1. City of Huber Heights Public Opinion Survey
Conducted by:
Wright State University
Center for Urban and Public Affairs

2. Methodology
600 citizens were surveyed via a telephone survey of Huber Heights residents
95 % confidence, +/- 4 % margin of error citywide
At least 83 respondents from each ward
Survey conducted from May 7, 2009 through June 11, 2009
77 question survey developed by CUPA in partnership with City staff.

3. Methodolgy Random digit dial (RDD) sampling method utilized
Any household with landline telephone could participate
Does exclude HHs that are cell phone only (estimated at 12%)
Quota sampling method used to closely approximate sample with demographics of City (age, gender)

4. Geocoding
Respondents were asked to provide their street and hundred block for the purpose of analyzing responses by Ward.
7 respondents were purged from the database because they did not live in the City limits.
No identifying information was recorded pertaining to any individual respondent.

5. General Public Sentiment
Overall satisfaction with the City as a place to live:
Beavercreek (2007): 94.2 percent
Yellow Springs (2005): 94.2 percent
Moraine (2008): 94.0 percent
Franklin (2007): 93.6 percent
Huber Heights (2009): 92.3 percent
Urbana (2007): 90.5 percent
Clayton (2005): 83.6 percent
Trotwood (2007): 74.5 percent
Dayton (2007): 71.1 percent

6. General Public Sentiment
Very high level of overall city satisfaction
Regression: Satisfaction with specific service provision are primary indicators
Demographic differences:
Those 65 and older most likely to be “Very Satisfied” with the City
Respondents in Ward Three were most likely to be satisfied (96.1 percent)

7. Paramedic and Fire Services
Very high levels of satisfaction with fire and EMS services in Huber Heights
98.7 percent satisfied with fire and EMS
98.0 percent are satisfied with response time
Respondents who expressed dissatisfaction were asked why- most comments related to response time.

8. Police Services
Most respondents (94.5 percent) are satisfied with police services in Huber Heights.
95.1 percent satisfied with response time
91.2 percent satisfied with how often they see police on the street
No differences among demographic groups, likely due to high percentage of satisfied respondents.

9. Waste Collection
Most residents contract with Rumpke (259) or Waste Management (226) for waste collection services
62.9 percent would support the city consolidating to one hauler.
Most would prefer that their hauler be the sole provider
78.3 percent satisfied with residential leaf collection

10. Yard Waste Disposal
45.5 percent of respondents have used yard waste disposal site
Almost all are satisfied (94.5 percent)
Respondents were asked about a seasonal pass to the waste disposal site
141 respondents said nothing
110 wouldn’t use the site
Of the remaining respondents, $10-20 was the average response

11. City Pool 15.2 percent of respondents have used the city pool
Younger respondents more likely to have used the pool, but also more likely to be dissatisfied
When asked to rate the pool, more than half of respondents (51.7 percent) could not respond
Of those who did respond, 77.9 percent were satisfied
Despite non-use, 77.3 percent believe the city should continue to own the pool

12. Parks and Recreation
Respondents are generally satisfied with all attributes of parks in Huber Heights
90.9 percent are satisfied with the appearance of city parks
90.7 percent satisfied with the safety of city parks
Older respondents more likely to be satisfied with appearance and safety of parks
Most respondents are satisfied with YMCA programming
28.7 percent unfamiliar with programming
Of those who are familiar, 86.0 percent are satisfied

13. Water
Two thirds of respondents (68.3 percent) are satisfied with the quality of drinking water
Significant differences by Ward:
79.6 percent satisfied in Ward Three, 73.2 percent in Ward Four
58.8 percent in Ward Two, 63.4 percent in Ward One
Respondents most likely to be dissatisfied
59.4 percent of residents have a water softener
Of those with a softener, 59.3 percent would prefer their home softener.

14. Water, cont.
15.2 percent of residents have contacted customer service regarding their water
Of those, two thirds are satisfied with the service that they received

15. City Income Tax
More than three-quarters of respondents (76.4 percent) indicated that using RITA was easy or very easy
73.7 percent are satisfied with the service
Those who were dissatisfied discussed:
Having trouble understanding forms
Opposition to regional tax collection
Difficulty having questions answered
One in five respondents contacted city with questions
84.5 percent were satisfied

16. Zoning
More than two-thirds (69.7 percent) are satisfied with zoning codes
Views of zoning codes:
Too strict: 20.5 percent
About right: 57.8 percent
Not strict enough: 21.7 percent
After the move to complaint-based enforcement, respondents were asked about changes
65.9 percent perceived no change, 16.1 percent perceived improvement

17. Neighborhood Variables
87.2 percent satisfied with the appearance of their neighborhood
No differences by Ward
83.9 percent satisfied with housing quality in their neighborhood
89.2 percent in Ward One
75.9 percent in Ward Four

18. Neighborhood Variables

19. Service Cuts
Respondents were asked a question pertaining to what services they would be willing to cut as a result of the reduction in the city income tax
More than half chose not to answer
Of those who did answer, the most common responses were:
Leaf pick-up (41 respondents)
Parks and Recreation
Streets
Views pertaining to education

20. Internet Access
84.8 percent of respondents have residential Internet access.
Most using DSL / cable
8.3 percent with dial-up
42.9 percent have visited the City’s website
Of those, 85.1 percent found it easy to navigate
88.7 percent found information useful

21. Contact with City Employees
29.4 percent of respondents have had contact with a City employee in the past year
Almost all were satisfied with that contact and felt that the employee treated them with respect.

22. Volunteerism
13.7 percent of respondents have volunteered with the City in the past
38.2 percent (219 respondents) are interested in volunteering in the future
50.0 percent of those 18-24
50.5 percent of those 25-34
Volunteer opportunities involving:
Children
Parks and recreation, including clean-up

23. Summary Most residents are satisfied with the City.
Respondents provided, through open-ended comments, numerous specific suggestions for improvements that they would like to see.
Most respondents are satisfied with RITA
Strong levels of satisfaction with emergency services, police, parks and recreation, contact with city employees.

24. Opportunities Internet Volunteer opportunities Education of residents
Specific neighborhood problems more prevalent in some Wards than others
General positive views of government
73.3 percent believe government pays attention
84.2 percent believe government does the right thing
Less than half believes government wastes money

25. Questions?
For more information, please contact: David Jones Survey Research Director Wright State University, Center for Urban and Public Affairs (937)