City of San Rafael 2017 City Satisfaction Survey April 2017

Overview and Research Objectives The City of San Rafael commissioned Godbe Research to conduct a telephone and internet survey of voters with the following research objectives: Assess overall perceptions of living in San Rafael; Gauge satisfaction with the City’s performance in providing resident services and programs; Assess awareness of the City’s financial situation; Determine the most pressing problems facing the City; Test whether residents perceive the City to be responsible with taxpayer dollars; Assess adoption of green/sustainable practices in households; Gauge support for a revenue measure that would preserve essential city services with funding that cannot be taken by the State; Determine the type of tax, impact of features, and duration of the proposed measures on voter support; Assess support for allowing cannabis businesses to operate in San Rafael and taxation of gross receipts of sales; Gauge satisfaction with local information sources; and Identify differences in opinions due to demographic and/or behavioral characteristics that show statistically significant levels.

Methodology Overview Data Collection Internet and telephone Interviewing Universe 46,787 adult residents (ages 18 and older) in the City of San Rafael, with subsamples of likely November 2018 voters (18,466 voters), likely June 2018 voters (13,597), and likely November 2017 voters (12,474). Fielding Dates February 7 through February 19, 2017 Interview Length 25 minutes Sample Size 858 adult residents/all voters 750 likely November 2018 voters 633 likely June 2018 voters 537 likely November 2017 voters Margin of Error + 3.31% adult residents /all voters + 3.51% likely November 2018 voters + 3.80% likely June 2018 voters + 4.14% likely November 2017 voters

Overall Satisfaction

Q1. Satisfaction with Quality of Life n=858

Q1. Satisfaction with Quality of Life Trended Results n=858   2017 2015* 2013 2011 2009 Very satisfied 46.4% 52.3% 70.7% 63% 59% Somewhat satisfied 40.6% 41.5% 23.3% 29% 32% Total Satisfied 87.0% 93.8% 94.0% 92% 91% Somewhat dissatisfied 9.2% 4.9% 3.5% 5% 6% Very dissatisfied 2.7% 1.2% 2.2% 3% 4% Not sure 1.1% .2% <1% * Due to the overlap of the survey start date and the closure of Boyd Park, the data for the 2015 resident satisfaction questions have been normalized to account for news stories during the initial interviewing. Normalization was accomplished by removing interviews conducted on the first two days of the survey for purposes of this report. The full data set (before normalization) is available in the 2015 detailed cross-tabulations.

Q2. Satisfaction with Overall City Services n=858

Q2. Satisfaction with Overall City Services Trended Results n=858   2017 2015* 2013 2011 2009 Very satisfied 31.8% 43.6% 36.2% 42% 43% Somewhat satisfied 44.3% 40.4% 47.8% 39% 41% Total Satisfied 76.1% 84.0% 81% 84% Somewhat dissatisfied 12.3% 8.8% 7.5% 7% Very dissatisfied 3.9% 2.9% 4.9% 5% Not sure 7.8% 4.2% 3.7% 6% 3% * Due to the overlap of the survey start date and the closure of Boyd Park, the data for the 2015 resident satisfaction questions have been normalized to account for news stories during the initial interviewing. Normalization was accomplished by removing interviews conducted on the first two days of the survey for purposes of this report. The full data set (before normalization) is available in the 2015 detailed cross-tabulations.

Q3. City’s Financial Situation n=858

Q3. City’s Financial Situation Trended Results n=858   2017 2015 2013 2011 2009 2007 2005 Excellent 4.6% 2.6% 4.2% 3% 4% 7% 5% Good 34.0% 35.2% 33.8% 17% 24% 32% Excellent + Good 38.6% 37.8% 38.0% 20% 28% 39% 37% Fair 18.2% 19.6% 26.0% 38% 34% 31% Poor 4.4% 7.0% 5.9% 12% 10% 11% Not sure 38.7% 35.5% 30.1% 22% 26% 21%

Satisfaction with Individual Services

Q4. Satisfaction with City Services I n=858 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Very Dissatisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Very Satisfied Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes. The responses were recoded to calculate mean scores: “Very Satisfied” = +2, “Somewhat Satisfied” = +1, “Somewhat Dissatisfied” = -1 and “Very Dissatisfied” = -2.

Q4. Satisfaction with City Services II n=858 Tier 3 Tier 4 Tier 5 T-6 Very Dissatisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Very Satisfied Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes. The responses were recoded to calculate mean scores: “Very Satisfied” = +2, “Somewhat Satisfied” = +1, “Somewhat Dissatisfied” = -1 and “Very Dissatisfied” = -2.

Q4. Satisfaction with City Services Trended Results n=858 2017 2015* 2013 2011 2009 4I. Providing fire and paramedic services 1.60 1.4 1.57 1.7 4H. Providing public library services 1.48 1.39 1.42 1.3 4B. Providing police protection 1.40 1.2 1.32 1.5 4Y. Providing garbage collection and recycling services 1.37 1.34 4E. Preserving open space 1.24 1.12 1.31 4T. Providing adequate parks and recreation facilities 1.22 1.29 4A. Providing programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 1.21 1.05 0.8 0.7 0.6 4V. Providing recreational and cultural arts programs 1.19 1 1.23 4Q. Providing senior citizen services 1.17 0.97 1.14 1.1 4S. Providing community events 0.94 1.26 4N. Trimming trees along city streets 1.13 1.16 4U. Maintaining parks 4O. Cleaning and sweeping city streets 1.07 1.02 4Z. Enforcing traffic and parking laws 0.81 1.06 - 4CC. Effectively providing building planning and permitting services  - 4W. Providing child care services 0.38 0.9 4K. Maintaining storm drains 1.04 0.92 0.85 4M. Providing bike and pedestrian friendly routes 0.89 1.18 4R. Providing youth and teen services 0.96 0.66 4BB. Having your voice heard in City government 4L. Maintaining sidewalks 0.86 0.79 4X. Meeting the needs of ethnic minorities 0.83 0.62 4D. Managing growth and development 0.77 0.74 1.09 4P. Providing sufficient parking downtown 0.76 0.18 0.61 4G. Maintaining city streets and roads 0.64 0.71 0.5 4C. Keeping taxes at affordable levels 0.53 0.31 0.65 0.4 0.3 4F. Managing traffic on city streets 0.48 0.51 4J. Providing affordable housing 0.39 0.16 0.19 4AA. Reducing the impacts of homelessness 0.07 Maintaining City facilities -  1.25 Maintaining and weeding median strips *Due to the overlap of the survey start date and the closure of Boyd Park, the data for the 2015 resident satisfaction questions have been normalized to account for news stories during the initial interviewing. Normalization was accomplished by removing interviews conducted on the first two days of the survey for purposes of this report. The full data set (before normalization) is available in the 2015 detailed cross-tabulations.

Areas of Improvement Based on the importance – satisfaction values shown on the following pages, the top priorities for improvements are: Reducing the impacts of homelessness (4AA) Managing traffic on city streets (4F) Maintaining city streets and roads (4G) Providing sufficient parking downtown (4P)

Importance – Satisfaction Matrix n=858 Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3

Other Services and Issues

Q5. Problems Facing San Rafael n=858

Q5. Problems Facing San Rafael Trended Results n=858   2017 2015 2013 2011 2009 2007 2005 Homelessness 26.2% 25.9% 19.4% 8% 5% 3% 4% Cost of living or affordability of housing 25.2% 15.0% 7.8% 9% 12% 10% Growth and/or overcrowding 5.6% 3.2% 2.4% 11% Availability of jobs 3.8% 1.5% 4.6% 1% 2% City employee pensions and benefits are too high 2.3% 9.2% 6.5% - Condition or safety of streets 0.9% 3.9% Public safety (includes crime) 1.3% 4.1% 5.3% 6% Illegal immigrants or day laborers 1.2% 6.4% Condition or safety of sidewalks/pathways 2.5% 0% Quality of education 1.0% 7% Poor financial situation/condition 0.8% 2.0% 8.7% 17% Condition or safety of buildings 0.4% 1.8% <1% Other 6.7% 3.6% 17.4% 14% DK/NA 5.2% 9.0%

Q6. Satisfaction with City’s Spending of Taxpayers’ Money n=858

Q6. Satisfaction with City’s Spending of Taxpayers’ Money Trended Results n=858   2017 2015 2013 2011 2009 2007 2003* 2001* 1999* Satisfied 30.0% 29.5% 52.4% 53% 45% 56% 46% 47% 49% Dissatisfied 19.6% 19.9% 24% 25% 28% 37% 35% 32% Mixed opinions 32.0% 29.8% 8.6% 12% 13% 4% 17% 18% 19% No opinion 6.9% 9.8% 18.8% 9% 15% 11% DK/NA 11.4% .1% .5% 1% 2% Not sure 10.9%

Q7. Frequency of Using Green or Sustainable Practices n=858  Split Sample C  Split Sample D Never Some of the Time Most of the Time Almost Always Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes, and responses were recoded to calculate mean scores: “Almost Always” = +3, “Most of the Time” = +2, “Some of the Time” = +1, and “Never” = 0.

Q8. Reasons for Not Adopting Green or Sustainable Practices n=295

Revenue Measure Ballot Tests

Q9. Uninformed Support: Sales Tax Sample A 55.1% Shall the City of San Rafael increase the local sales tax rate by one-quarter percent to provide funding that cannot be taken by the State, and can be used to preserve essential city services for a period of 20 years, including: maintaining rapid emergency police and fire response times and anti-gang and anti-drug programs, maintaining adequate numbers of on-duty firefighters and paramedics and police, addressing sea level rise and flooding, maintaining community centers and repairing city streets? 56.8% 57.7%

Q10. Uninformed Support: Utility Users Tax Sample B 39.5% Shall the City of San Rafael levy a 5 percent utility users tax on telecommunications, gas, electric, water and sewer services to provide funding that cannot be taken by the State, and can be used to preserve essential city services for a period of 20 years, including: maintaining rapid emergency police and fire response times, maintaining adequate numbers of on- duty firefighters and paramedics and police, addressing sea level rise and flooding, maintaining community centers and repairing city streets? 40.4% 35.6%

Q11. Statements About the Measure Likely November 2017 Voters n=537 Tier 2 Tier 3 T-4 T-5  Sample C  Sample D Tier 6 Much Less Likely Somewhat Less Likely No Effect Somewhat More Likely Much More Likely Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes, and responses were recoded to calculate mean scores: “Much More Likely” = +2, “Somewhat More Likely” = +1, “No Effect” = 0, “Somewhat Less Likely” = -1, and “Much Less Likely” = -2.

Q12. Informed Support: Sales Tax Sample A 54.4% Shall the City of San Rafael increase the local sales tax rate by one-quarter percent to provide funding that cannot be taken by the State, and can be used to preserve essential city services for a period of 20 years, including: maintaining rapid emergency police and fire response times and anti-gang and anti-drug programs, maintaining adequate numbers of on-duty firefighters and paramedics and police, addressing sea level rise and flooding, maintaining community centers and repairing city streets? 55.9% 58.8%

Q13. Support for Alternative Sales Tax Measure with 9 Year Duration Sample A 56.2% INSTEAD of a levy for 20 years, another alternative would be to end the measure after 9 years. 57.6% 58.9%

Q14. Uninformed Support: Utility Users Tax Sample B 41.2% Shall the City of San Rafael levy a 5 percent utility users tax on telecommunications, gas, electric, water and sewer services to provide funding that cannot be taken by the State, and can be used to preserve essential city services for a period of 20 years, including: maintaining rapid emergency police and fire response times, maintaining adequate numbers of on- duty firefighters and paramedics and police, addressing sea level rise and flooding, maintaining community centers and repairing city streets? 41.8% 37.5%

Q15. Support for Alternative UUT Measure with 9 Year Duration Sample B 47.0% INSTEAD of a levy for 20 years, another alternative would be to end the measure after 9 years. 47.4% 40.5%

Q16. Support for Future Cannabis Ordinances Likely November 2017 Voters (n=537) Tier 1 Tier 2 Strongly Oppose Somewhat Oppose Somewhat Support Strongly Support Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes, and responses were recoded to calculate mean scores: “Strongly Support” = +2, “Somewhat Support= +1, “Somewhat Oppose” = -1, and “Strongly Oppose” = -2.

Q17. Suppot for Tax on Cannabis Businesses 73.2% Shall the City of San Rafael levy an ongoing tax of up to 10% of gross receipts of potential future cannabis (marijuana) businesses in the city, which could provide over $5 million dollars annually, requiring independent citizen oversight, financial audits, and that all funds stay in the City of San Rafael and cannot be taken by the State, to be used to maintain and enhance City services, including maintaining rapid emergency police and fire response times, maintaining community centers, repairing city streets and other general city services? 73.7% 71.8%

Communications

Q18. Satisfaction with Local Information Sources n=858 Very Dissatisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Very Satisfied Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes, and responses were recoded to calculate mean scores: “Very Satisfied” = +2, “Somewhat Satisfied= +1, “Somewhat Dissatisfied” = -1, and “Very Dissatisfied” = -2.

Executive Summary

Executive Summary Overall, residents continue to have a positive opinion of the quality of life in the City of San Rafael. Eighty-seven percent of respondents indicated that they are “very satisfied” (46.4%) or “somewhat satisfied” (40.6%) with the quality of life in San Rafael. Opinion of the City’s financial situation is slightly better at 38.6 percent, although not statistically different. In 2015, 37.8 percent of residents felt the City financial situation was excellent or good, compared to 38 percent in 2013. In an open-end format, residents’ concerns clearly reflect current events. In the current survey: Homelessness was citied by 26.2% Cost of living or affordability of housing was an important concern among 25.2% Traffic congestion was a top concern among 17.7%

Executive Summary Overall, 76.1 percent of respondents were satisfied with the job the City is doing to provide services (31.8% “very satisfied” and 44.3% “somewhat satisfied”). Respondents reported satisfaction with a wide range of city services. The survey assessed 29 specific city services. For 18 services, respondents as a whole were between “somewhat” and “very satisfied.” Further, 29 of 29 services received positive rankings. Thirty percent respondents indicated they were satisfied with the job the City is doing to spend taxpayer money, while 19.6 percent were dissatisfied. Thirty-two percent had mixed opinions and 11.4 percent did not have an opinion. With respect to sustainable behavior, majorities of respondents use reusable bags at grocery and other stores, compost kitchen food scraps, and reduced water consumption more than “most of the time”. But, only 30.8 percent use alternative modes of transportation. The top reason for not engaging in sustainable practices continues to be “inconvenient” at 37.2 percent.

Executive Summary Before information was provided, 55.1 percent of likely November 2017 voters supported a measure to increase the local sales tax by ¼ percent. Contrastingly, 39.5 percent of likely November 2017 voters supported a measure to increase the local utility users tax by 5 percent. The top arguments for the measure among the likely November 2017 voters included: Every penny from this measure must stay in San Rafael. No funds can be taken away by the state Maintaining adequate numbers of on-duty firefighters and paramedics and police Maintaining rapid emergency police and fire response times The measure will continue the appointed Citizen Oversight Committee to assure the money raised is used for its intended purposes Repairing city streets and sidewalks After information was provided 54.4 percent of likely November 2017 voters support the measure to increase the local sales tax by ¼ percent. Alternatively, 41.2 percent of likely November 2017 voters supported a measure to increase the local utility users tax by 5 percent. Sixty-six percent of respondents support allowing medical cannabis businesses in San Rafael and 55.4 percent support allowing recreational cannabis businesses in the City.

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