THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 5, 1994 TAG: 9408040243
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Nine out of 10 Virginia Beach residents surveyed in June like the way their city is run and they like living here.
That's the good news.
The bad news is some of them don't like the way city officials have handled rapid residential development, drainage systems, street repairs, oceanfront parking and water supplies. The City Council members were briefed on those feelings Tuesday and say they will take them into consideration in mapping out strategy for future municipal operations.
The data before the council comes from the second annual citizens' satisfaction survey, a random opinion sampling covering 501 residents from every corner of the city.
The results, which have a 4.38 margin of error, vary little from those extracted from a similar evaluation of municipal operations in 1993.
The main difference is that Oceanfront parking was bumped from the top of the ``dissatisfaction'' column by complaints of ``lack of planning for residential growth.''
According to a telephone survey, conducted early in June by Issues and Answers Network Inc., a private Virginia Beach consulting firm, 36 percent of those interviewed felt residential growth has been too rapid, ``over-built or not planned.''
Storm water drainage prompted 33 percent of those surveyed to conclude that city drainage systems are poorly maintained, and that they were getting nothing for their money when they pay storm water fees. Most of those complaining about the fees live in or near the resort oceanfront, surveyors explained.
City roads prompted grumbling from 32 percent of those interviewed. Dissatisfied respondents felt the city was slower to repair streets and highways in some areas of the city, but didn't specify which areas.
Parking problems at the oceanfront elicited complaints from 26 percent of survey respondents, while 21 percent said the city needs more programs and facilities for the homeless. Twenty-one percent complained that city water and sewer services were too expensive. They also grumped about continued water restrictions and the city's futile efforts to obtain its own water source.
What surveyed citizens do like about the city is its library system, its parks, its museums, its waste collection systems and its recreation centers. More than 90 percent of the survey respondents expressed satisfaction with these services.
They also gave high marks to the city rescue squad operations, agricultural services, lifeguard services and fire and police protection.
The survey was a result of a number of strategic goals set by the City Council at a retreat held two years ago. At the time council members decided that they wanted to know how Virginia Beach citizens felt about the way the city operates.
The opinion sampling cost the city $13,096 this year, compared to $25,640 in 1993.
As she did last year Mayor Meyera Oberndorf offered an addendum to the opinion survey, based on telephone calls to her office.
``The interviews were in early June before the rains came,'' she said. ``Judging by my phone calls, absorbing this much water this quickly obviously presented the city staff with problems.'' ILLUSTRATION: CITIZEN DISSATISFACTION BEEFS
Planning for residential growth and development - 29 percent in
1993; 36 percent in 1994.
Storm water drainage - 35 percent in 1993; 33 percent in 1994.
City streets and roads - 27 percent in 1993; 32 percent in 1994.
Parking facilities at the Oceanfront and Municipal Center - 44
percent in 1993; 26 percent in 1994.
Services for the homeless - 27 percent in 1993; 21 percent in
1994.
City water and sanitary sewer services - 26 percent in 1993; 21
percent in 1994.
by CNB