CITY OF FLUSHING Citizen Survey April 22, 2009

Flushing Residents Respond

Survey Objectives Establish benchmark for municipal services Determine priorities for expenditures Determine support for planned projects Develop community profile for services Measure quality of services Listen to all residents and avoid the “squeaky wheel syndrome”

Confidence in Responses 2,980 surveys sent to residents – one to every household with a registered voter 3% confidence interval 90% confidence level = 679 responses 95% confidence level = 919 responses 99% confidence level = 1,445 responses 1,102 survey responses received – 97% confidence level achieved

Demographics How many years have you lived in the City of Flushing? 0 to 5 years14526 to 30 years 94 6 to 10 years13231 to 35 years to 15 years11236 to 40 years to 20 years11641 to 45 years to 25 years years101

Demographics – cnt’d Do you have access to a computer? YesNo At home At work Internet access at home % Internet access at work385713

Demographics – cnt’d Yes No Do you subscribe to cable television? If yes, are you satisfied with Comcast?

Demographics – cnt’d In which category is your age? 18 – 24 years 5 25 – 34 years54 35 – 44 years – 54 years – 64 years – 74 years years or older208

Demographics – cnt’d What was you household’s total annual income in 2007? less than $25, % $25,000 - $49, % $50,000 - $99, % $100,000 - $149, % $150,000 - $199, % $200,000 or more 29 3%

Demographics – cnt’d 59% of population is still above low to moderate income status. Although Community Development Block Grant funds are allocated by the county for our use, we have very limited ability to spend the money!!!!! Other than a small allocation of funds for senior center operations, from 1996 through 2003, one planning study, an ADA Compliance study and sidewalk ramps were approved for expenditure that did not involve senior center funding. The “County Senior Tax Millage” now provides funding for the senior center. The following projects were denied funding during this period: Handicap access ramp at the bandshell Paving, sewer and water lines on Sharrer Drive (a local street) Jaws of life Maple Street Water lines Trailway switchback ramps (for accessability) Elevator for 309 E. Main St. (approved and revoked) The 2010 Census may identify areas that can be served by the CDBG program.

Demographics – cnt’d YesNo Do any children 12 or under live in your household? Do any teenagers between 13 and 17 live in your household? Are you or any other member of your household aged 65 or older?441632

Quality of Life Please rate your quality of life in the City of Flushing. Excellent Good Fair Poor Overall, how would you describe the quality of life in the City of Flushing? 1.57 How do you rate the overall quality of your neighborhood? 1.73 How do you rate City of Flushing as a place to raise children? 1.60 How do you rate City of Flushing as a place to retire? 1.88 How do you rate City of Flushing as a place for young adults to live? 1.98 Number of respondents1073

Quality of Life – cnt’d In the past year, how often have you visited downtown Flushing? Daily 27326% Weekly 53350% Monthly 12011% Once in a while % Don't go 5>1% Number of respondents 1,073

Quality of Life – cnt’d Please rate each of the following characteristics of the City of Flushing Excellent Good Fair Poor Feeling welcome in the City of Flushing 1.83 Overall appearance of the City of Flushing 1.76 Opportunities to attend cultural events 2.22 Employment opportunities 3.21 Shopping opportunities 2.66 Access of buildings and service for individuals with disabilities 2.24 Access to affordable housing 2.31 Ease of travel by bicycle 1.93 Ease of travel by walking 1.65 Number of respondents 1,072

Quality of Life cnt’d How safe do you feel? Very Reasonably Somewhat Unreasonably Unsafe Walking alone in your neighborhood during the day? 1.22 Walking alone in your neighborhood after dark? 1.82 Walking alone downtown during the day? 1.18 Walking alone downtown after dark? 1.92 Walking in parks during the day? 1.51 Walking in parks after dark? 2.82 Crossing major streets in the City of Flushing? 1.72 Number of respondents1,075

Quality of Life – cont’d. Please rate how much of a problem, if at all, each of the following is in your neighborhood No Minor Moderate Major Extreme Problem Problem Problem Problem Problem Traffic1.70 Crime 1.58 Overgrown grass 1.49 Unkempt lots 1.56 Run-down houses and buildings 1.52 Parking vehicles on sidewalks 1.51 Number of respondents1,070

Quality of Life – cnt’d. Should the City of Flushing make it a priority to build better bike paths? Yes54155% No43945% Number of respondents 980

Quality of Life – cnt’d. In the last 12 months, how many times have you, or a family member in your home done the following things: NeverRarelyOftenFrequently Used one of the City’s parks 2.73 Attended the Summer Festival 2.47 Attended a Music in the Park Series event 2.27 Used Tucker Pool 1.43 Visited the Library 2.53 Shopped in Downtown Flushing 2.88 Number of respondents1,070

Tucker pool use by city residents

City Services Please rate to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements: Neither StronglyAgree/Strongly Agree Agree DisagreeDisagree Disagree I receive good value for the City of Flushing government taxes I pay 2.40 I am pleased with the overall direction that the City of Flushing government is taking 2.34 The City of Flushing government welcomes citizen involvement 2.45 The City fairly allocates resources to all areas of the community 2.44 The City addresses the needs of my neighborhood fairly compared to other neighborhoods 2.34 I trust that the City Council and staff do what they say they are going to do 2.41 Number of respondents1,101

City Services – cnt’d. Please rate the condition of the following within the City of Flushing Excellent Good Fair Poor Streets 1.96 Park grounds 1.82 Riverview Trail 1.57 Street Trees (in Right of Way) 2.07 Sidewalks 2.24 Athletic Fields 1.99 City owned buildings 2.24

City Services – cnt’d Please rate the quality of each of the following City government services: Excellent Good Fair Poor Refuse collection 1.51 Recycling services 1.56 Leaf pick-up 1.69 Street repairs and maintenance 2.01 Snow and Ice removal – streets 1.56 Street sweeping 2.02 Street lighting 2.01 Property code enforcement 2.30 Building inspections 2.18 Summer recreation programs 1.59 Library services 1.84 Police services 1.70 Fire services 1.64 Ambulance services 1.78 Cemetery maintenance 1.77 Downtown beautification 1.95 Utility billing (water/sewer)2.05 Water and sewer services 1.92 Enforcement of traffic laws1.99 Drinking water quality 1.78 Number of respondents1,071

City employees Have you had telephone or in-person contact with a City of Flushing government employee within the last twelve months (Including receptionists, inspectors, police, administrators, or any others)? Yes85782% No19118% Number of respondents 1,048

City employees – cnt’d What was your impression of City government employees in your most recent contact? Excellent Good Fair Poor Knowledgeable 1.62 Courteous 1.68 Responsive 1.71 Follow-up (Got back to you or took action) 1.77 Overall customer service 1.68

Communication How much information do you get about the City of Flushing government from each of the following sources: MostA lotSomeNone Newsletter 2.44 City web site 3.55 Local television 2.93 Local radio 3.43 City Council meetings 3.58 “Word of mouth” 2.67 Number of respondents 1,025

Communication – cont’d Please indicate whether you receive enough information about each of the following City of Flushing government functions. Then indicate how important each item is to you. Amount of information Importance NotAboutToo * Enough Right Much Very Somewhat Not At All Mayor and Council Actions 1.55 * 1.72 Special events 1.78 * 1.75 Construction projects 1.66 * 1.75 Volunteer Opportunities 1.68 * 2.05 Recreation and Park Activities 1.79 * 1.84 New Laws/Ordinances 1.55 * 1.52 Number of respondents977

Communication – cnt’d Do you find the City newsletter valuable for the following purposes? Percentage Yes Actions of the Mayor and Council44%425 Information about upcoming events 58% 624 Government Projects42% 455 Updates on City issues61%671 Details of city operations40%439 None of it 8% 86

Looking Forward As we plan for the future of the City of Flushing, please circle true or false if you agree or disagree with each of the following statements: True False I support the continuation of Special Events in Riverview Park 1, I support the continuation of running events in the city I support the expansion of the city trail system I support connecting new trails with adjoining communities I support aggressive marketing of our community to attract tourism

Please rate how you feel about the amount of taxes you pay for the services received: Willing to pay Maintain service Reduce service in taxes to improve “as is” w/no change and reduce this service to my taxes my taxes Average Fire services Street repairs Police services Street maintenance Sidewalk replacement Library expansion Park maintenance Curbside recycling Yard waste pick-up Special rubbish pickups Park improvements Summer Recreation program Downtown parking Main Street beautification Senior Center expansion Downtown beautification Street sweeping Tucker Pool replacement Public Art Displays

Looking Forward – cnt’d The following is a list of potential priorities for the City Council. Please rank your top five (5) according to importance, w/ 1 being the MOST Important and 5 being the LEAST important. Average 1.Increase Police service levels Street maintenance/preservation Increase Fire service levels Relocating or expanding Library Selling old Police Station building Increased Library services Relocating and expanding Senior Center Increase downtown parking Downtown beautification/aesthetics Improving the City Web site Increasing the frequency of City Newsletters 3.62

As the millage vote to convert the former City Hall into a library did not pass, options for future uses of this building are being considered. Any future plans for this building will need resident support, and with this in mind it is important to know which options our citizens would support. The following questions have been designed so that we may proceed in a manner that will assure the City Council of the direction that you would like to see pursued. Agree Disagree It is important for the city to maintain 36% 64% ownership of this building? Would you financially support renovating this building for a public use? Should the city continue to fund the maintenance of the building until a new use can be identified? Was the lack of your support to fund a library conversion due to Flushing Township’s decision to opt out of a joint funding formula? Should the city attempt to lease the building to provide funding for building maintenance?

Looking Forward – cnt’d Due to significant required updates needed to maintain the existing sewage treatment plant, options need to be considered before considering the financing of improvements to this facility. The options that we are confronted with deal with a decision to maintain our own sewage plant facility, or consider connecting to Genesee County’s system. Agree Disagree Should the city continue to operate our own sewage plant regardless of cost? Should the city base this decision solely on anticipated costs to the residents? Should the city consider selling bonds to finance the needed plant upgrades?665202

Summary- Demographics Response provides a confidence level of over 95% 62% of residents have lived in the City over 15 years 68% of residents have internet access at home 80% of residents subscribe to Comcast Cable 41% of residents are satisfied with Comcast 84% of residents are over 45 years old 59% of residents annual income exceeds $50,000 13% of households have children under the age of 17

Summary – Quality of Life For all ages and neighborhoods, residents rate every measure of the Quality of Life in Flushing between Good and Excellent Over 76% of residents visit Downtown Flushing at least once per week In Flushing, overall appearance, walkability, travel by bicycle, feeling welcome, cultural events, affordable housing and access for the physically challenged were all rated between good and excellent. Residents rate the neighborhoods, downtown and parks as very safe. Traffic, Parking, Crime, Unkempt lots, house and building condition were rated to be “minor” to “no problem”. 8% of residents use Tucker Pool often or frequently.

Summary – City Services City Services are viewed positively when measuring: Value vs. taxes paid Overall direction of government Resource allocation of areas in community Responsive to needs in neighborhoods The condition of City property is viewed as “Good” to Excellent” The quality of City Services are rated as “Good” to Excellent”

Summary - City Employees Contact with City employees provided an impression of “Good” to “Excellent” when considering knowledge, courtesy, responsiveness, and follow-up to inquiries.

Summary - Communications Residents receive most information about their government from the newsletter, newspaper, television, and word of mouth. Residents receive the least information about their government from the web site, local radio, and monthly meetings. Residents would like more information regarding Council actions, construction projects, new laws, and volunteer opportunities. The newsletter is most useful for upcoming events and City issues.

Summary – Looking forward Strong support was given for Riverview Park special events, Running events, and expansion of the trail system. For every service provided by the city, residents supported maintaining services with no increase or decrease in the taxes. The top 5 priorities, according to importance, were listed as: Increasing Police service levels, Street maintenance, Increasing Fire service levels, Relocating or expanding the library, and Selling the old police station.

Summary – Former City Hall Former City Hall building: 64% of residents disagree that the City should maintain ownership. 63% of residents do not support renovation for a public use. 71% of residents believe in continued maintenance of the building. 84% of residents support leasing the building to provide for building maintenance.

Summary – Sewer Plant Options When considering options to continue maintaining a sewer treatment plant or connecting to the County system: 44% felt that the city should operate our own plant regardless of cost. 71% felt that this decision should be based solely on anticipated costs to the residents. 77% of residents stated that the city should consider selling bonds to finance the needed plant upgrades.

CDBG Funding Question 59% of population is still above low to moderate income status. Although Community Development Block Grant funds are allocated by the county for our use, we have very limited ability to spend the money!!!!! The 2010 Census may identify areas that can be served by the CDBG program.