Summary

Urbandale residents were given the opportunity to tell city officials what they think about city services and facilities during the 2006 Citizen Survey. Four hundred and twenty five respondents, out of a thousand randomly mailed surveys, (42.5%), returned a survey by the August 5, 2006 deadline, which was the highest response rate since 1992.

The 2006 Citizen Survey results will help the City Council and City staff to identify services that need enhancement. The survey results will be used to review the Capital Improvements Program and the FY 2007-08 City Budget.

Positive approval trends continued in 2006 for the majority of city services. Also, lower rated services in 2004 showed marked improvement in 2006, but some city services continue to need improvement.  City services that received the highest percentage of respondents who were "very satisfied" or "satisfied", were Garbage Collection (95%), Fire & EMS (93%), Urbandale Public Library (93%), Urbandale Water Utility (91%), Yard Waste Collection (91%) and Parks and Recreation (90%).

City services receiving the lowest percentage of respondents who were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" and in most need of improvement were Building Inspections (64%), Urbandale Swimming Pool (65%), Mosquito Control (67%) and Planning and Zoning (68%).

Since the 2004 Citizen Survey, city services that showed the most improvement were Mosquito Control (+17%), Animal Control (+6%) and City Hall/Administration (+5%). City services receiving lower percentage responses from the 2004 Citizen Survey were the Swimming Pool (-8%), Building Inspections (-7%) and Snow & Ice Removal (-7%).

Ninety-nine percent of respondents said they feel "very safe" or "somewhat safe" living in Urbandale. Respondents felt safest walking alone at night in neighborhoods (93%), but only 53% of respondents said they felt "very safe" or "somewhat safe" on the trail system at night.

The survey also offered an early test of support for future bond referendums. Respondents indicated that they "would support" or "might support" a fire department training facility (88%), west side maintenance facility (85%), community center with indoor aquatics (71%), outdoor aquatics center (69%) and outdoor performing arts amphitheater (67%).