Palo Alto homes, followed by water heating. What is the likelihood of you…
Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Don’t
likely likely unlikely unlikely know
Replacing your gas water heater with a heat pump water heater when you are ready to replace the water heater? ............................ 1 2 3 4 5 Replacing your gas furnace with a heat pump HVAC system (that provides heating and cooling) when you are ready to replace the furnace? ................................................................................... 1 2 3 4 5
18. As a resident of Palo Alto, what one change could the City make that would make you happier?
2023 Community Survey
19. As a resident of Palo Alto, what one thing do you believe the City does well and would want to maintain?
Our last questions are about you and your household.
Again, all of your responses to this survey are completely anonymous and will be reported in group form only.
D1. What impact, if any, do you think the economy will have on your family income in the next 6 months? Do you think the impact will be:
Very positive Somewhat positive Neutral Somewhat negative Very negative D2. What is your employment status?
Working full time for pay
Working part time for pay
Unemployed, looking for paid work
Unemployed, not looking for paid work
Fully retired
College student, unemployed
D3. Do you work inside the boundaries of Palo Alto?
Yes, outside the home No
Yes, from home
D4. How many years have you lived in Palo Alto?
Less than 2 years 11-20 years
2-5 years More than 20 years
6-10 years
D5. Which best describes the building you live in?
One family house detached from any other houses
Building with two or more homes (duplex,
townhome, apartment or condominium)
Mobile home
Other
D6. Do you rent or own your home?
Rent Own
D7. About how much is your monthly housing cost
for the place you live (including rent, mortgage
payment, property tax, property insurance and
homeowners’ association (HOA) fees)?
Less than $500 $5,500 to $5,999
$500 to $999 $6,000 to $6,499
$1,000 to $1,499 $6,500 to $6,999
$1,500 to $1,999 $7,000 to $7,499
$2,000 to $2,499 $7,500 to $7,999
$2,499 to $2,999 $8,000 to $8,499
$3,000 to $3,499 $8,500 to $8,999
$3,500 to $3,999 $9,000 to $9,499
$4,000 to $4,499 $9,500 to $9,999
$4,500 to $4,999 $10,000 or more
$5,000 to $5,499
D8. Do any children 17 or under live in your
household?
No Yes
D9. Are you or any other members of your
household aged 65 or older?
No Yes
D10. How much do you anticipate your household’s
total income before taxes will be for the
current year? (Total income from all sources
for all persons living in your household.)
Less than $25,000 $250,000 to $299,999
$25,000 to $49,999 $300,000 to $349,999
$50,000 to $99,999 $350,000 to $399,999
$100,000 to $149,000 $400,000 to $449,999
$150,
000 to $199,999 $450,000 to $499,999
$200,000 to $249,999 $500,000 or more
D11. Are you Spanish, Hispanic or Latino?
No, not Spanish, Hispanic or Latino
Yes, I consider myself to be Spanish, Hispanic or
Latino
D12. What is your race? (Mark one or more races to
indicate what you consider yourself to be.)
American Indian or Alaskan Native White
Asian, Asian Indian or Pacific Islander Other
Black or African American
D13. In which category is your age?
18-24 years 45-54 years 65-74 years
25-34 years 55-64 years 75 years or older
35-44 years
D14. What is your gender?
Woman
Man
Identify in another way go to D14a
D14a. If you identify in another way, how would you
describe your gender?
Agender/ I don’t identify Transgender man
with any gender Transgender woman
Genderqueer/gender fluid Two-spirit
Non-binary Not listed, I identify
as:_________________
D15. What is your sexual orientation?
Heterosexual Bisexual
Lesbian Identify in another way
Gay go to D15a
D15a. If you identify in another way, how would you
describe your sexual orientation?
Asexual Questioning
Pansexual Not listed, I identify as:
Queer ____________________________
Thank you! Please return the completed survey in the postage-paid envelope to:
National Research Center, Inc., PO Box 549, Belle Mead, NJ 08502