Longmont is among the top 10% of all cities and counties in the U.S. in customer satisfaction, according to a new survey from the ETC Institute.
The city earned a “Leading the Way Award” for its performance, which is based on satisfaction scores with overall quality of services, customer service provided by employees and satisfaction with the value residents think they receive for local taxes and fees.
“We are grateful for the trust our community places in us, and for this recognition of our work for the community,” City Manager Harold Dominguez said in a release. “Our north star is doing what is right for our residents and all those who visit and do business in the city. We strive to do that with respect and kindness, and continually explore what we can do better.”
The survey is conducted every two years on behalf of Longmont, though there was no survey in 2020 due to the pandemic. According to the results, 86% of residents are satisfied with the overall quality of city services provided by Longmont compared to a national average of 51%.
The attributes that received the highest ratings had 87% of respondents describe Longmont as a good or excellent place to live, 85% saying the city had a good or excellent quality of life and neighborhoods as a good or excellent place to live, and 83% said the city was a good or excellent place to raise children.
The lowest rated attributes had just 23% of respondents saying Longmont had good or excellent access to affordable quality housing, 27% saying the city had good or excellent accessibility to affordable quality childcare and 40% saying Longmont is a good or excellent place to shop.
Since 2018, the public’s perceptions of 10 aspects grew more positive, including access to healthcare, housing, a place to find a job or work and Longmont as a welcoming and inclusive community.
The aspects of the city that saw a decrease in ratings since 2018 included the overall sense of community, the overall appearance of the city and the perception of Longmont as a place to live, raise children or retire.
The four police services comparable to 2018 data followed national trends, with significant decreases perceived in the overall quality of police services, enforcement of local traffic laws, efforts by animal control to meet public need and efforts by police to prevent crime.
Despite this drop, residents also feel more safe at night downtown, in their neighborhoods and overall in Longmont than they did in 2018.
Based on the importance and satisfaction of residents, the report recommended the city emphasize improvements in the quality of affordable housing programs, neighborhood engagement opportunities and the Longmont Public Library along with improving cleanliness and quality of park restrooms, and preservation of natural areas.
The report also recommended prioritizing fire prevention and risk reduction in the community, efforts by police to prevent crime, enforcement of local traffic laws, programs to assist with alcohol and mental health issues, and police outreach and safety education programs.
On the transportation side, the report recommended prioritizing ease of bicycle travel and supporting electric vehicles while improving the condition of major streets and on-street bicycle infrastructure.
