City of Manhattan Beach Community Opinion Survey

C O N D U C T E D FO R T H E C I T Y O F M A N H AT TA N B EAC H

COMMUNITY OPINION SURVEY

P R ES E N T E D B Y T I M OT H Y M C L A R N E Y P H . D.

2/17/2022

PURPOSE OF STUDY o Assess perceptions of quality of life and important issues in the City o Measure resident satisfaction municipal services o Gather opinions on specific topics including public safety, code enforcement, homelessness, and budget priorities o Identify the sources residents rely on for City news and information

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METHODOLOGY OF STUDY o Dates: December 6 th to December 12 th , 2021 o Stratified Random Sample: 560 adult residents within City of Manhattan Beach o Mixed Methodology o Email, Text & Telephone Recruiting o Online & Telephone Data Collection

o Margin of error: ± 4.1%

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RATING THE CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH Excellent

Good

The overall quality of life in Manhattan Beach

Fair

Poor

Very poor

Not sure/Prefer not to answer

57.6

Manhattan Beach as a place to recreate

36.8

48.3

Manhattan Beach as a place to raise a family

49.9

Manhattan Beach as a place to shop and dine

38.3

Manhattan Beach as a place to retire

28.4

23.2 0

10

7.7 12 4

33.8

9.1 11 6

30

40

15.2

17.0

31.1 20

36.8

43.0

31.8

Manhattan Beach as a place to work

4.6

50

13.3

4 2

60

70

7

21 12

3

27 80

90

100

% Respondents

4

LIKE & WANT TO PRESERVE 16.7

Small tow n feel, charming beach community

16.2

Public safety, low crime rate 14.2

Beach, ocean 12.6

Cleanliness, appearance, beauty of City

11.6

Community, friendly people, family atmosphere

10.5

Local businesses, dow ntow n area

10.3

Parks, rec facilities 9.2

Schools, education Not sure / Cannot think of anything

8.7 7.1

Low density development, single family homes

6.6

Community events, activities 5.7

Open spaces, greenbelts

5.4

Outdoor shops, dining options

5.0

Relaxed, casual lifestyle 4.2

Walkability of commercial, residential areas

3.5

The Strand, pier 2.7

Proximity to other areas

2.0

Weather, climate 0

5

10

% Respondents

15

20

5

CHANGES TO IMPROVE CITY 9.8 9.6

Not sure / Cannot think of anything Improve public safety, more police presence Address parking issues No changes needed / Everything is fine Enforce traffic, e-bike law s Limit grow th, development Encourage, support diversity, address inequity Preserve, support outdoor dining Beautify City, cleanliness, landscaping Improve City planning, development Attract variety of less expensive restaurants, shops Add, improve park, rec facilities Provide more affordable housing Reduce traffic congestion Improve government leadership, communication Address homeless issues Enforce City codes, ordinances Improve w alkability, sidew alks Underground utilities Increase support for small businesses Improve quality of education Reduce taxes, fees Reduce cost of living Improve permitting process Address Bruce’s Beach issue Provide more activities, events for all ages

8.5 5.6 5.5 5.1 5.0 5.0 4.7 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.6 0

2

4

6

8

10

% Respondents

6

OVERALL SATISFACTION Very dissatisfied 1.9 Somew hat dissatisfied 7.5

Not sure/Prefer not to answ er 2.8

Very satisfied 39.5

Somew hat satisfied 48.4

7

IMPORTANCE OF SERVICES Extremely important Maintaining parks and open spaces

Very important

59.3

37.1

Providing emergency medical services

64.9

Maintaining sewer and storm drain systems

63.5

Maintaining a low crime rate

27.2 28.1

74.8

Preparing the City for emergencies

88%

23.3

48.4 51.4

28.6

Addressing homelessness

52.5

25.8

33.0

Addressing bike safety and e-bikes Enforcing traffic laws

20.1

Providing eastside library services

14.2 11.7

Providing a variety of public art 0

33.3

53%

35.0

20

51%

34%

19.4

33%

21.7 10

63% 58%

30.0

16.3

Providing cultural and arts opportunities

66% 63%

35.3

27.8

Providing services and programs for seniors

68%

37.3

27.2

Providing after-school programs and diversion programs for youth

71%

25.1

25.3

Enforcing animal control laws such as leash-laws and waste cleanup

71%

30.4

41.1

Providing special events such as concerts in the park, holiday fireworks

71%

43.1

37.9

Removing graffiti

80%

34.7

27.4

84%

78%

37.7

35.9

Providing a variety of recreation programs for all ages

88%

22.4

Protecting the environment Maintaining public athletic fields

88%

39.2 61.1

Providing neighborhood police patrols

88%

36.7 64.3

Keeping public buildings, parks and facilities clean and attractive

90%

33.6

51.2

Preserving the City’s small, beach-town character

91%

28.4

54.8

Maintaining and repairing local streets and roads

92%

16.6

61.6

Providing fire protection and prevention services

96% 92%

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

% Respondents

8

SATISFACTION WITH SERVICES Very satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Provide emergency medical services

Somewhat dissatisfied

49.7

Provide fire protection and prevention services

48.9 65.2

Provide services and programs for seniors

5.2

53.0

48.8

Provide special events such as concerts in the park, holiday fireworks Maintain public athletic fields

39.0

50.2

30.5

Provide eastside library services Maintain a low crime rate

53.3

33.5

46.3

22.5

Address homelessness Enforce traffic laws Enforce animal control laws such as leash-laws and waste cleanup

24.8

0

10

42.6

30

9.8 5.0 9.5 12.4

20.3 27.1

40

5.7

19.2

34.7 20

6.7

21.3

42.9

18.1

Address bike safety and e-bikes

13.5

25.1

46.7

25.6

7.9

15.8

44.2

50

60

70

1

9.8 19.7

46.7

25.8

3.5

16.1

48.8

27.6

Provide neighborhood police patrols

1 2

12.6

50.7

25.8

Preserve the City’s small, beach-town character

10.0 13.2

55.1

31.7

Maintain and repair local streets and roads

6.9 2

57.1

27.9

Provide a variety of public art

8.0

50.7

27.8

Protect the environment

6.6 1

59.7

40.4

Provide cultural and arts opportunities

6.5 1

52.1

31.9

Provide after-school programs and diversion programs for youth

6.5 1

57.2

39.8

Maintain parks and open spaces

4.2 2

48.1

35.1

Prepare the City for emergencies

3.8 2

44.9

44.9

Maintain sewer and storm drain systems

31

60.1

41.6

Keep public buildings, parks and facilities clean and attractive

4

46.3

34.8

Provide a variety of recreation programs for all ages

1 31.3

49.9

Remove graffiti

Very dissatisfied

12.3 20.1

80

90

100

% Respondents Who Provided Opinion

9

PERCEIVED SAFETY OF CITY Very unsafe 0.9 Somewhat unsafe 5.4

Prefer not to answer 0.3

Very safe 47.8 Somewhat safe 45.6

10

SATISFACTION WITH CITY’S EFFORTS TO ENFORCE CODE VIOLATIONS

Not sure 19.4

Prefer not to answer 1.1

Very satisfied 22.2

Very dissatisfied 7.0 Somewhat dissatisfied 14.8

Somewhat satisfied 35.5

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ISSUES & VIOLATIONS OF CONCERN 23.5

Construction issues, concerns 21.4

No-smoking regulations, violations 17.8

Noise ordinance violations 13.3

Dog law s, violations 10.1

Lack of consistent enforcement 8.5

Cannot think of anything specific

8.3

Traffic law violations

7.6

Parking issues Bike, e-bike issues

7.2 5.8

Building code concerns

5.4

Homelessness issues Crime, public safety concerns

4.4 1.9

Short-term rental issues 0

5

10

15

20

25

% Respondents Dissatisfied With Code Enforcement (Q9)

12

1 YEAR TREND IN HOMELESSNESS Prefer not to answ er 0.2 Decreased Not sure 4.2 15.8

Stayed about the same 42.9 Increased 37.0

13

STRATEGIES FOR HOMELESSNESS Yes

No

Not sure

Prefer not to answer

Join with other cities, County to create more regional homeless shelters

64.2

19.4

15.1

Enhance lighting and modify benches in public areas to deter overnight camping

62.7

21.8

14.2 1

Provide funding for mental health facilities, street outreach, and housing placement

57.1

Provide counseling and rehab for drug and alcohol addiction

56.1

0

10

20

30

23.4

18.0

22.8

40

50

60

70

19.3

80

90

1

2

2

100

% Respondents

14

SPENDING PRIORITIES High priority Fix potholes and repair and improve city streets and sidewalks

Medium priority

54.6

Repair and upgrade the City’s sewer and wastewater systems

35.0

50.5

Improve maintenance of parks and park amenities including restrooms, sports courts, dog runs

32.0

Redesign public spaces to allow for outdoor dining areas

33.1 13.4

Restore and enhance nature areas throughout Sand Dune Park Renovate, improve the City’s Community Centers including the Joslyn, Manhattan Heights, Sand Dune Community Centers

26.7

37.3

16.6

26.1

Provide low-cost, on-demand rideshare services so residents can visit restaurants, shops, and business areas in the City without having 18.3 to park a vehicle Create a Manhattan Beach Historical Museum to preserve and store 4.0 16.1 historical documents 0

48.2

32.3

8.4

Reconstruct and improve the City’s swimming pool - Begg Pool

33.8

10

23.6

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

% Respondents

15

AGREEMENT WITH STATEMENTS Strongly agree

I trust the City of Manhattan Beach

Smwt agree

18.5

City is responsive to residents’ needs

14.3

City listens to residents when making important decisions

12.7

City manages its finances well

12.9 0

10

Smwt disagree

Strongly disagree

48.4

13.1

51.3

13.4

43.2

16.9

34.3 20

30

13.1 40

5.7

50

7.6

5.4 60

5.6

DK/NA

14.3

15.5

19.6

34.3 70

80

90

100

% Respondents

16

CONTACT WITH STAFF IN PAST 12 MONTHS Prefer not to Not sure answ er 1.4 3.5

No contact w ith City staff 48.6

Yes, contact w ith City staff 46.5

17

PERCEPTION OF CITY STAFF 100

2.8 4.6

90

% Respondents With Staff Contact in Past 12 Months

80

3.3 8.2

2.9 12.1

Not sure

32.8

70

45.6

60

41.6

Not at all

50 40 30

Somewhat

59.8 42.9

20

43.3 Very

10 0 Professionalism

Accessibility

Helpfulness

Q16 Perception of city staff . . .

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SATISFACTION WITH COMMUNICATION Prefer not to Not sure answ er 8.5 1.2 Very dissatisfied 4.2

Very satisfied 24.4

Somew hat dissatisfied 11.3

Somew hat satisfied 50.4

19

INFORMATION SOURCES The Beach Reporter

49.3

Nextdoor.com

24.9

Nixle/Alert South Bay notification system

22.2

City w ebsite

22.0

Email notifications from City

21.0

Friends/Family/Associates/w ord of mouth

17.3

Easy Reader

15.8

Non-City Social M edia, Facebook, Tw itter, Instagram, YouTube

15.4

The Daily Breeze

13.7

M anhappenings brochure

10.9

Patch.com

10.3

Internet (not City’s site)

9.5

Letters, postcards, flyers or brochures mailed from City to your home

9.0

Los Angeles Times

8.4

City’s social media posts on Facebook, Tw itter, Instagram, YouTube

8.0

Television (general)

2.6

Other

2.3

City Council M eetings

2.0

HOA or neighborhood association

1.1

Not sure

1.0

Do Not Receive Information about City

1.0

Radio

0.7 0

10

20

30

40

50

% Respondents

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KEY CONCLUSIONS Despite the pandemic and challenges of the past year, resident have high opinions of their community and City government o Quality of life o City ’s Overall Performance o Specific Ser vices City Government is viewed positively and staff receives high marks for customer service Opportunity Areas: o Bike safety/e -bikes o Improving public safety o Addressing parking issues o Code enforcement o Enforcing animal control laws o Street repair/maintenance o Repairing /upgrading sewer and wastewater systems o Park maintenance and amenities

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