Community Telephone Survey Public Preferences and Behaviors PREPARED FOR City of West Linn February 2014 .

Community Telephone SurveyPublic Preferences and Behaviors

PREPARED FORCity of West Linn

February 2014

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Survey Methodology

• Telephone survey of 300 residents (ages 18+)o Separate online survey conducted of City residents (N=357)

• Conducted December 13-18, 2013

• Past surveys in 2008/2010/2012

• Averaged 15 minutes in length

• Quotas were set for age and gender to ensure representative sample

• Quality control measures including callbacks and validations

• Land line and cell numbers incorporated

• Margin of error +/- 5.7%, at 95% confidence level

2DHM Research | City of West Linn, Dec. 2013

KEY FINDINGS

Residents continue to feel that the City of West Linn is a good place to live: mean of 8.4 on a 0-10 scale.

4DHM Research | City of West Linn, Dec. 2013

2013 2012 2010 20080%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

85% 85%80% 78%

Rating of West LinnTop Box (8+9+10) Mean Score

on 0-10 Scale: 8.4

Residents feel that the City of West Linn does a quality job communicating with the public: 76% were very/somewhat satisfied.

5DHM Research | City of West Linn, Dec. 2013

Very satisfied18%

Somewhat satisfied58%

Not too satisfied11%

Not at all satisfied7%

DK6%

Satisfaction Rating for City Communications

Very/Somewhat Satis-fied:

Age18-34: 87%35-54: 80%55+: 65%

EthnicityNon-White: 87%

White: 74%

A majority of residents rated the City positively on a number of aspects of its communications efforts, particularly advertising events and providing opportunities for public input.

6DHM Research | City of West Linn, Dec. 2013

Explaining what decisions can be influenced by the public

Explaining how community feedback will be used in decision-making

Listening to community input

Explaining the goals of events, programs, and community meetings

Providing opportunities for community members to share their input

Advertising events, programs, and community meetings

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

6%

4%

12%

13%

15%

26%

42%

51%

47%

52%

55%

51%

27%

25%

19%

20%

17%

18%

11%

10%

7%

5%

13%

10%

15%

11%

8%

3%

Grading Aspects of City Communications

Very good Good Poor Very poor DK

Visitation of the City’s website is high among residents. This is also the top source that residents use to get information about the City, a shift from 2012.

7DHM Research | City of West Linn, Dec. 2013

Yes64%

No36%

Visited the City's Website in Last 12 Months?

What sources do you use to get information about the City (open)? • City website (39%)• West Linn Tidings (26%)• Newspaper ads (23%)• City paper newsletter

(included with utility bill) (12%)

• Word of mouth (12%)

Nine in ten of those who had visited the City’s website rated it positively, with more than 80% of all demographic groups saying it was very good or good.

8DHM Research | City of West Linn, Dec. 2013

Don't know

Very poor

Poor

Good

Very good

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

5%

2%

4%

71%

18%

Rating of City of West Linn Website

When prioritizing a list of 15 methods for communicating with the public that the City could allocate time and money for, residents preferred requested email notices and the City website.

9DHM Research | City of West Linn, Dec. 2013

Utility bill inserts

City newsletter mailed to every address in city

Open houses or public meetings

Neighborhood Associations

Newspaper articles

City website

Email notices to residents who sign up with City

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0

5.6

5.9

6

6

6.3

6.9

7.2

Top Methods Used to Inform Citizens (0-10 Scale) Top Box(8+9+10)

53%

46%

34%

29%

28%

38%

35%

Two-thirds of West Linn residents use social media, similar to 2012 (63%). One-fourth of those users are connected with the City.

10DHM Research | City of West Linn, Dec. 2013

Do you use social media? (N=300)

Are you connected with the City on social media? (N=192)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

64%

26%35%

71%

1% 3%

Social Media Use and Connection with the City

Yes No DK

One-fourth of residents had attended a public meeting in the last year, little changed from 2012, with those who had attended rating their experience positively.

11DHM Research | City of West Linn, Dec. 2013

Yes23%

No77%

DK1%

Public Meeting Attendance in Last 12 Months(City Council, Neighborhood Association, etc.)

Highest Attendance Rate:

Ages 55+: 31%

Experience Rating:Very/Somewhat

Positive Experience: 63%

Ari Wubbold Associate

[email protected](503) 220-0575

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