City of De Soto announces results for first community-wide citizen satisfaction survey
The City of De Soto released the results of its first community-wide survey aimed at both measuring satisfaction with City services and gauging
residents’ priorities for the future.
The survey, administered by Olathe-based national survey leader ETC Institute, showed the City
rated significantly above the national average in 23 of the 34 service areas assessed. The
survey also found that 80 percent of the respondents said they were very satisfied or satisfied
with the overall quality of life in De Soto. In addition, 85 percent would recommend De Soto
as a place to live.
“The survey was abundantly clear – residents have a positive perception of the City,” said Ryan
Murray, Assistant Director of Community Research, ETC. “This is the first time the City has
assessed citizen perception of services, making the results even more impressive. It’s important
to note that even in the areas tagged as a priority for improvement, the City is still scoring higher
than regional and national averages.”
Residents gave top marks to the following, indicating they are “very satisfied” or satisfied” with:
● Feeling of safety: 86 percent
● Overall quality of public education: 82 percent
● Quality of life: 80 percent
● Quality of services provided by the City: 74 percent
Residents gave the highest scores to these City services, with percentages reflecting those
who answered “very satisfied” or “satisfied.”
● Quality of customer service from City employees: 75 percent
● Quality of City Parks and Recreation programs and facilities: 72 percent
● Quality of law enforcement: 72 percent
Residents gave the lowest marks to its “quality of downtown,” with 29 percent saying they are
“very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the area, indicating an opportunity for improvement for the City.
How the survey was administered
The survey was mailed to all households in De Soto. Each household had the option to
complete and return the paper survey, take it online, or take it over the phone. Residents could
also opt to take the survey in Spanish or have questions read to them by an ETC
representative.
A total of 507 residents completed the survey – twice the goal of 250 needed to ensure the
results were statistically valid. The results reflect the city’s demographic and geographic
diversity.
How the City will use the results
The survey results will help City leadership better understand residents’ needs and prioritize
resources accordingly. Residents identified four top priorities for improvement:
● Planning and community development
● Water and wastewater utility services
● Street maintenance
● Communication with the public
“I’m encouraged by the overall high level of satisfaction,” said Mike Brungardt, De Soto City
Administrator. “We know the recent announcement of the Panasonic plant has residents
focused on planning and communication. We look forward to using the survey to help us
continue to improve service delivery and allocate resources effectively.”
Other findings
● Types of businesses: 76 percent would like to see more restaurants, bars and pubs
while 57 percent would like more health and personal care stores. In addition, residents
wrote in “hardware store” more than any other business that they’d like to see in De
Soto..
● The three words most frequently used to describe De Soto by residents were “friendly,”
“small” and “quiet.”
● When asked what “small town” means to residents, most respondents said “friendly,”
“people” and “neighbors.”
The complete survey results can be found here.
For a PPT of the results, including comparisons and context, see here.
An executive summary of the results can be found here.
Original source can be found here.
