St. Augustine, FL Trends over Time DRAFT 2017 2955 Valmont Road Suite 300 777 North Capitol Street NE Suite 500 Boulder, Colorado 80301 Washington, DC 20002 n-r-c.com 303-444-7863 icma.org 800-745-8780
Summary (The NCS ) is a collaborative effort between National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The survey and its administration are standardized to assure high quality research methods and directly comparable results across The NCS communities. The NCS captures residents opinions within the three pillars of a community (Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation) across eight central facets of community (Safety, Mobility, Natural Environment, Built Environment, Economy, Recreation and Wellness, Education and Enrichment and Community Engagement). This report discusses trends over time, comparing the 2017 ratings for the City of St. Augustine to its previous survey results in 2016. Additional reports and technical appendices are available under separate cover. Trend data for St. Augustine represent important comparison data and should be examined for improvements or declines. Deviations from stable trends over time, especially, represent opportunities for understanding how local policies, programs or public information may have affected residents opinions. Meaningful differences between survey years have been noted within the following tables as being or if the differences are greater than five percentage points between the 2016 and 2017 surveys, otherwise the comparison between 2016 and 2017 are noted as being similar. Additionally, comparisons for all survey years are presented for reference. Changes in the comparison over time can be impacted by various trends, including varying survey cycles for the individual communities that comprise the s, regional and national economic or other events, as well as emerging survey methodologies. Overall, ratings in St. Augustine for 2017 generally remained stable. Of the 124 items for which comparisons were available, 107 items were rated similarly in 2016 and 2017, 11 items showed a decrease in ratings and six showed an increase in ratings. Notable trends over time included the following: Within the pillar of Community Characteristics, several items related to Mobility saw a decline in ratings from 2016 to 2017, including traffic flow, ease of travel by car, ease of travel by bicycle, ease of walking, travel by public transportation and the overall ease of travel in St. Augustine. However, this year residents gave ratings to the availability of affordable quality health care. Within the pillar of Governance, ratings increased from 2o16 to 2017 for fire prevention and emergency preparedness. Ratings declined over time for bus or transit services, power utility, utility billing and land use, planning and zoning. Residents reported levels of Participation were generally stable over time; however, there were a few noteworthy exceptions. In 2017, more respondents reported that they stocked supplies in preparation for an emergency, voted in local elections and campaigned for an issue, cause or candidate. However, fewer residents reported they had walked or biked instead of driving in 2017. 1
Table 1: Community Characteristics General Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2016 Overall quality of life 86% 86% Similar Similar Similar Overall image 88% 88% Similar Higher Higher Place to live 91% 91% Similar Similar Similar Neighborhood 79% 83% Similar Similar Similar Place to raise children 81% 83% Similar Similar Similar Place to retire 84% 84% Similar Higher Higher Overall appearance 88% 85% Similar Higher Higher Table 2: Community Characteristics by Facet Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good, very/somewhat safe) 2016 Overall feeling of safety 85% 85% Similar Similar Similar Safe in neighborhood 95% 94% Similar Similar Similar Safety Safe downtown/commercial area 94% 92% Similar Similar Similar Overall ease of travel 52% 42% Lower Lower Paths and walking trails 49% 45% Similar Similar Lower Ease of walking 77% 71% Lower Higher Similar Travel by bicycle 45% 36% Lower Similar Lower Travel by public transportation 23% 15% Lower Lower Lower Mobility Natural Environment Built Environment Economy Travel by car 27% 18% Lower Public parking 9% 8% Similar Traffic flow 22% 13% Lower Lower Overall natural environment 81% 78% Similar Similar Similar Cleanliness 80% 76% Similar Similar Similar Air quality 86% 86% Similar Similar Similar Overall built environment 58% 54% Similar Similar Similar Affordable quality housing 31% 27% Similar Lower Lower Housing options 41% 39% Similar Similar Lower Public places 81% 79% Similar Higher Similar Overall economic health 60% 64% Similar Similar Similar Vibrant downtown/commercial area 81% 84% Similar Business and services 69% 72% Similar Similar Similar 2
Recreation and Wellness Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good, very/somewhat safe) 2016 Cost of living 42% 39% Similar Similar Similar Employment opportunities 31% 33% Similar Similar Similar Place to visit 94% 95% Similar Place to work 49% 52% Similar Similar Similar Health and wellness 68% 68% Similar Similar Similar Mental health care 41% 44% Similar Similar Similar Preventive health services 61% 61% Similar Similar Similar Health care 59% 64% Higher Similar Similar Food 74% 75% Similar Similar Similar Recreational opportunities 73% 73% Similar Similar Similar Fitness opportunities 64% 61% Similar Similar Similar Education and Enrichment Cultural/arts/music activities 89% 91% Similar Community Engagement Social events and activities 81% 82% Similar Higher Higher Neighborliness 72% 73% Similar Similar Similar Openness and acceptance 60% 59% Similar Similar Similar Opportunities to participate in community matters 75% 74% Similar Similar Similar Opportunities to volunteer 83% 82% Similar Similar Higher Table 3: Governance General Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2016 Services provided by St. Augustine 77% 79% Similar Similar Similar Customer service 73% 75% Similar Similar Similar Value of services for taxes paid 52% 55% Similar Similar Similar Overall direction 53% 51% Similar Similar Similar Welcoming citizen involvement 53% 56% Similar Similar Similar Confidence in City government 48% 50% Similar Similar Similar Acting in the best interest of St. Augustine 49% 49% Similar Similar Similar Being honest 49% 51% Similar Similar Similar Treating all residents fairly 45% 46% Similar Similar Similar Services provided by the Federal Government 43% 47% Similar Similar Similar 3
Table 4: Governance by Facet Percent rating positively (e.g., excellent/good) 2016 Police 81% 84% Similar Similar Similar Fire 95% 97% Similar Similar Similar Ambulance/EMS 92% 96% Similar Similar Similar Crime prevention 70% 72% Similar Similar Similar Fire prevention 73% 82% Higher Similar Similar Animal control 55% 59% Similar Similar Similar Safety Emergency preparedness 66% 78% Higher Similar Higher Traffic enforcement 54% 52% Similar Similar Similar Street repair 34% 34% Similar Lower Similar Street cleaning 60% 61% Similar Similar Similar Street lighting 57% 55% Similar Similar Similar Sidewalk maintenance 47% 44% Similar Similar Similar Traffic signal timing 43% 41% Similar Similar Similar Mobility Bus or transit services 41% 33% Lower Lower Lower Garbage collection 83% 84% Similar Similar Similar Recycling 81% 80% Similar Similar Similar Yard waste pick-up 83% 80% Similar Similar Similar Drinking water 55% 52% Similar Lower Lower Natural Environment Natural areas preservation 55% 58% Similar Similar Similar Storm drainage 35% 39% Similar Lower Sewer services 67% 68% Similar Similar Similar Power utility 82% 76% Lower Similar Similar Utility billing 73% 68% Lower Similar Similar Land use, planning and zoning 40% 34% Lower Similar Lower Built Environment Code enforcement 36% 39% Similar Similar Similar Economy Economic development 51% 50% Similar Similar Similar City parks 79% 79% Similar Similar Similar Recreation programs 63% 67% Similar Similar Similar Recreation centers 65% 67% Similar Similar Similar Recreation and Wellness Health services 66% 63% Similar Similar Similar Special events 74% 77% Similar Similar Similar Education and Enrichment Public libraries 86% 84% Similar Similar Similar Community Engagement Public information 70% 69% Similar Similar Similar 4
Table 5: Participation General Percent rating positively (e.g., always/sometimes, more than once a month, yes) 2016 Sense of community 71% 73% Similar Similar Similar Recommend St. Augustine 86% 83% Similar Similar Similar Remain in St. Augustine 87% 85% Similar Similar Similar Contacted St. Augustine employees 56% 56% Similar Similar Similar Table 6: Participation by Facet Percent rating positively (e.g., always/sometimes, more than once a month, yes) 2016 Stocked supplies for an emergency 41% 79% Higher Similar Did NOT report a crime 74% 74% Similar Similar Similar Safety Was NOT the victim of a crime 87% 88% Similar Similar Similar Used public transportation instead of driving 13% 15% Similar Lower Lower Carpooled instead of driving alone 52% 52% Similar Similar Similar Mobility Walked or biked instead of driving 81% 76% Lower Higher Conserved water 87% 85% Similar Similar Similar Made home more energy efficient 77% 76% Similar Similar Similar Natural Environment Recycled at home 90% 90% Similar Similar Similar Did NOT observe a code violation 43% 46% Similar Lower Similar Built Environment NOT under housing cost stress 62% 61% Similar Similar Similar Purchased goods or services in St. Augustine 97% 97% Similar Similar Similar Economy will have positive impact on income 32% 36% Similar Similar Similar Economy Work in St. Augustine 59% 57% Similar Higher Higher Recreation and Wellness Education and Enrichment Used St. Augustine recreation centers 68% 66% Similar Higher Similar Visited a City park 86% 85% Similar Similar Similar Ate 5 portions of fruits and vegetables 87% 86% Similar Similar Similar Participated in moderate or vigorous physical activity 89% 89% Similar Similar Similar In very good to excellent health 72% 71% Similar Similar Similar Used St. Augustine public libraries 66% 64% Similar Similar Similar Attended a City-sponsored event 75% 75% Similar 5
Community Engagement Percent rating positively (e.g., always/sometimes, more than once a month, yes) 2016 Campaigned for an issue, cause or candidate 31% 45% Higher Similar Contacted St. Augustine elected officials 26% 30% Similar Similar Higher Volunteered 51% 52% Similar Higher Higher Participated in a club 39% 38% Similar Higher Higher Talked to or visited with neighbors 93% 94% Similar Similar Similar Done a favor for a neighbor 87% 91% Similar Similar Similar Attended a local public meeting 29% 31% Similar Similar Similar Watched a local public meeting 31% 36% Similar Similar Similar Read or watched local news 84% 85% Similar Similar Similar Voted in local elections 82% 87% Higher Similar Similar 6