PowerPoint Presentation

Results for
Glendale, AZ
2023 National
Community Survey™

Civic Communication & 
Analytics Platform
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civic surveying, policy polling, and constituent 
communication tech platform. 
Advanced Survey Science 
& Performance Analytics
Data insights to help communities move forward. 
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and performance benchmarking analyses. 
Exclusive partners of:
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Visit www.polco.us to learn 
more

Monitor trends in 
resident opinion
Measure government 
performance
Benchmarking 
to other 
communities
Inform budget, 
land use, strategic 
planning decisions
Role of Resident Surveys in Local Governance

Facets of Community Livability

The National Community Survey™in Glendale
The NCS™for Glendale, AZ
●First time conducting The NCS 
●Survey conducted from January 9, 2023 – February 20, 2023
●Mailing approach employed:
●Probability-based sample of 5,000 randomly selected households
●375 total responses received
●8% overall response rate
●Non-probability, open-participation survey: 130 responses
●Results statistically weighted to reflect Glendale overall
●95% confidence interval with a +/- 5% margin of error

Polco’s Benchmarking Database
More than 500
comparison communities 
across the nation.
Representing the opinions 
of more than 50 million
residents.

Overview of 
Survey Results

Who took the survey? (Race and Ethnicity)
American 
Indian or 
Alaskan 
Native
2%
Asian, Asian Indian, 
or Pacific Islander
6%
Black or 
African 
American
6%
White
72%
Other
14%
No
67%
Yes
33%
Are you Spanish, Hispanic,
or Latino?

Who took the survey? (Household Income)
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Less than
$25,000
$25,000 to
$49,999
$50,000 to
$74,999
$75,000 to
$99,000
$100,000 to
$149,999
$150,000 or
more

Who took the survey? (Gender)
Woman
51%
Man
48%
Identify in 
another way
1%

Who took the survey? (Age)
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
18-24 years
25-34 years
35-44 years
45-54 years
55-64 years
65-74 years

Facets of 
Community 
Livability:
Quality
67%
59%
45%
32%
46%
56%
52%
45%
44%
49%
Residents' connection and engagement
with their community
Overall opportunities for education,
culture, and the arts
Overall health and wellness
opportunities
Overall quality of parks and recreation
opportunities
Overall quality of natural environment
Overall feeling of safety
Overall quality of the utility infrastructure
Overall design or layout of residential
and commercial areas
Overall quality of the transportation
system
Overall economic health
PERCENT EXCELLENT or GOOD
Higher
Similar
Lower
COMPARISON TO 
NATIONAL
BENCHMARK:

Facets of 
Community 
Livability:
Importance
62%
78%
82%
81%
84%
95%
92%
75%
81%
90%
Residents' connection and
engagement with their community
Overall opportunities for education,
culture, and the arts
Overall health and wellness
opportunities
Overall quality of parks and recreation
opportunities
Overall quality of natural environment
Overall feeling of safety
Overall quality of the utility
infrastructure
Overall design or layout of residential
and commercial areas
Overall quality of the transportation
system
Overall economic health
PERCENT ESSENTIAL OR VERY
IMPORTANT
Higher
Similar
Lower
COMPARISON TO 
NATIONAL
BENCHMARK:

Balancing Quality and Importance

Comparisons to National Benchmarks
76
received similar
ratings
46
received 
more 
negative 
ratings
0
received 
more 
positive
ratings

Comparisons to Communities in AZ, NM, NV, and UT
93
received similar
ratings
24
received 
more 
negative 
ratings
5
received 
more 
positive
ratings

Key Findings

Utilities are a top 
priority and a 
strength of the 
Glendale 
community.
Key Finding #1

Overall quality of the utility infrastructure in 
Glendale
Poor
10%
Fair
23%
Good
51%
Excellent
16%

Utilities (National vs Regional Benchmarks)
45%
81%
77%
61%
75%
63%
60%
Affordable high speed
internet access
Garbage collection
Drinking water
Sewer services
Storm water management
Power (electric and/or gas)
utility
Utility billing
PERCENT EXCELLENT OR
GOOD
Please rate the quality of each of the 
following services in Glendale:
45%
81%
60%
77%
61%
75%
63%
Affordable high speed internet
access
Garbage collection
Drinking water
Sewer services
Storm water management
Power (electric and/or gas)
utility
Utility billing
PERCENT EXCELLENT OR
GOOD
COMPARISON 
TO 
BENCHMARK:

While the City’s 
safety services 
received positive 
ratings, residents 
indicate concerns 
about crime.
Key Finding #2

63%
Fire 
prevention/ 
education
65%
Police 
services
54%
Emergency 
preparedness
Safety Services in Glendale
84%
Fire 
services
45%
Crime 
prevention
(Percent Excellent or Good)

Overall feeling of safety in Glendale
Poor
20%
Fair
36%
Good
35%
Excellent
9%

Safety (National vs Regional Benchmarks)
88%
54%
53%
74%
79%
From fire, flood, or natural
disaster
From violent crime
From property crime
In Glendale's commercial
areas during the day
In your neighborhood during
the day
PERCENT VERY OR
SOMEWHAT SAFE
88%
54%
53%
74%
79%
From fire, flood, or natural
disaster
From violent crime
From property crime
In Glendale's commercial
areas during the day
In your neighborhood during
the day
PERCENT VERY OR
SOMEWHAT SAFE
COMPARISON 
TO 
BENCHMARK: 
Please rate how safe or unsafe you 
feel:

Survey 
participants are 
pleased with 
mobility in 
Glendale but 
identify 
opportunities for 
additional focus.
Key Finding #3

Overall quality of the transportation system in 
Glendale
Poor
14%
Fair
41%
Good
35%
Excellent
10%

Mobility (National vs Regional Benchmarks)
40%
45%
46%
52%
54%
62%
Traffic flow on major
streets
Ease of travel by public
transportation
Ease of travel by bicycle
Ease of walking
Ease of public parking
Ease of travel by car
PERCENT EXCELLENT
OR GOOD
Please rate each of the following in 
the Glendale community:
45%
40%
46%
52%
54%
62%
Traffic flow on major streets
Ease of travel by public
transportation
Ease of travel by bicycle
Ease of walking
Ease of public parking
Ease of travel by car
PERCENT EXCELLENT
OR GOOD
COMPARISON 
TO 
BENCHMARK:

Mobility (National vs Regional Benchmarks)
42%
47%
50%
58%
30%
46%
47%
Street repair
Traffic signal timing
Street cleaning
Traffic enforcement
Sidewalk maintenance
Bus or transit services
Street lighting
PERCENT EXCELLENT
OR GOOD
Please rate the quality of each of 
following services in Glendale:
50%
42%
46%
47%
47%
58%
30%
Street repair
Traffic signal timing
Street cleaning
Traffic enforcement
Sidewalk maintenance
Bus or transit services
Street lighting
PERCENT EXCELLENT
OR GOOD
COMPARISON 
TO 
BENCHMARK:

Residents 
appreciate the 
community 
design of 
Glendale.
Key Finding #4

Overall design or layout of Glendale’s residential 
and commercial areas
Poor
11%
Fair
32%
Good
44%
Excellent
13%

Community Design (National vs Regional 
Benchmarks)
58%
56%
54%
53%
52%
51%
43%
27%
64%
49%
Your neighborhood as a place
to live
Preservation of historical
character
Overall quality of new
development
Well-planned residential
growth
Public places where people
want to spend time
Well-planned commercial
growth
Well-designed neighborhoods
Overall appearance
Variety of housing options
Availability of affordable quality
housing
PERCENT EXCELLENT OR
GOOD
Please rate the quality of each of the following services in Glendale:
59%
56%
55%
53%
53%
51%
43%
27%
64%
49%
Your neighborhood as a
place to live
Preservation of historical
character
Overall quality of new
development
Well-planned residential
growth
Public places where people
want to spend time
Well-planned commercial
growth
Well-designed
neighborhoods
Overall appearance
Variety of housing options
Availability of affordable
quality housing
PERCENT EXCELLENT OR
GOOD
COMPARISON 
TO 
BENCHMARK:

Focus Area: Inclusivity and Engagement
8%
9%
12%
12%
13%
16%
18%
29%
30%
32%
39%
40%
41%
41%
Taking care of
vulnerable
residents
Sense of
community pride
Neighborliness of
residents
Acceptance
toward diverse
backgrounds
Making residents
feel welcome
Attracting people
from diverse
backgrounds
Valuing residents
from diverse
backgrounds
Good
Excellent

Additional Special 
Topics

24%
29%
35%
36%
25%
36%
45%
35%
38%
37%
31%
25%
24%
21%
34%
9%
1%
6%
5%
5%
Positively marketing the City
Increasing public awareness of City
news and alerts
Improving City apps and websites for
mobile use
Assist households in conserving
water
Increasing revenue to support City
services
Essential
Very important
Somewhat important
Not at all important
Please rate how important, if at all, you think it is for the City of 
Glendale to focus on each of the following in the coming two years.

24%
29%
35%
36%
25%
36%
45%
35%
38%
37%
31%
25%
24%
21%
34%
9%
1%
6%
5%
5%
Providing emergency shelter
Providing transitional housing
Creating affordable, permanent
housing
Providing access to healthcare,
behavorial health, and substance
abuse treatment
Partnering with non-profits and
health care providers to provide
services
Essential
Very important
Somewhat important
Not at all important
Please indicate how important, if at all, it is for the City of 
Glendale to consider in addressing homelessness.

Which of the following, if any, prevent you from engaging with the City of Glendale 
(e.g., participating in public meetings, events, surveys, etc.)?
Check all that apply
Resident Engagement
4%
6%
8%
11%
19%
35%
39%
59%
Accessibility
barriers
No
Transportation
Language
barriers
Limited or no
internet
access
Other
Lack of
interest
Inconvenient
timing
Lack of
information

Summary of 
Conclusions
• Utilities are a top priority and a 
strength of the Glendale 
community.
• While the City’s safety services 
received positive ratings, 
residents indicate concerns 
about crime.
• Survey participants are pleased 
with mobility in Glendale but 
identify opportunities for 
additional focus.
• Residents appreciate the 
community design of Glendale.

Digging Deeper with Department Heads (Upcoming)

Continue Resident Engagement on Polco

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Questions?

Thank you!
Joseph Dell’Olio
Senior Survey Associate
Polco/National Research Center
joe@polco.us