Pensacola residents are concerned about the economic health of their city and want more focus on Public Works, Housing Options, Communications and Public Safety, according to the soon-to-be-released 2014 Pensacola Community Survey.
Mayor Ashton Hayward commissioned this past summer the Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development to conduct a telephone survey of city residents to measure their satisfaction with city services and other elements of city administration.
Administrated over a six-week period, Pensacola residents rated specific services, as well as their perceptions of safety, economic health, city appearance, city communication, and culture, arts and recreation.
The Haas Center survey professionals administered to city residents 18 years of age or older, not just registered voters, across each of Pensacola’s seven city council districts. In total, 581 people completed the entire questionnaire, which coincides with an approximate 4 percent margin of error (+/-) at a 95 percent confidence level. This is a much larger sampling of city residents than the PYP survey.
On Oct. 1, the Haas Center delivered to Mayor Hayward the 2014 Pensacola Community Survey. Each dimension was given a letter grade, A-F, and a mean satisfaction score. Through a public record request, Inweekly obtained a copy.
Pensacola residents gave Fire Department Services the highest mean satisfaction score (4.26). In fact, nearly 85% of all residents reported that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the Fire Department’s performance. Respondents were also highly satisfied with Waste Collection Services, which received the only other B+, with a mean satisfaction score of 4.19.
On the other end of the spectrum, city residents were most dissatisfied with Pensacola’s Economic Health, which received a grade of C and a mean satisfaction score of 2.74. Public Works received a mean satisfaction score of 3.24, or C+, which followed closely behind Housing Options (3.28) and City Communication (3.30).
The Haas Center created from the survey results an Emphasis-Dissatisfaction Rating Chart to provide a tool for city leaders to consider which city dimensions respondents believe the city should prioritize in the coming year. According to these ratings, Public Works was the number one dimension needing focus in the coming year, followed by Codes and Ordinances and Communications.
According to Assistant City Administrator Eric Olson, The Haas Center will meet today with city staff to brief then staff and interpret the survey results. The mayor’s office will likely issue a press release on how he plans to the deal with the concerns expressed by his constituents.
Here is your copy – 2014.10.01_Pensacola_Community_Survey__2014_-_Final_Draft