Survey says: Benicians happy with their city

Survey says: Benicians happy with their city
By TONY BURCHYNS/Times-Herald staff writer
Posted: 01/03/2009

BENICIA - Despite unfavorable ratings for the amount of jobs, public transportation, shopping opportunities and affordable housing, Benicians still love their city, a survey made public this week revealed.

The 2008 National Citizen Survey found that 95 percent of Benicia residents rated the quality of life in their as "good" or "excellent." Almost all respondents reported they plan on staying in Benicia for the next five years.

Questions measured residents' opinions about and the community and local government services. Developed by the National Research Center, Inc. and the International City/County Management Association, it was administered to about 500 jurisdictions nationwide last year.

In the Bay Area, Sunnyvale, Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Stockton also took the survey.

More than 400 Benicia residents participated last fall.

Characteristics evaluated by participants that received the highest ratings include:

• Cleanliness of Benicia.

• Overall image.

• Overall appearance.

• Sense of community.

For the most part, Benicia residents gave their city higher than average ratings on most aspects of the survey, including city services.

In general, those respondents who had contact with a city employee within the last year rated their interactions favorably. Ninety-three percent indicated their overall impression was either excellent or good.

All of the city employee ratings ranked above the average score as compared with the other surveyed jurisdictions.

But the city did not come out smelling entirely of roses.

Areas that did no receive particularly favorable ratings included:

• Ease of rail travel.

• Shopping opportunities.

• Employment opportunities.

• Available affordable housing.

Also, quality health care, cable television recreation got lower ratings as compared to a similar survey administered two years ago.

On the flip side, more residents were satisfied with Benicia's ease of bus travel, youth services and customer service at City Hall.

The survey also addressed where the city should apply additional resources. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said protecting the environment, such as air and water quality, is "essential or very important."

More than 75 percent rated public safety as a priority, and 65 percent said downtown should receive the same attention.

More than half said affordable housing and local access to rail or BART service is essential or very important.

A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES
The city of Benicia asked residents to rank how important it is for the city to direct additional resources to a number of issues, and:

• 78 percent of respondents ranked protecting the environment, such as air and water quality, as essential or very important.

• 76 percent said the same for providing adequate public safety.

• 65 percent said the downtown area should be a high priority.

• 56 percent ranked local access to rail or BART as a top issue.

• 52 percent said more resources should be directed at affordable housing.

• E-mail Tony Burchyns at tburchyns@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6831.