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04 2005 Public Opinion Survey l~A ~ l~fcr~~4 ) , City of Paris Public Opinion Survey TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Methodology Data Summary Discussion of data Summary of written comments Appendix N.B. Over 2,500 surveys were collected with approximately 150,000 key entries. There are over 1000 written comments. Approximate count by location: Inside the city NE 650 NW 160 SE 610 SW 150 c;1o 17" I Lamar county 790 J 1'1 (, i V ~ Cl 0 2 i"' r./) . \ l!(U ~ /1Lj-lv t- Outside Lamar county 112 ,-- INTRODUCTION The information presented here was gathered, tallied, and analyzed from the City of Paris Opinion Survey (3/2006). The survey was initiated to gather the opinions from not only people who live in Paris but also anyone who works, shops, or does business here. Data from the survey will be used in (1) the May 2006 city council elections, (2) as input in the development of the 2006-2007 budget, and more importantly (3) to assist in preparing the Paris Strategic Plan (five and ten year outlook). The Strategic Business Plan will serve as an aid to increase citizen participation in local government and most importantly be the guide to our city's future. Strategic business planning result in the identification of desired long-term outcomes and the development of the actions necessary to achieve them, based upon the analysis of the city's resources and its environment. It is an interactive process. These needs are identified through our citizen survey, demographic trend analysis, and observation of other factors affecting our community. SURVEY METHODOLOGY Various age groups, homeowners, renters, and residents in all locations were targeted. Survey questionnaires were distributed and retumed to churches, businesses, the Paris News, banks, retail establishnients, and in pay envelopes of major employers among others. Surveys were returned to tabulation centers to be tallied and analyzed independently by specialists at Paris Junior College. Written comments were analyzed and summarized by volunteers and cross-checked by twenty members of the Paris High School's National Honor Society. Tallied data and written comments were validated using thisprocess. SUMMARY OF DATA Two things should be pointed out at the start: (1) The data collected speaks for itself. (2) Information (data) is just that-information. It takes knowledge to understand the information and more importantly to act upon it. Basically, the survey looked at city services related to safety, health, and quality of life as well as job creation activities. The survey gives good grades to public safety, less than good to health care, and "poor" in some aspects of quality of life. Most striking is the many opinions that are positive. Nonetheless, there are problems to be solved. Broadening the tax base through industrial recruitment and tourism has garnered the most negative statistics; city appearance, coupled with code enforcement, street repair, and general cleanliness, is very negative as well. The pure data ranked the problem areas as follows with the highest percentage of "poor" listed as # 1 and then in descending order. Poor % * 7 A economic development 39%) 7B tourism 31 6G code enforcement 27 6J condition of streets 26 6K curbs/gutters 25 9 Business climate 23 8 Overall appearance 22 10 Culture activities 22 6L animal control 19 61 parks / recreation opportunities 12 6E water billing dept 11 6N health dept 11 * % percent of total count for that item Count 1,004 790 679 650 650 600 568 569 491 283 290 279 , The following is a summary of the computed data. Details of the data are listed in the attachments. Q. 11 Q.12 Q.13 Q.14 Q.15 Rank the items you would like to see in Paris to improve quality of life (weighted): Retail Entertainment Restaurants Recreation 8382 8166 7300 6251 Should Paris market tourism? Yes 630ic> No 150/0 Should Paris work with downtown merchants to install Christmas lights? Yes No 570/0 17% Landmarks representing image of Paris (weighted): Culbertson Fountain 12,506 Eiffel Tower 11,599 Depot 7,815 Maxey House 7,585 What could Paris do to improve the community Improve Cleanliness 15% Industrial recruitment 14% Streets (condition) 130/0 Reduce Clutter 13% Parks / recreation 9% Police 80/0 Skills training programs 70ic> Fire 6% Historic Preservation 6% WIFI 6% Oth~ 2% No opinion lOic> Q. 16 , Next year what services should receive more money (A-L)? (Highest % in each category) 62% 60010 58010 50% 49% 47010 41% 38% 34% 47% 43% 360/0 More More More More More More More More More Same Same Same Street repairs Tearing down houses Police Fire Mowing Drainage systems Parks / recreation Landscaping Expand sanitary sewer service Library Ambulance Welcome signs Q. 17 If more money is available, spending priority is: * 30% Police 21 % Tearing down houses 14010 Fire 10% Streets 7% Parks Small percentages in remaining catagories (*only 910 responses to this questions) Q. 18/19 City department contacts and outcome (based on largest % of contact) Police Very satisfied Fire Very satisfied Water & sewer Satisfied Utility billing Satisfied Code enforcement Unsatisfied 33% No Contact Q.20 Safe from crime total City of Paris Very safe 8% 183 Safe 71 % 1725 Unsafe 180/0 18 NW 250/0 SW 26% Very unsafe 3% 3 SW 3% SW 5% Q.21 Q.22 Q.23 Taxes Over 2 to 1 say Paris should reduce taxes Add new local laws Against pit bulls Mobile homes Prohibit items on porches Vemcles in yards Billboards, street signs, bullet signs (combined) Metal buildings Other No opinion 18% 160/0 15% 15% 25% 5% 3% 30/0 Would you volunteer to keep Paris clean Report code violation 310/0 Cleanup own neighborhood 22% Trash offjKPB 20% Clean/repair for elderly & poor 13% Olliff 3% None 10% ~ , SUMMARY OF COMMENTS (written by survey participants) Anyone who rated the quality of service "poor" in the 6A - M, 7 A and 7B, and 8,9,10 groups and subgroups were asked to explain how the city could improve the service. There were a wide range of suggestions with many repeats. Generally the comments were wise and insightful. Some participants did not provide suggestions. Comments in the 12 "Poor" categories are summarized below: 6E Water billing service · Need more time between receipt of bills and due date . Employees are abrupt and impolite · Need training in courtesy, whether face to face or on the telephone 6G Code enforcement . enforce the codes on the books · enforce the codes fairly for rich and poor . increase fmes for repeat offenders 6H Library services . Reduce the $40.00 fee for out-of-city residents . Make the fee a one tim.e fee . Have the county make a contribution 61 Park & recreation facilities . clean up the parks · provide more recreation for our youth, children & teenagers alike . Patrol the unsafe parks 6J Condition of streets . fIx potholes properly, same ones repeat · develop a systematic street repair & maintenance program, train or retrain as necessary 6K Condition of curbs and gutters . many parts of city do not have curbs . gutters/bar ditches in sad repair . develop a systematic gutter repair & maintenance program 6L Animal control . loose dogs, cats . enforce law re strays . fine, fine repeat offenders heavily . very slow to respond . add staff or replace 6N City / county health · telephone calls are not answered and/ or retumed . slow to respond and then turns needy away . more staff needed or replace what is there · restaurants not inspected enough times or not inspected 60 City employee customer service . arrogant, impolite and slow to respond . employees act as if doing the citizens a favor · need training in facets of courtesy (then check on them) . Public safety personnel are the best in helpfulness and courtesy. Copy them. 7 A Economic Development . not enough jobs . need more variety in jobs available . change staff, and add energetic people 7B Tourism . Require a much stronger effort . Many things to see, include PJC as an attraction · Understand difficulty with the city appearance being what it is. But an interesting route could be laid out and cleaned up 8 Appearance of city . Many. many unflattering adjectives · enforce codes, clean and paint, remove the trash and fine litters · dilapidated houses, buildings and other eye sores need rapid replacement . All kinds of junk everywhere · clean up by voting districts/councilmen lead effort . clean up approaches to city 9 Business climate in Paris · difficult because of the numerous approvals required · rules and regulations appear to be anti new business 10 Quality of culture activities · not enough variety for the various age groups and interests