Hays City Services Survey 2002

1
Hays City Services Survey 2002
By Brett Zollinger, Ph.D.
University Center for Survey Research Fort Hays
State University Hays, Kansas 67601
2
Survey Objectives

• Determine citizens evaluation of City services
  and City government and compare to responses in
  previous surveys where trend data are available
• Determine perceived need for City economic
  development activity
• Determine shopping behavior in communities other
  than Hays

3
Methods

• Telephone survey of Hays residents
• Conducted April 4 to April 24, 2002
• Randomly generated phone numbers in sample
  (includes unlisted numbers)
• 395 adult respondents (Margin of error /-5)
• Cooperation rate 74

4
Rating Fire Protection, Law Enforcement, Animal
Control and Storm Water Drainage 1996, 1999,
2002
5
Rating Parks, Street Lighting, Airport, and Road
Maintenance 1996, 1999, 2002
6
Rating Water Sewer Services, Trash Pickup, Snow
Removal, and Intersection Traffic 1996, 1999,
2002
7
Condition of Neighborhood Streets
8
Condition of Major Streets
9
Perceived Improvement Needs 1999, 2002
The 1999 survey item rating neighborhood
swimming pools was replaced in 2002 with an item
rating the Aquatic Park.
10
Perceived Improvement Needs 1999, 2002 (cont.)
11
Evaluation of City Governments Overall
Operation 1996, 1999, 2002
12
Efficacy of City Property Tax 1995, 1996, 1999
The present city property tax for an 80,000 home
is about 90 per month. The revenue from this
tax funds the police and fire departments, park
and street maintenance, building inspection
services, the public library, and the airport.
Given the taxes you pay for city services, do you
feel you are
13
Have Accessed the Citys Website
14
Feel Safe Walking Alone at Night in Hays
(Perceived Safety)
15
Worry About Loss to Fire (All Respondents)
16
Often or Sometimes Worry About Loss from Fire by
Area of Hays
17
City Should Build a Fire Station Closer to
Neighborhood (All Respondents)
18
Agree that City Should Build a Fire Station
Closer to Neighborhood by Area of Hays
19
Worry About Loss to Flooding (All Respondents)
20
Often or Sometimes Worry About Loss from Flooding
by Area of Hays
21
City Should Spend More on Storm Water Control in
Neighborhood (All Respondents)
22
Agree that City Should Spend More on Flood Water
Control in Neighborhood by Area of Hays
23
Opinions on Possible Hays City Business
Development Efforts
24
City Should Spend Resources on Business
Development Recruitment
25
Importance Rating of Possible City Business
Development Activities
26
Non-local Shopping Behavior and Preferences
(Leakages)
27
Frequency of Shopping Other Communities
1999
2002
28
Purchasing Products/Services Outside of Hays
1999 (N155 Total Instances of Purchasing
Mentioned)
29
Purchasing Products/Services Outside of Hays
2002 (N149 Total Instances of Purchasing
Mentioned)
30
Purchasing Services Outside of Hays 2002
only(N 73 Total Instances of Purchasing
Services Outside of Hays)
31
Summary of Findings

• Overall, satisfaction with city services and
  facilities tends to be high and similar to
  satisfaction levels found in previous studies.
• The areas most consistently showing improved
  ratings are
• Trash collection
• Parks
• Fire protection
• Areas of least satisfaction are the same as in
  1999
• Road maintenance
• Intersection traffic
• Shelter and picnic facilities in parks
• Playground equipment
• Tennis courts
• Basketball courts

32
Summary of Findings (continued)

• Positive ratings of neighborhood streets have
  declined since 1999, but positive ratings for
  major streets have increased since 1999.
• Rating of the overall performance of city
  government has declined.
• Perceived efficacy of City property tax is high
  but slightly lower than in past years.

33
Summary of Findings (continued)

• Perceived personal safety in Hays is high and
  unchanged since 1999.
• 47 of all respondents often or sometimes worry
  about losses due to fire this is highest in the
  southeast (49) and lowest in the northeast
  (40).
• 36 of all respondents think the city should
  build another fire station this is highest in
  the southeast (44) and lowest in the southwest
  (22).
• 33 of all respondents often or sometimes worry
  about losses due to flooding this is highest in
  the southwest (36) and lowest in the northeast
  (25).
• 38 of all respondents think the city should
  spend more on flood prevention this is highest
  in the southwest (47) and lowest in the
  southeast (23).

34
Summary of Findings (continued)

• Three fourths (76) of all respondents feel that
  the City of Hays should be involved in business
  development recruitment.
• Very high percentages (85) of respondents rate
  all forms of business development offered as very
  important or important.
• The approach perceived as most important, by a
  slim margin, is helping existing businesses,
  and the least important is creating high skill
  jobs.

35
Summary of Findings (continued)

• Under half (39) of all respondents shop in
  communities other than Hays on a regular basis
  (at least once a month), only slightly lower than
  in 1999 when 43 indicated they do so.
• In 1999, bulk supplies were the most often
  purchased item outside of Hays, but in 2002, the
  most often purchased item is groceries.
• The most often purchased service outside of Hays
  in 2002 is medical services, followed by dental,
  and the least often purchased service outside of
  Hays is tax services.

36
University Center for Survey Research 785-628-5881