City Services Satisfaction Survey 2007 City Services Satisfaction Survey | Page 3

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
This is the sixth annual survey among City of Arlington residents to measure satisfaction
with city services. The benchmark study was conducted in December 2000, and
subsequent waves have occurred between November or December each year.
The 2006 wave was conducted in January and February of 2007 and was significantly
changed from previous waves. The questionnaire was redesigned to more closely
match the ICMA study. This will allow the City of Arlington to compare the City to other
cities of similar size and makeup across the country.
The purpose of the survey is to assess citizens’ current perceptions of city services, to
identify areas where the City is perceived as doing well and areas where improvement
may be needed, and to monitor the effectiveness of the City’s efforts to improve
services. Information gathered from this seventh wave of interviewing will also be used
in planning and budgeting for 2007.
METHODS
A total of 445 telephone interviews were conducted among residents within Arlington
city limits. Within this sample, quotas were set for gender, age and zip code to ensure
an accurate representation of the city’s population. Random-digit sampling was used
primarily. (Some supplemental purchased listed sample was used to fill quotas in a few
zip codes that are difficult to target using random-digit sampling.)
All respondents were age 18 or over and live within Arlington city limits, excluding
Dalworthington Gardens and Pantego. Forty-six percent were male and fifty-four
percent were female.
Interviews were conducted January 22 through February 7, 2007.
A copy of the questionnaire, along with further discussion of data collection and data
processing procedures, is presented in the Appendix.
Decision Analyst, Inc.
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