CITY OF SAN MATEO
5 3
9 5
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: {{item.number}} Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 10-1311 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Manager's Office
MEETING DATE: March 03, 2025
SUBJECT: 2025 Community Survey Results
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive an informational report about the results of the City's Community Survey, conducted in February 2025 by True North Research.
BACKGROUND:
In the City’s ongoing efforts to engage the public and be responsive to the community’s interests, the City hired True North Research to conduct its third statistically significant survey about community opinions on a variety of topics. The City team worked with True North Research to develop a comprehensive survey on resident opinions about satisfaction with city services, quality of life, and a variety of topics covered in the recently adopted General Plan and slated for discussion in the City Council’s upcoming Strategic Planning process. True North Research was first hired in 2020 through a competitive request for proposal process and has since been retained to work on other City surveys. Staff selected True North based on their years of experience conducting surveys for California municipalities, experience in San Mateo, proposed methodology, and track record presenting clear and concise survey data.
True North Research President Dr. Timothy McLarney led the project and will present the findings of his independent research during the Council meeting. True North Research authored a robust report analyzing the survey results, which is included as Attachment 1. This survey was issued between February 8 and February 12, 2025 in English and Spanish, with 750 randomly selected adults residents participating who represent San Mateo’s demographics. The study employed a mixed-method design that utilized multiple recruiting methods (email, text, and telephone) and multiple data collection methods (telephone and online) to ensure statistically reliable results. The survey has an estimated maximum statistical margin of error due to sampling of +/- 3.6% at the 95% confidence level. As with any survey, this one provides a snapshot of participants' opinions at the time it was issued.
Purpose of the Community Survey
The City regularly hears from members of the public about their individual feedback regarding the City’s performance and policies. For the most part, the City’s outreach mechanisms rely on residents who are motivated to participate in the feedback process. Residents willing to initiate feedback tend to be those who are either very pleased or very displeased with a particular service or policy. Often, this results in a self-selection bias and feedback that’s not necessarily representative of the City’s resident population as a whole. Similar to many other cities, San Mateo sought to conduct a survey that would avoid the self-selection bias and provide a statistically significant understanding of residents’ satisfaction, priorities and concerns, as they relate to City services, quality of life and potential policies. Since 2020 the City has been conducting statistically significant surveys every two years. This information can be used to make strategic decisions in a variety of areas including service improvements, tracking internal performance, budgeting and community outreach. This particular survey, along with other forms of input, such as the San Mateo “Conversations” community engagement effort and General Plan Policies, will be used to inform the City Council’s upcoming Strategic Planning effort
CITY OF SAN MATEO
5 3
9 5
which is set to commence at a workshop on March 14, 2025. The Strategic Plan will provide a framework for the prioritizing City’s work plans in the coming years.
Survey Results
The 2025 Community Survey reveals that the vast majority of San Mateo residents continue to be satisfied with the City’s overall efforts to provide services and with the quality of life in their city. More than seven-in-ten respondents surveyed (71%) indicated they were satisfied with the City’s overall performance in providing municipal services, and 85% rated the overall quality of life in San Mateo as excellent or good. Moreover, as detailed in the full report, resident satisfaction improved significantly during the past three years in many services areas including double-digit increases in satisfaction for the City’s efforts to address homelessness (+17%), provide special events like community festivals and holiday celebrations (+13%), and clean up litter and trash that people dump along streets, sidewalks, and in public areas (+10%). Respondents also reported a statistically significant increase in their satisfaction with the City’s efforts to communicate through newsletters, the Internet, social media, and other means.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The Community Survey cost $28,550 to complete and was paid for by current budget allocations within the Community Development Department.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This community survey is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 - 2025 Community Survey
STAFF CONTACT
Christina Horrisberger, Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(650) 522-7210