A survey commissioned by the City of Morro Bay shows overwhelming support for the natural environment but sub-par scores for some of the City Government’s delivery of some services.
The National Citizen Survey Report polled residents asking them questions on three basic “‘pillars of a community’ — Community Characteristics, Governance and Participation,” reads the report, which is available on the City’s website, see: www.morro-bay.ca.us/953/National-Citizen-Survey.
These three are then broken down into eight “central facets of community” — safety, mobility, natural environment, built environment, economy, recreation and wellness, education and enrichment, and community engagement.” It has a margin of error of 4% and compares Morro Bay’s scores to “similar communities across the nation,” a so-called benchmark.
The survey seeks to gauge the town’s “Livability,” declaring that great communities, “are partnerships of the government, private sector, community-based organizations and residents, all geographically connected.”
The survey was conducted in April and May and cost some $13,000. It was conducted both online and through the mail, sent to 1,500 of the approximately 5,000 Morro Bay households. Getting 534 responses is considered a really good sampling.
In the report, some 94-percent of respondents said Morro Bay was an excellent (58%) or good place to live (37%). Five percent said it was “fair” and 0% called it poor.
Also getting high marks and falling in the normal range of other cities were: neighborhoods — 85%; place to raise children — 81%; and overall appearance — 81%. The City topped the benchmark in “place to retire” with 87%.
As for safety, more than 90% felt safe overall, safe in their homes and safe in the downtown/commercial areas.
Similar scores — 94% — came in for the natural environment; cleanliness (83%); and air quality (97%), with the overall and air quality higher than the benchmarks.
As for the built environment overall 59% had positive things to say. But 35% were happy with development in Morro Bay; 23% liked the housing options and just 11% thought it was affordable. All three of those came in under the benchmark. Pleasure with “public spaces” came in above the average at 72%.
Just 40% liked the overall economic health of the city, which was below the benchmark. Just 16% were OK with the cost of living; 37% with shopping opportunities; and just 8% were happy with the employment opportunities.
But 48% were happy with Downtown and the Embarcadero and 54% were happy with the business services available.
And it could be said that Morro Bay is a nice place to visit (above average at 93%) but not so nice a place to work (below average at 45%). The city got high scores for health and wellness (57%); food (65%); fitness opportunities (70%); but didn’t cut the mustard with health care (27%); preventative health services (24%); or mental health care (13%).
The City got good scores in community engagement: social events and activities (57%); neighborliness (72%); openness and acceptance (61%); citizen participation (66%); and volunteer opportunities (73%), as all met the benchmarks.
Services and how well they are provided by the City government, plays a large part in perceptions of quality of life, according to the survey, and it found that overall, a majority was happy (65%).
City employees got high marks (72%) for quality of service given; which fell in the range of other towns. Under “value of services for taxes paid,” the City got a 41% approval, which is also about average. “Welcoming citizen involvement,” got 44%, and “being honest” got 42% approval. And yet all of these were about average.
Scores fell below the average in overall direction of the City, as just 42% were pleased with it. The numbers dropped to 40% under “Acting in the best interest of Morro Bay.”
Worse yet, just 36% had favorable votes for “Confidence in City Government;” and 38% for “Treating all residents fairly.”
The public safety departments scored high — police 77%; fire 95% and Harbor Patrol 93%.
Several categories that would fall under the public works department came in at the benchmarks — traffic enforcement 60%; street lighting 48%; signal timing 63%; and public transportation 52%.
The City got low favorable scores for street cleaning (48%); street repair (24%); and sidewalk maintenance (33%). It also got low scores for drinking water, at just 36% favorable.
Garbage collection and recycling were both within the benchmark range, 90% and 79% respectively. Natural areas preservation (67%) and open space (65%) were as well.
A poor score was given for land use, planning and zoning at 31% and economic development was low at just 26% favorable.
City parks (81%); recreation programs (62%); and recreation centers (61%) all got scores within the benchmark. And the City Library was overwhelmingly favorable with 92%.
Of note, not a single category in the “Governance” section got a higher score than the benchmarks.
In the “participation” section, 86% reported they had not been the victim of a crime, and 77% had not reported a crime. Some 49% said they’d stockpiled food for an emergency, which was above the benchmark.
Nearly all (99%) said they had purchased goods or services in Morro Bay but just 26% said the economy will “have positive impact on income.” And just 31% said they actually work in Morro Bay.
The survey also asked several specific questions at the request of the City, including support for redevelopment of the Morro Bay Power Plant property. Some 84% supported it becoming “environmental green space with some biking/walking path access.”
Support was strong for it becoming a sports complex of some sort (67%). A boatyard/marine services facility got 57% positive; mixed-use retail and restaurant 54%; office park/light industry center “that provides head of household jobs” got 49%; and a hotel “that generates sufficient transient occupancy tax to rebuild and pave most city streets” had just 43% support with 57% not supporting the idea. Indeed, 36% were strongly against this use.
Also of note, 57% supported keeping at least one smokestack “retained and integrated into the new design.”
Focusing on the City’s Embarcadero plans, 66% supported widening the sidewalks to 13 feet on the west side of the street. It was somewhat split with regards to eliminating the street end parking lots — 53% support to 47% opposition.
And in a somewhat confusing question, respondents were asked about “Making the Embarcadero one-way, northbound, for several blocks with a return couplet through the downtown, and turning the open lane into a two-way bicycle path that eventually connects up to the Morro Creek Bridge,” some 53% were opposed to this idea.
And in the final two issues, 74% supported having free summer concerts in Downtown or a City Park, and 54% supported having them in the fall, too.
City Manager David Buckingham said the survey was useful now and into the future. “While part of the purpose of the survey is to grade ourselves now, to better know what is important to our residents,” he said, “another important aspect is to establish benchmarks so that we can measure improvement in years ahead. So, while the first year will be helpful, future years can provide even better insights.”
What did they come away with from this? “The survey did confirm some things we knew were important to our community, such as the value our residents place on improving our streets,” said Buckingham. “The survey also provided important additional insights.
“For example, 87% of our residents agree that to improve streets and other city services the City requires additional revenue, and that 87% are ready for modest, appropriate revitalization efforts to improve the city’s services.”
