City of Visalia 2023 Public Opinion Survey
City Council Meeting,June 5, 20231
•Chair: Frank Ruiz•Sub-Committee Chair Ed Jones•Volunteers: CAC CommitteeOnline Survey Conducted 2/24/2023 – 4/14/20232 Background: QuadrantsIn 2023 – 1,100 surveys receivedIn 2022 – 1,318 surveys receivedIn 2021 – 3,201 surveys receivedIn 2020 – 777 surveys received 3 Northeast18%22%Southeast34%Northwest26%Southwest
Northeast
Southeast
Northwest
Southwest
Background: Quadrants
4 26%18%23%35%27%22%23%26%
Survey DemographicsWho responded to the Survey?Where they live & how long have they been here? 50%20%40%60%80%100%2023 2022 2021Are you a registered voter?YesNo0%20%40%60%80%100%<2 2-5 6-10 10+How long have you lived in Visalia?2023202220210%20%40%60%80%100%2023 2022 2021Do you own or rent your home?OwnRentOther Age History of Respondents
613%15%21%42%58%44%45%27%35%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%
2021 2022 2023
Number of Respondents per Year by Age18-3435-5455+
Preferred Method of CommunicationWhich social media platform do you primarily use?Which would be the best source for you to access City information? 7SocialMediaCityWebsiteMail (PostalService)Email0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%202320220%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%20232022 Quality Of LifeTaking all things into consideration, how would you rate the overall quality of life in Visalia? •87% of citizens view the quality of life as being average to very high compared to 87% in 2022 and 89% in 2021.83%10%48%34%5%2%11%48%34%5%2%9%49%35%5%0%10%20%30%40%50%60% Very Low Low Average High Very High202320222021
Quality Of Life – Cross Tabulation by AgeTaking all things into consideration, how would you rate the overall quality of life in Visalia? 95%12%53%27%3%3%12%51%30%5%1%6%43%44%7%0%10%20%30%40%50%60% Very Low Low Average High Very High
Quality of Life by Age Demographic18-3435-5455+
Quality Of Life – Cross Tabulation by IncomeTaking all things into consideration, how would you rate the overall quality of life in Visalia? 109%8%58%21%3%4%13%53%26%4%1%9%52%33%5%1%10%45%39%5%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70% Very Low Low Average High Very High
Quality of Life by Income Level$15K-$40K$40K-$70K$70K-$100K$100K+ Quality Of Life – Cross Tabulation by QuadrantTaking all things into consideration, how would you rate the overall quality of life in Visalia? 114%14%50%27%5%2%11%51%32%3%3%8%44%37%8%2%10%49%36%4%0%10%20%30%40%50%60% Very Low Low Average High Very HighNortheastSoutheastNorthwestSouthwest Quality Of Life – Insight•Older citizens rated their quality of life higher, especially when compared to the youngest demographic•The income statistics show that as income increased, so did the quality-of-life responses, except for the lowest income range which predominantly rated the quality of life as average.•When it came to quadrant comparison, this year the chart showed a normal distribution with most responses being average to high. The northwest quadrant tended to rate High or Very High as compared to other sections of the City.12 How would you rate the City’s efforts in providing a safe community? 1381% of respondents rated the Safety in Visalia as “average” or better as compared to 79% the previous year.5%13%48%27%6%6%15%48%26%5%4%12%51%28%4%0%10%20%30%40%50%60% Very Low Low Average High Very High202320222021
Safety Rating - Cross Tabulation by City QuadrantHow would you rate the City’s efforts in providing a safe community? 147%19%50%20%4%5%18%50%23%6%5%12%46%29%8%6%9%49%32%4%0%10%20%30%40%50%60% Very Low Low Average High Very High
Safety Rating by City QuadrantNortheastSoutheastNorthwestSouthwest Safety Rating - Cross Tabulation by IncomeHow would you rate the City’s efforts in providing a safe community? 158%14%56%17%4%10%17%48%20%4%3%14%50%31%2%3%10%46%31%10%0%10%20%30%40%50%60% Very Low Low Average High Very High
Safety Rating by Income level$15K-$40K$40K-$70K$70K-$100K$100K+ •Comparing year to year, all parts of the City had responses that were evenly distributed and stayed relatively the same. •By City quadrant, the East side of the City had an even distribution of responses where 50% rated average and an equal number of responses landed on either side. The West side of the City tended to rate safety higher than average.•Respondents with higher income levels rated the Safety rating as “average” to “high.”•This year, 21% of the lowest income group rated the City’s safety High or Very high, as compared to only 11% the previous year.16 Police ServicesHow would you rate the police service you received?Of the 34% of respondents that had police contact:
55% rated police services Good or Excellent, compared to 61% previous year179%12%23%28%27%7%9%23%32%29%6%10%25%31%28%0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35% Very Poor Poor Average Good Excellent202320222021
Police Services by City QuadrantHow would you rate the police service you received?Of the 34% of respondents that had police contact:
180%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%
Very Poor Poor Average Good ExcellentNortheastSoutheastNorthwestSouthwestPoly. (Northeast)Poly. (Southeast)Poly. (Northwest)Poly. (Southwest) Police Services Takeaways
19 •As it has in previous years, police services has rated average to very high. This year, a small uptick in the poor responses took away from the higher ratings.•Compared to the previous year, the Southeast section of town rated police services more favorably, while the northeast rated less favorably.•The trendlines also showed unity in the way police services were rated as all quadrants of the City tended to respond from average to good.
Fire ServicesHow would you rate the fire service you received?Of the 13% of respondents that had Fire contact:
84% rated fire services Good or Excellent compared to 88% previous year201% 1%13%24%60%1%2%9%25%63%3%3%15%32%46%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70% Very Poor Poor Average Good Excellent202320222021
Fire Services by City QuadrantHow would you rate the fire service you received?Of the 13% of respondents that had Fire contact:
21-10%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Very Poor Poor Average Good ExcellentNortheastSoutheastNorthwestSouthwestPoly. (Northeast)Poly. (Southeast)Poly. (Northwest)Poly. (Southwest) •Fire services continued to rate good to excellent across the city.•Fire services did not receive more than 5% response in any Poor category from any City quadrant.22 Quality of ServicesWhat do you consider the most essential City services besides Police and Fire departments? 2357%9%16%6%12%47%12%17%13%10%52%11%18%8%11%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%Road MaintenancePark MaintenanceTraffic Signs & SignalsRecreation ActivitiesOther202120222023 Quality of Services – Age Comparison
2460%16%14%10%Ages 18-34 - 2023Road Mtc.Park Mtc.Traffic Mtc.Recreation64%10%16%10%Ages 35-54 - 2023Road Mtc.Park Mtc.Traffic Mtc.Recreation 43%21%20%16%Ages 18-34 - 2022Road Mtc.Park Mtc.Traffic SignalsRecreation50%14%18%18%Ages 35-54 - 2022Road Mtc.Park Mtc.Traffic SignalsRecreation Quality of Services – Age Comparison
2568%6%23%3%Ages 55+ - 2023Road Mtc.Park Mtc.Traffic Mtc.Recreation59%10%21%10%Ages 55+ - 2022Road Mtc.Park Mtc.Traffic SignalsRecreation Quality of Other Services Takeaways•Road Maintenance is understandably on the minds of citizens as major road work throughout the City has started this year . •Those that responded “Other,” primarily mentioned homelessness and mental health programs. •Some other responses were related to alternate transportation regarding expanded bus routes, public walkways and bike lanes.•City attractions like local events, regional shopping, and beautification were also mentioned.26 Open ended responses to Road Maintenance suggestions:•Respondents who considered road maintenance as the most essential City service had open ended responses that suggested:•Expansion and improvement of existing roads.•Repairing roads in older or less affluent parts of the City.•Adding bike lanes and trails, including those that connected City parks.27 City V enue Usage 2022How many times have you attended the following Venues in the past year? 2820%52%42%5%20%34%22%12%13%6%11%14%47%4%22%67%
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%
City Parks Convention Center City Trails Downtown VisaliaNone1 to 2 times3 to 4 times5 or more City V enue Usage 2023How many times have you attended the following Venues in the past year? 2921%50%46%5%21%39%23%11%16%9%9%14%42%3%22%70%
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%
City Parks Convention Center City Trails Downtown VisaliaNone1 to 2 times3 to 4 times5 or more How would you rate the following services in Visalia?
Note: Some responses came back as “not observed.”30Fire Emergency ResponsePolice Emergency ResponseGarbage & Recycling CollectionConvention CenterBus ServicesRecreational ActivitiesPark MaintenanceAnimal ServicesStreet LightingCommunity Services for SeniorsServices for People w/ DisabilitiesCity Road MaintenanceTraffic Management 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Above AverageAverageBelow Average Takeaways from City Services Ratings•Services that were rated the highest were Police, Fire, Convention Center, and Solid Waste Collection. Recreational Activities and Park Maintenance also received higher marks than average.•Services that were rated mostly average were, Animal Services, Bus Services, Community Services for Seniors, Street Lighting, and Services for People with Disabilities.•City Road Maintenance and Traffic Management were the only two categories that received a higher number of “poor” responses versus “excellent.”•Note: Animal Services was substituted for Private Ambulance this year since the City does not provide Ambulance Services.31 Should retail Cannabis stores be permitted in the City of Visalia?New question 1:
32Yes No0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%Should retail cannabis stores be permitted in the City of Visalia?YesNo Should retail Cannabis stores be permitted in the City of Visalia?New question 1:
33 68%32%56%44%44%56%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%Yes NoCannabis Retail by Age18-3435-5455+71%29%67%33%60%40%62%38%52%48%0%20%40%60%80%Yes NoCannabis Retail by IncomeLess than $15k$15K-$40K$40K-$70K$70K-$100K$100K+58%42%52%48%53%47%58%42%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%Yes NoCannabis Retail by QuadrantNortheastNorthwestSoutheastSouthwest What amenities, services, or programs should the City explore that are not currently available in Visalia?New question 2:
34 What amenities, services, or programs should the City explore that are not currently available in Visalia?New question 2:
35 What amenities, services, or programs should the City explore that are not currently available in Visalia?New question 2:
36 What is the most important thing that the City of Visalia should be working on to make Visalia better?•Homelessness responses are still on the minds of citizens when pertaining to suggested programs.•Drug crime and gangs are also mentioned frequently.•Some other responses that came up often were roads, traffic and safety.•A new response that has increased this year are those responses related to Housing and Affordability.37 Questions & Answers
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