Community News C
CITY OF ROCHESTER SHARES SURVEY RESULTS T he National Research Center (NRC) and City teammates will share Rochester’s results of the 2022 National Community Survey (NCS) and National Business Survey (NBS). This is the second community survey Rochester has done, the first being in 2018. However, this is the first time the City worked with the NRC, which has assisted both cities and counties with this type of work across the country for over 20
• Rochester has opportunities to consider amenities for resident experience, visitor experience, housing affordability, and yard waste In an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, an analysis of the data identified statistically significance differences across the demographic categories. These items included: • Generally acting in the best interest of the community – 68% for those having lived in Rochester 5 years or less, 54% for those having lived in Rochester 6-10 year and 43% for those having lived in Rochester 11+ years • Voted in your most recent local election – 84% for Home Owners vs 63% for Renters • In-person visits to City facilities (e.g. City Hall, Library, Development Services and Infrastructure Center, Rochester Public Utilities) – 69% for Non- White Alone vs 53% for White Alone • Employment Opportunities – 73% for White Alone vs 48% for Non-White Alone The National Business Survey was an opt-in opportunity and over 230 businesses participated. The key insights from that survey included: 1. Majority of businesses in Rochester feel positively about business climate in the City. 2. Only half of owners/managers gave excellent or good ratings to the city as a place to visit, meaning there is an opportunity to improve visitor experience. 3. City services related to transportation ranked well, but there is an opportunity for the relationship between businesses and the City to improve. The City of Rochester is planning to conduct both the National Community Survey and National Business Survey every two years.
years. The NBS is new for Rochester and also conducted by the NRC. The findings from both surveys will be shared at the August 1 City Council Study Session. “We would like to thank all the community members who participated in the Community Survey or the Business Survey. Your participation helps the City of Rochester because it provides data to prioritize evidenced based decision-making,” shares City Administrator Alison Zelms. “The opportunity to compare our results to other similar communities also allows us to see where we are doing well and what opportunities we have for improvement.” 5,500 residences in Rochester were randomly selected and invited to participate in the statistically significant survey. In total, 828 responses were received. The NCS provides more than 500 comparison communities across the nation, which represent opinions of more than 50 million residents. Key findings from the Rochester survey include: • Residents enjoy a positive quality of life and strong sense of safety in Rochester. • Rochester’s economy and employment opportunities are an asset to the community. • Rochester’s parks and recreational offerings are highly valued by residents. • Feedback strongly reflects a value in receiving many City services virtually/digitally. • Rochester compares very well with similar communities that participate in the survey nationally.
Advantage Magazine | 17
August 2022
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