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Walkability & Fee Tolerance Summary Report - January 2016 0� RILEY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES Research for Marketing,ting, I'ublzc Relations, and Planning I in I WALKABILITY & FEE TOLERANCE FOCUS GROUPS SUMMARY REPORT JANUARY 2016 Michael J Riley & Crystal Bolyard Riley Research Associates RESEARCH INSIG-IT KNOWLEDGE www.rileyresearch.com 10200 SW Eastridge St, Suite 120,Portland, OR 97225 phone [503] 222-4179 fax [503] 222-4313 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 METHODOLOGY 1 EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: WALKABILITY 2 EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: FEE INCREASE TOLERANCE 3 WALKABILITY GROUP 4 FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: LIVABILITY 11 FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: FUNDING PRIORITIES 12 FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: UTILITY BILLS 19 APPENDIX A: Participant Profiles APPENDIX B: Walkability Maps ASSOCR s ARCR ro INTRODUCTION Riley Research Associates, on behalf of the City of Tigard, conducted two focus groups among Tigard residents: one on walkability in Tigard, and one on tolerance for additional revenue sources, such as potential fee increases. The two groups were held as part of Tigard's 2015 Community Attitudes survey. METHODOLOGY Riley Research Associates (RRA) worked with the City of Tigard to design a recruiting guide and sampling plan for each group. RRA recruited participants from its Washington County-based call center. Each participant was sent a confirmation letter with logistics for the group, and were also given a reminder call the evening prior to the groups. For the Walkability Group, all Tigard residents were considered qualified, but participant demographics were monitored to ensure a good cross-section of residents, including age, gender, years living in Tigard, and frequency of their park and trail use. In addition to the recruited participants, one member of Tigard's Youth Advisory Council was asked to join the group. For the Fee Tolerance Group, participants were considered qualified if they were Tigard residents, and if they indicated they frequently vote on local issues. Quotas for gender, age, and years living in Tigard were established. Additionally, participants were also asked about their potential support for activities that could include tax and fee increases. Attendance was good, with ten residents attending the Walkability group, and nine residents attending the Fee Tolerance group. Please see Appendix A for complete participant profiles. Groups were held in Tigard's Public Works building on January 19th, 2016 at 5:30 (Walkability Group) and at 7:30 (Fee Tolerance Group). Each group lasted 90 minutes, and was videotaped. Participants were given $50 for their participation at the conclusion of each group, and were also provided with refreshments. The following report includes both consensus and outlying comments from both groups. a RILEY RESEARCH 1 ASSOCIATES Introduction / Methodology XEXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: WALKABILITY X Residents were asked what makes Tigard a great place to live, and what they would improve. ■ Positives included: o Its community feel o That it feels clean and well-maintained o Living in nature while maintaining close proximity to the city o The abundance of outdoor activities and natural areas ■ Improvements included: o Traffic o Pedestrian safety o Lack of indoor activities for youth "Walkability" meant a variety of things to participants, with some feeling it referred to the city providing and maintaining trails and sidewalks, and others interpreting walkability as being able to safely walk where they need, when they need. X Residents generally felt there were great parks and trails in Tigard, and they were generally well-maintained. They appreciated they could not only use them to connect with nature, but that they often provided the most efficient route through town. Participants would appreciate additional information about trails, including: ■ The type of terrain they can expect. ■ The difficulty level of the trail. ■ How the trail might connect to other areas, and directions to other places around Tigard. ■ Expected weather conditions (such as mud or flooding). X Residents considered sidewalks to be lacking in Tigard, both in terms of availability and in terms of quality and safety. Some issues with sidewalks and more residential areas included: ■ Sidewalks were thought to be inconsistent, with pedestrians unsure when they will run out of sidewalk and have to walk through bushes or directly on the street. This was a particular issue for seniors or those with mobility issues. ■ They felt there was a lack of traffic signals or control devices that would help pedestrians safely cross streets. Additionally, they felt many pedestrian areas lacked good, visible markings at all (such as clear lines painted on the outside of lanes). ■ Lighting was poor, especially on side streets, causing some to stop walking at night, and others to walk only with flashlights. ■ Some felt new development and road upgrades didn't properly account for pedestrian crossing or general safety. ■ Traffic was often an issue, with many feeling increased traffic creates more safety issues for pedestrians, especially when trying to cross main roads. X Residents had several recommendations to increase walkability for Tigard's trails, including: ■ Highlighting different parks or trails each month, providing additional lighting and safety, along with detailed information about the trail itself, as a way to promote its walkability. ■ Providing information about weather issues (flooding, mud), closures, or other construction issues for different trails. ■ Mapping out longer trails and walks. ■ Placing maps of different trails around the city, in places like the library or grocery stores. o RILEY RESEARCH 2 '0 ASSOCIATES Executive Overview EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: FEE INCREASE TOLERANCE • Residents were asked to list the positive and negative aspects about living in Tigard. • Participants appreciated Tigard's convenient location, its community feel, that Tigard feels like a safe place to live and to raise children, and its green space and connection to natural areas. • Traffic was the top-mentioned needed improvement, along with pedestrian safety and the concern increasing population could adversely affect the city. • Residents indicated their highest priorities for city services were traffic improvements, maintaining streets, and police resources. Maintaining parks, neighborhood and community connections, community development, recreation and community centers, and city administration were also considered important, although not top priorities. M If given a choice on how additional funding would be secured, residents would prefer the additional funding come through property taxes, rather than their monthly utility bill or another type of tax. • Participants said they liked knowing exactly what amount to expect on their property bills, and could better save for that bill; they felt their monthly utility bills were already too high. • If additional fees were to be included on their monthly utility bill, residents felt it was most important to provide additional funding for streets, while sewer and parks weren't considered to be as important. • Participants were unwilling to commit to an amount they would be willing to pay, either through an increased monthly utility bill or through an additional property tax levy. However, they were not opposed to additional funding options provided they could understand exactly why the funding was needed, and how the additional funding would be used. • Residents offered the example of street maintenance: they would be willing to pay an additional monthly or annual amount to improve the quality of the roads by fixing potholes or extending sidewalks, but weren't willing to pay an additional amount to increase the frequency of street sweeping. • Overall, residents want very specific information about any potential tax or fee increase. They want to understand how such funding would improve the quality of life in Tigard and benefit the community. • Residents were also asked questions about their utility bills, and lack a solid understanding of the service charges included. • Most were unclear about what is included in the different service charges (sewer, surface water management, and street maintenance), and none was certain about where their water supply comes from. • Residents recommended adding information about the base charges, as well as what is included for each of the utility services. They also recommended improving readability of the online bill by creating better defined and labeled tables for charges and related fees. o/RILEY RESEARCH 3 a ASSOCIATES Executive Overview WALKABILITY GROUP Qla. First, let's start by talking about what you do and don't like about living in Tigard. So let's start with the good first—what are your favorite things about living in Tigard?What's great about Tigard? Tigard residents felt very positively about living in Tigard, offering many reasons why, including: It feels like a community. Most agreed Tigard feels like a community, and that it is family-oriented. They felt Tigard did a good job at connecting people from all over the city. Most felt it was generally a safe place to live, and felt comfortable raising their children here. It is well-maintained. Most felt the city does a great job keeping things clean and well-maintained. One resident said even though Tigard likely has a smaller budget than Portland, it does a better job keeping the streets clean and garbage-free. It has great activities, particularly outdoors. Residents appreciate the abundance of parks and outdoor space. They felt even in winter the parks got good and consistent usage. The trails and parks offer a lot of opportunities for different activities. They also appreciated the variety of indoor activities (such as Sky-High and bowling), as well as its restaurants and shops. It's location. Residents appreciated Tigard was close to a large city, and yet still had a smaller community feel, and surrounded by a lot of nature. People could enjoy the quiet nature of living in Tigard while still easily accessing other larger cities and communities. oj/eRILEY RESEARCH 4 /o ASSOCIATES Walkability Group WALKABILITY GROUP Q1 b. And what are the aspects of Tigard that you don't particularly like? What improvements would you make? Although residents generally feel Tigard is a great place to live, they also had recommendations about things that could be improved, namely: Traffic. All respondents felt traffic was a big issue in Tigard, particularly with people using the main roads to travel to adjacent towns. Most felt traffic lights don't function well together, and could be redesigned to enable better flow and less back-up. One person suggested having more dedicated left-turn lanes. Pedestrian safety. Most felt pedestrian safety is a major issue, saying there are several roads (namely Highway 99) they would never attempt to cross because it is not safe. One participant mentioned on a bridge off North Dakota Street was too narrow to hold cars and pedestrians, and said they had been trying to get the city to widen it or offer pedestrian alternatives. One participant said out of the ten crosswalks on Main Street, she felt only four were safe for pedestrians. Although the bus stop she used was more conveniently accessed from certain cross walks, because she deemed those to be less safe, she has to walk out of her way to cross at a safer crossing to get to the bus stops. Many said cross walks near the schools (namely Tigard High School) also felt unsafe, with drivers rarely stopping and not giving pedestrians the right-of-way. A couple respondents said because their children lived within a certain distance from the schools, they didn't have school bus access. However, the streets their children had to use to get to the school generally felt too unsafe for them to walk alone. Many also commented on the lack of sidewalks in Tigard, particularly the side streets. They said this pushed them out into traffic, or left the ground more unstable for walking, particularly at night. Lack of activities. A few participants felt the downtown area was "unimaginative" and would appreciate more diverse shops and restaurants. They said downtown was underutilized, and really only somewhere they went if they had a specific need from a specialty shop. In addition to more restaurants and shops, some participants also felt there needed to be more places for kids to hang out. They mentioned the proposed YMCA, and while they liked the idea, they didn't like the proposed funding options. However, they felt there should be some sort of community center for kids, and a place they can meet that is safe. Some recommended more utilization of the parks and promotion of city-sponsored activities there. 0/RILEY RESEARCH 5 ASSOCIATES Walkability Group WALKABILITY GROUP Q2. Today we're going to focus on walkability in Tigard. In 2014, the City of Tigard adopted a strategic plan to provide guidance and direction for the City's priorities over the next 20 years. The plan includes a vision for Tigard to become the most walkable community in the Pacific Northwest, where people of all ages and abilities enjoy healthy and interconnected lives. When you hear this plan, what does it mean to you? What's your initial reaction when you hear that Tigard wants to be more "walkable"? Some participants felt "walkability" referred to providing and maintaining walkable trails and sidewalks, while others interpreted walkability as being able to safely walk where you need. Some felt the city has already come a long way with its trails. They felt improving walkability was important, not only for individual health, but also for inspiring the health of the community. In general, participants supported the city's goals, but felt there were many steps that needed to be taken in order to achieve it. Most felt the lack of consistent sidewalks in Tigard really limited its walkability. One participant said "Los Angeles and New York are more walkable than Tigard." Some areas also had sidewalks that were poor status, with cracks, roots pushing through, or uneven surfaces. Some had noticed the ledges were spray painted to help improve safety for pedestrians, but it wasn't enough to make them feel secure when walking on them, particularly at night. Many were uncertain whether the sidewalk maintenance fell to the homeowners or the city. In addition to the lack of sidewalks, many also said many side streets had no lighting, further limiting their likelihood of walking. Some also cited the need for improved maintenance on the trails, with specific comments about the flooding along Tualatin, saying they couldn't walk there during certain months, and the need for completing Fanno Creek Trail. oje RILEY RESEARCH 6 ASSOCIATES Walkability Group WALKABILITY GROUP Q3. What typically motivates you to walk in Tigard? Residents named many reasons why they walk through Tigard, including health and exercise, walking their dogs, and walking to school or to the store. Some said they walk to avoid driving in traffic, and that it can often be quicker to walk than to drive. Some appreciated connecting with nature, and liked Tigard offered the ability to disconnect with the city and be immersed in nature. Q4. Now let's discuss these a bit.What areas of Tigard do you think are currently especially walkable? What makes an area walkable? One participant mentioned Summerfield as a particularly walkable area, saying it had good traffic, nice sidewalks, and was well-paved. Cook Park was considered a good area for walking, with some saying it has improved with time, and sometimes it can be easier to walk through Cook Park to get places than to drive. Some mentioned flooding in the area, but said they could generally walk around it. While some appreciated a paved trail, others liked unpaved, more natural trails, Regardless, they felt trail maintenance was more important than the terrain itself. Most felt Tigard did a good job of keeping its trails well-maintained. Areas were considered especially walkable if pedestrians could access them safely and have some sort of barrier from nearby cars, even if it was a sidewalk or lines on the road. Trails and sidewalks should be well-maintained. This included keeping trash off the trails, managing flooding, and being clear about expected terrain and weather conditions. For sidewalks, this included consistent sidewalks through the city, smooth and level ground, and good lighting. Please see Appendix B for detailed comments about walkable areas in Tigard. o RILEY RESEARCH 7 o ASSOCIATES Walkability Group WALKABILITY GROUP Q5. Are there certain areas that lack walkability? What could be changed to make them walkable? Many areas were considered to have a lack of walkability, namely due to the lack of consistent and well-kept sidewalks. Residents said they never knew when they were going to hit a section without a sidewalk, and that was true all over Tigard. Bull Mountain was mentioned as an area lacking in walkability, particularly the areas that haven't recently been developed. Some other specific comments included the lack of bathrooms along trails, particularly Summerlake Park, and the frequency of homeless encampments in certain areas of Fanno Creek. Please see Appendix B for detailed comments about walkable areas in Tigard. Q6. What types of things prevent you from walking in Tigard? About half of the participants in the group said they had stopped walking in recent years because the conditions — including traffic, lighting, and sidewalk safety — have deteriorated. An additional two people said they continue to walk, but have made changes because of the conditions, including bringing their own flashlight and changing their route. One participant said they now avoid walking in Tigard. They offered the example of the improvements to Main Street Village. They said with the upgrades to the roads, it now creates more challenges for pedestrians, as they now have to cross through two turn lanes. There are also planters that make it harder to see pedestrians. Some of the top things that prevent walking in Tigard included: ■ Poor lighting ■ No or uneven sidewalks ■ No lines on the sides of roads to help distinguish areas for pedestrians ■ A lack of traffic control devices or stop signs ■ Yield signs not taking into account the possibility of pedestrians ■ Weather conditions o RILEY RESEARCH 8 ASSOCIATES Walkability Group WALKABILITY GROUP Q7. What specific types of improvements need to be made to motivate you to use Tigard's trails and parks more often? Improved safety was one of the top issues, including installing more flashing lights to alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians. They felt yellow lights didn't slow drivers very well, and recommended red lights instead to mark pedestrian crossings. They said narrowed lanes due to expanding areas have resulted in more bicyclists on the sidewalks, and felt there should be better designation of where they should be. They also commented on the flow of traffic. They felt drivers tend to use Main Street and other side streets to bypass the traffic on Highway 99, which leads to more issues for pedestrians. They felt improving the traffic lights and routes could help pedestrian safety. Participants also recommended more information about the trails, including the type of terrain to expect, distance markers to various landmarks or other trails, how strenuous the trail could be, and shelters along the way to stop and rest and enjoy the scenery. They also suggested more "walk and bike days" to help encourage less driving and to promote awareness of pedestrians. Also recommended was having more crossing guards and patrols around the schools to help students cross safely. Q8. How do you get information about Tigard's parks and trails, or other walkable areas? Residents get information about parks and trails through friends and family, Facebook, Google maps, and general Internet searches. Some also use the City of Tigard's website. Phone apps, such as Map My Run were also used. Q8b. Have you used Tigard's website to get information about walkable areas, or to use the maps they have of different walks? About half of the group had looked at Tigard's website to get information about walkable areas. oz RILEY RESEARCH 9 D ASSOCIATES Walkability Group % WALKABILITY GROUP Q9. How would you prefer to receive information about things going on in the Tigard area? Participants named all types of methods, including postal mail, email, Facebook, Cityscape, and the Tigard Times. Participants also suggested placing different trail maps around the city, including City Hall, the library, and other highly-trafficked stores. Q10. What types of walking information would be useful or interesting for you? Participants recommended several types of information, including: ■ "Did you Know" type of articles about different parks and trails. ■ Promoting a different trail or walking area each month, and distributing maps and information about it, and also increasing lighting and security along the promoted trail of the month. ■ Mapping out longer trails. ■ Offering a "Passport" of local trails, so residents could have a goal of visiting all of them. ■ Placing a scan barcode on each trail head to give information about the trail on an app. ■ Posting upcoming trail closures on different media, including Facebook, the City website, and Twitter. ■ Focus on the health benefits of walking and using the trails. ■ Increase lighting to help the trails be more walkable after dark. ■ Information about the type of terrain (paved, gravel, mud, etc), and notifications about possible weather-induced conditions, such as excessive mud or flooding. o RILEY RESEARCH 10 ASSOCIATES Walkability Group FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: LIVABILITY Q1a. First, let's start by talking about what you do and don't like about living in Tigard. So let's start with the good first—what are your favorite things about living in Tigard?What's great about Tigard? Residents named many positive aspects of living in Tigard, namely: Convenience. They felt the location of Tigard was convenient in relation to freeway access, its proximity to Portland, and businesses in the area. Its community feel. Residents appreciated the sense of community in Tigard, saying it is "people friendly," they like the "communities within the community" such as Summerfield, people "really get to know each other," and "seniors are catered to in stores." The feeling of safety. Some participants said they moved to Tigard to raise their children because it felt like a safe environment where they "weren't afraid to walk down the street at night." One person said they liked the "quiet feel" of Tigard. The environment. Residents appreciated the green space in Tigard, and liked they could live near a city, but not sacrifice the connection with nature. For one participant, Tigard was a good compromise for her husband who likes living in cities, and her preference of living in the woods. Q1 b. And what are the aspects of Tigard that you don't particularly like? What improvements would you make? When asked what improvements they would make in Tigard, virtually all comments revolved around improving traffic. Participants recommended synchronizing stoplights to alleviate some traffic backup, and creating a bypass for drivers going to Sherwood to reduce traffic congestion. Participants also felt traffic and pedestrian safety weren't keeping up with new development in the area, or weren't being considered as upgrades and new construction were happening. For example, new homes are being built, but residents aren't seeing additional traffic signs or control devices (such as speed bumps) to accommodate the growth in traffic. Some also commented on the redesign of some of the roads, including gardens being installed in the roads, limiting drivers' ability to turn into certain businesses. They noticed traffic and design changes, but felt they weren't necessarily making things more convenient or efficient for drivers. One participant also said they were concerned with potentially increasing crime rates as more multi-family housing was constructed in the area, leading to increased population. cy RILEY RESEARCH 11 /0 ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: FUNDING PRIORITIES Q2. Today we're going to focus on hearing your perspectives on some of the areas of Tigard that you feel are most in need of additional funding, where the city should make investments, and, if new resources are proposed, where you'd prefer the funding come from. Let me give you some background: The City of Tigard has a very low permanent property tax levy rate.Tigard's property tax rate is $2.51 per one thousand dollars in assessed value. That represents about six hundred thirty dollars a year ($627.50) for the owner of a home with an assessed value of $250,000; which equates to a home with a real market value of approximately $344,000. This rate is lower than any city with a population of more than 20,000 people in Washington County. This means that compared to surrounding cities, Tigard is less able to pay for basic city services with property taxes alone, and has to rely on other fees, charges, and taxes to provide services. Even with work the city has done to curb its cost growth, the city expenditures grow one-half of one percent faster than the revenues grow. Tigard is not keeping up with basic service demands and the maintenance of some of the streets, utilities, and public facilities. In community surveys, residents have said they wish for more and improved city services, compared to what is currently provided. As such, Tigard is thinking about ways to increase revenues and resources to pay for existing and expanded city services. So after hearing that, what is your first reaction? Participants had many questions and comments, including: • Taxes are going to go up. • They appreciate that property taxes are currently relatively low. • Would appreciate if Tigard found a way to tax people who use parks, rather than imposing a universal fee on residents. • They would appreciate if Tigard officials thought beyond immediate issues to consider maintenance and development needs in the future. • Residents wanted to understand the "big vision" before committing to new taxes or fees. • Residents wanted to know how different fees would be used, and exactly what they would be getting for that extra money. • They were curious why Tigard's property taxes were relatively lower. toa RILEY RESEARCH 12 ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group • FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: FUNDING PRIORITIES Q3. I'd like to walk through a list of services that, if additional funding was approved, the city could make new investments in. (Provide handout). Take a look through the list, and I'll read them off as well. Go ahead and take a couple minutes to mark down how important you feel each is, then we'll talk about them. Which of these do you consider the most important? Why is that? Which do you consider less important? Why is that? Traffic improvements and maintaining streets were considered the top priorities for the city, followed by police resources. Sidewalk maintenance was particularly important, with participants saying the lack of consistent sidewalks was a problem, particularly for the seniors in the city. They also mentioned how ditches would often fill with water and overflow onto the streets and sidewalks. Potholes were also considered an important piece of maintaining streets. Some commented library services were very important, but most felt Tigard's library system was already advanced and excellent, and not currently in need of any improvements. Services Extremely Somewhat Not(as) NA Important Important Important a. Traffic improvements 9 0 0 0 b. Maintaining streets 8 0 0 1 c. Police resources 5 3 0 1 (more officers and focus on patrol and community projects) d. Needed facilities 3 4 0 2 (such as for police operations) e. Maintaining parks 2 5 1 1 f. Library services 2 4 2 1 (more programs, expanded hours, branch library facility) g. Neighborhood and community connections 2 6 0 1 (neighborhood grants, volunteers, community events) h. Walkability 2 2 4 1 (getting around safely and efficiently on foot) i. Community development 1 6 1 1 (planning, building, economic development, code enforcement) j. Recreation and community center building 0 5 3 1 k. City administration 0 5 3 1 (finance, IT, HR, city management, and internal services) I. City recreation program 1 3 5 0 m. New public works building 0 3 5 1 n. Building new parks 0 1 7 1 o,RILEY RESEARCH 13 10 ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: FUNDING PRIORITIES Q4. There are a few different ways to secure additional funding from residents for these additional services, including property taxes, monthly fees on your utility bill, or other types of taxes, such as a local gas tax. Some residents favor fees because they are easier to implement, are sustainable, and everybody pays the same amount. Some may prefer taxes because they need a vote, have to be reaffirmed by voters regularly (every 5 years for a local option operating levy), and are not regressive like fees —what you pay is linked to your economic status, as measured by the value of your home. Other types of taxes are generally linked to use. Assuming Tigard residents supported additional revenue for specific purposes, which of the following options do you think would be the most acceptable or desirable way to secure additional funding from residents when new resources are needed to pay for these services? Which is the least acceptable method? Why is that? Most participants would prefer to see additional fees reflected on their annual property taxes, rather than their utility bill or some other type of tax. Many felt the monthly utility bill was already too high, and it "keeps increasing," and that it is starting to be on par with Portland water rates. One resident said the owner of a home could likely afford the additional fees. Additionally, homeowners are able to better budget and foresee upcoming fees, where monthly utility bills can vary. One participant commented gas taxes were also already too high, with consumers paying the majority of fuel costs for the tax rather than the fuel itself. Most Second Least Property taxes 5 3 1 (such as a local option levy or a bond for land and buildings) Monthly fee on utility ("water") bill 0 2 7 Other type of tax, such as local gas tax 3 4 2 0/RILEY RESEARCH 14 ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group r0 FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: FUNDING PRIORITIES Q5. Let's talk more about the possibility of fees on your monthly utility bill. Your monthly utility bill could include additional fees for maintenance of streets, the sewer system, and parks. Which of these three areas would be your highest priority for services? Why is that? Residents prioritized street maintenance over sewer or parks maintenance. They felt certain street maintenance, including improving the quality of the roads and fixing potholes, were more important than other services such as street sweeping. Some residents felt the sewer maintenance was extremely important, while others weren't sure exactly what it entailed or the services it provided, but felt sewer maintenance should be "a given" and already be addressed by the city. Some participants were also unsure about how the parks were currently funded, with one asking if the lottery funded park maintenance. Some felt there should be ways to maintain the parks, like through student volunteers, without needing additional funding. Most Second Least Streets (increased maintenance) 6 2 1 Sewer (Ensuring sufficient maintenance) 2 4 3 Parks (Maintenance and Operations) 0 1 8 eaRILEY RESEARCH 15 ria ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group Wi FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: FUNDING PRIORITIES Q6. As elected leaders of Tigard, the Mayor and City Council are responsible for making informed, thoughtful policy decisions for the city. Suppose the council determines a new revenue source is in the best interest of the city and the council does not seek voter approval for that revenue source. How would you respond? How strongly do you feel about having the council ask voters to approve revenue sources, even when voter approval is not legally required? Why is that? Residents said it was "necessary"to ask residents and not make an executive decision, especially "if they want to be re-elected." Participants couldn't foresee any situation in which they felt an increase of taxes or fees being imposed without voter approval would be acceptable. Many felt the utility bills were already increasing, and one expressed concern about the increasing costs and expanded water bureau connections. Q7. I'd like to test out a few different funding options, and hear your thoughts on them. Just a reminder — these are just proposed ideas at this point. The City Council is considering a park maintenance fee, and have also discussed, but not decided, about whether to ask voters for a property tax increase through a local option levy. For example, residents could be asked to pay from $5 to$10 a month to meet deferred park maintenance needs. Can you let me know if you would you be very likely, somewhat likely, or not at all likely to support a possible $5 fee increase? Why is that? Participants were unwilling to commit to a response, saying they would need to understand exactly how additional money would be used before deciding what additional amount they would be willing to pay. One participant felt maintenance should have been already included in the parks budget when it was originally proposed, and felt asking for additional fees now lacked foresight; as such, she was somewhat distrustful that the additional funds were truly needed. Many recommended trying to find alternative funding sources besides asking residents, including student or inmate cleaning crews, charging parking for those at the parks, adding a small fee to existing park usage fees, or promoting more events at the parks that could bring in revenue. One person said they would prefer a way to tax those who use the parks frequently rather than establishing a universal fee for all residents, despite the frequency with which they might utilize the parks and trails. Likely Somewhat Not at All N/A Likely Likely $5 month ($60/year) 0 2 6 1 $10 month ($120/year) 0 0 8 1 cy RILEY RESEARCH 16 10 ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: FUNDING PRIORITIES Q8a. Now, let's talk about funding for city services. City services include not just parks, but also services now funded by the general fund, such as the library, police department, and community building services. If citizens agreed that monthly fees on your utility bill should be increased to improve pity services, which, what specific dollar amount range are you willing to pay? What is the maximum monthly amount you would be willing to pay? Residents were again unwilling to name an amount they would potentially support for additional funding for city services without better understanding exactly how the additional funding would be used. Many felt there were unnecessary expenses the city covers, and they wanted to know additional funding would cover "needs" and not "wants." They wanted information on how funds were currently being spent and the additional services needed. They fell back to the example of street maintenance, saying they would be willing to pay to fix potholes, but not for more street sweepers. In general, participants would be willing to pay additional fees for street maintenance and increased police services, with the caveat they would need to have more clarity on what the funds would provide and why they were needed. Q8b. If the City Council asked voters to approve a local option levy (property tax increase) to pay for some of those city services, what is the maximum yearly amount you would be willing to pay? Residents continued to express a need to understand how additional funds would be spent before committing to a potential amount. Some indicated they would be more willing to favor additional fees if the city council could break down costs, and tell them how much different services would cost, such as the exact amount that would be allotted to police, and how the funds would be distributed. One participant said they would support a limited increased property tax, such as $1 per $1,000 of assessed home value, for a set number of years, in order to help build additional funds for city services. Nearly all other participants agreed with that recommendation. cy RILEY RESEARCH 17 ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: FUNDING PRIORITIES Q9. We're going to turn the discussion now to your utility bills, so are there any additional comments about funding options before we move on?Anything you'd like the City Council to consider? Some residents were concerned increasing population, in both Portland and Tigard, as well as surrounding areas, was going to contribute to increased crime and vandalism. Because of this, they were in support of additional funding being used to help increase police patrols, and for increased gang enforcement and transient control. They felt if they were to support additional fees, they would want to know they were being used to improve the quality of life in Tigard, rather than being used to simply "increase speeding tickets." 10 o RILEY RESEARCH 18 ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group FEE TOLERANCE GROUP: UTILITY BILLS And now I'd like to finish up with a couple questions about your utility bills. Currently, the typical residential utility bill is about $89 per month. It includes charges to operate and maintain the water, sewer, stormwater, and street systems. Q10. How many of you know who provides your water? Generally, residents were more likely to venture a guess as to where their water supply comes from rather than be certain. Guesses included: • Bull Run ■ Tualatin ■ Lake Oswego ■ Facility in West Linn Q11. How many know what services you are charged for on your utility bill? Do you know what those services cover? Sewer Residents were generally unsure what sewer charges covered, speculating it included the water treatment facility, maintenance of sewer lines, pumping out leaves, and sewer maintenance. Surface Water management (SWM) Residents were again unsure exactly what this charge covered, assuming it dealt with storm water and the storm water that drains into Tualatin River. Street Maintenance Fee Only one person felt familiar with what the street maintenance fee covers, saying it's used for maintenance and repair, chip and crack sealing, shoulder grating, street sweeping, sidewalk cleaning, and pot hole repair. 0 RILEY RESEARCH 19 (o ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group Q12. I'm going to hand out a sample of an average Tigard utility bill. We've got an online e-version, and the paper copy you'd get in the mail. Do these charges look familiar? Do you have any recommendations for the look of the bill, or for helping residents better understand what their charges are for? Is it important to you to understand what the charges are used for? In general, residents felt the utility bill was clear and easy to understand, and particularly appreciated seeing a month-to-month comparison of their water usage. They had some recommendations to improve readability, including: • Explaining what the "base charge" for water services included. • Explaining how they measure the sewer usage charge. • Explaining the technical terms and abbreviations used (such as "cons" and "serial"). • Improving readability of the online bill by creating clearer rows and tables, so the readers eye can easily travel from the service to its related charge. o RILEY RESEARCH 20 ASSOCIATES Fee Tolerance Group % 2 c = c k ( \ \ 2 2 g \ -Cu \ o c > / / / LL z 0 0 \ e e c o § k 0 \ \ \ / \ \ \ \ 3- 0 4 3 7 3 7 7 3 7 7 \ \ \ 6X \ \ \ \ Cl. 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Cl \ .\./ « ° & E $ 7 7 0 co 7 \ Q $ ./ E E \ \ \ \ \ » ± » » E E E ± E E w0 : > > > / 3 3 > / / /< o.o / ) \ ^ # \ 0 co \ ƒ 6 / \ w w w 4 a 6 « a s m r . _ ® o g = g e = s co 5 g cD\/\\ / / / \ / E / . o m 0 ° � » » + « o \ _& E2ZZ \ 0200 \ \ ƒ 0 O + 7 + 7 3 7 + 7 20 \ 0 \ e CO 0- - . O 'Q U 2 t \ R.C ƒ \ / / / / \ ƒ (13 4 2 •§ LS a o k kJ \ 22 0 \ » / < «o % % % % % > % > MI 0:1 U— < \ \ \ \ \ < < / a)� R J< \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ / = 3 3 3 4ccs CL i \ coo \ } } 0 / = / ) > > ) e E co.. \ E C » 0. k - ® 7 - » k 2 E \ § = % G S 8 \ / ) \ ) \ L « c = % # ° G § D / D � , \ mE � m / � / 3c � / � � � / � � � cK 2 ƒ ° ƒ f ƒ f 0 Z k ® ® G 766 . . G . G G > 32 \ ® • 2E2 \ 2 / fg / 2 $ § 227 $ E $ = 2 e » $ § E 5 m a E 9 m a E 5 m / ( 2 \ / \ 722 \ 2 ® f § ff -002 $ -0 / . ome@eeeuoeJ@omeaom ± a 2 ± / . $ 0 / G72 ƒ 0a0 \ 0 0 \ O : �: . E y E e 0 �� 2 \ \ ��\ 2 A 0 E E / e m 0 C / ƒ (-75 / / ea ± $ / a L *� >, U 222 * * A k .b .§ .§ > \ > ƒ Jt f 0007 \ 5 ƒ . � 2 / / / J ± ± ± Q .. . e « / Ci) � - 0- — _ Z -0 \ ��03 va \ / \ \ \m L - a ° ° (4 / - . f a J u •E / /\ > \ $ 4 \ \ \ $ j\ /\ ic:INZ » E 2 / Do � k /\ 7 co E co \ e - - a \ I— .yy. w ww ¥ ae K a XAPPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Good rill Tigard Walks fon a '7` Library/B©xtro!1s GOA Po 2y August 9th 2013 i �*" ,5 rl * ' "JMAkfi 5TH<,..„;,,,..,,,,.,:,,,,, �� A LL 5' 4 f EDGg Noc IY= ,. .,,d y. ' O _ C3 tCl tfll ET .tom i CHApt ' •y rt.:.. COLO:11 CRFEM C7 Pi u., :p 19 dW M Z �' VJaYuk4 ftauce t{.?Mri. iiCRF EK 6V q •••••••:6tM1U TrsXs it rt Scale e 0 isa `<ti ili3$3KNfTe y(gfiCHBtb#Cq€EK;''� ...,..1 (at t tGARDmAPS 567 X34 �: (.2fOdPx.: fMs i! v 0 2 rJltflU E.,„„Loop 0 RILEY RESEARCH °ASSOCIATES Appendix B: Walkability Maps 4, APPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) 0 Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Good • Speed limit on 135' is too fast to be able to get across • Very unsafe at Scholl's and Walnut SW corner • Tiedeman Ave is not a good road to walk 1 l TTigard Walks AI, Cemetery Hop Sot.rdmy Ortobtr iht,I 0 AN1 \ a. Cle, \el,fk, , \ (Wsto.11.1,ryg 7, 4'fr4kti Bridge has zero crosswalks. 4444 : No sidewalk V.Vt.,,, 4.' ,,, ,,,,, •4',i,,, Three-way stop is a blind corner for pedestrians — need flashing crosswalk ,... 'ptIzei: ,.., / ..iiiia: -.,,--- * Starting Point P e.k.n This would be a bad corner to walk on. / .. / Dangerous road — no walking. i Scale lamennesc Feet , cf,0,7 0 7(500 7_000 "/ IMS SW HO aS,,, 41/4, %1A.IsLsE0YclIZAEISg R C H Appendix B: Walkability Maps Cy,,,, APPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Good • Need more restrooms • Haven't done this walk, but it looks good .Tigard �{(�y.././�.(/ r�Uci:t itw ON ,: 9A,t TLER ST ...E• 1::.. k Walks�� S %'t, .. F• • �'Nhk EVRti IM S MI ' ,i kn5lt o'. ,,, Uk a C• • ••• LPDI Lk - Gook Park chi Summcrf1cid _ .p - �: rska.F..>werc ST S feed P s ,... A..,. 3 WfE,, Q, F.. p •NXPPUN i% C. . 0 C .ASHFORD ST ` 4 µ ,6H1.0.410 DR .� �,' ,,,,•, �. e rr ..- ki TSR y♦ ¢ iJ GREENtL y a '44 < ¢ NAM �4 ••••••• r ., • T .el Si 0 U jf t` ` yt'�j h K7tT' p r� G^:SV % ` r 0.YOt£Si 4% }{y '` 1,..t. i h L t..,,,:0-' 4.G U P'1. 0.w 0 P� 4. i +.... 0.r, c t z ,Y Ir a3.,. i r )4,0'1' t 'x.v�� x)rnb V I.,F S'1 PI ,s,CT ,cJx C 'r +`2.1 Y 2 ry s l: n�.v SFRF+JR rSy W. T,x AC,¢31 a Eu pS KEM1r -, 1 r.,TT>. K�f a T. 4 /�9t F r k:CRWu CT♦ GU ,,, szaeng htin< j/� „fel,, H�F£" p re 4 6.4/ERvt brl if p , Flood *4',4*,,,,,. • {ij• .-„ Flood yg igpi '7,11'4STSnyv .„_ S9P Ihd ;k WaNMg•nWxr0 Ni.ea5 �iCdIC �.. ✓° 1.111111111W-1 V. 0 250 500 p«u >� t,ur r,;m Flood TIGAR ,', ,,, _ ✓ ”, T,, Y N4tF YAGi ``' o,/RILEY RESEARCH /o ASSOCIATES Appendix B: Walkability Maps APPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Good ■ High speed bikes used as Tigard-Tualatin bike route • Light needed at night wauerw ori rill!! Tigard Walks b`, Jarvutrry 2015 rte. m T Bikes Bikes tyPa' Bikes '' r walk Flooded }` 11 Flooded 4itex Round Trip) F • s 't r',; Watk 2(La Mites Round TriP) ' Carer Traits y+ N #l.Tyy Rnn estrooG �, �y 60 j 8aat Ramp Yate ¢ Asa s.��.�. Vitsn„xDtA ''"":.:`;`„T:::',,--;:;:- a F T1f�ASH .zm ,Z D RILEY RESEARCH fAssOCla s Appendix B: Walkability Maps CAPPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Good ,HORNSt TigardrEi Walks Downtown Tigard Street Farr c ¢ r. Saturday September ISth,ID Alit ,''',. lit . , r Wet c - Too much crime — not safe. bAxen f9 Tr N1Ature r. PrHAB Sp. rte-` $grrk m MEADOW$T' �(w. e r „ C '� m 99St s.„ 'MDQ S. �ry ��z''• `_"YTS KATkERINE SF *� *� T k Prxrtme `.�,` a '&,,Y �" IIeY'+ti' Y © e��r * G r 3 *♦ Ar �Ntt{my Ra1au.t2A Milo} - ' �. ka. '� b • Jps SW* tu het < Very little sidewalk. '' Q G Ga!1125 SW tie E dr'y 4 40 S&i 63V Cy w tya.b c,g tarrca Geek.j�ellM yt5=. D RILEY RESEARCH /o ASSOCIATES Appendix B: Walkability Maps ro APPEN0X ��: VVuLKAB|L|TYK�APS /(�ONT|�UEO\ Color Red R�d = BGd Yellow = |ff Green = Good . very �o|kob|a • Congestion on 9SVVmausing Main St. problems ' fr Fowler to Fonno - ,,„,,,,,,,,, , ''',rt7,i,,,",,..,.::,,.''';'':1, -,""' ,-,;:,,,,,,, hazardou ecre w. � � ~~AS5OC�JE8 Appendix B: Walkability Maps r APPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Good Tigard Walks EhTON DR ET! €iEL-f LOYJER ST al 1 Holiday Lights Tour S ssiay Dec r9th Q:dO PM ,c0oV P.IF; ENL,Lt Y .. r e+;cera x z _ ;:ffi;:7�*: Gui tuarse 3 !� a '' D y t 3 Q m d K ;,-,,i, „,ASHFORD sr ♦'.Y7CGP EE NtlJ_GjL'N' at x • r a t) 8 > LANGTREE ST • s . v' IP , HXMEE'C'ST 11•� SET UT CO 61 11 2 0 q 't,., Oiy CT' i __ BONAVErlTURE LN u, 14. r 4., Stop by for coolies and cocoa 'j at Tigard Friends Church - . .,t. AV.0 NC5l Y" "g is fSOSO 5S 9C W --Sts ''.°C LLP' S: "ItFORD LOOP ST(LATiORD CT No crosswalk "' * Srzring poise DURHAM RD DURHAM RD p Parting Walksrg Route(l.2 Miles) ' v'Other Tralls �� le Nord } Durham romon• ...._..Fest Myit Efenxr2ary o r7s )w cr7slna..a ,_ 13:15 SW NaiP 83rd C4ARD w@ Toed t} r: 97x4) yt y �:- C•F :,ter: na D RILEY RESEARCH ®ASSOCIATES Appendix B: Walkability Maps % APPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) 0 Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = 1ff Green = Good Art Walk ,_ NFk Saturday May 2nd,2015 LOAM 'Pr .� `%, s ,C-',,,;.,4,M k 0 Businesses featuring Art ' P • Art Walk Route(1.5 Miles) T • ., • Other Trans ,..r� 1• 4J"y 5Z0 �£. PP e• Business List '• ,s1.1 wsaxsa ABORExs 1 .h?D FN"�E3&dRE 119505W PAC FTC HWY fs FJ,s S..aff A.. 12190SW MWS St 0 MioN i.MP I224SSW RAIN SS Bridge' '* NI,SHOtIZ/S5SW MAOIST. en WLLERf PACE 122603YN MAtlt ST slick SiMPO ',Worm 12iMSWMAIN ST & � �'', Fk CAFE All WI, t 386SW MOM St.. /At,-r'�'`rogfi `, MRLSiSO MA.N LMOOSW MMN ST • ,•.. SIYNRIE`5.E�NESRVBOF 1,..,r.MA .ST ,�. _ meets NJIN£CRAft6RS I S M P-1�'- v{' .t r IM.ERSALITt.1*11Sf 1 ui_VM i" £g, P:« w TIGARD MILOS SFtaer 1 5 7 fI > IffP1OVSWfgLSTfAS 1.11 sW SIAM S' ,�„ ,,,,„, `,, P NGAae CLEANERS 1.619 SW MAIN ST 11iWGWMAN SiG ,1 Flood EMMECCNTPAI 12550 SW MAINS1 Su l0 'S a PACIFIC PAINT&SNPPO, IMO SW MMM S1 Ss t i. atlorsMRNO afaSP 12SSSSWMAINV T .0 �S&IGREENNOMES 1S59SW MAO/ST .'. .'', '1 PRO ESIGN 5011M041$ 1256!SWWWIN • �'✓ 1 ''Sv L e Seale 14 os, ,6 0 200 400 Feet 71V _ rp,NFvt)q{,RC . Tr�ftILi P{ g�T .._ _ .A. . 1 ejYMALa C'p ofTigardA d 13129 SWM II ekd ? N T� „( 15A n Oregon 91213 t ,° 503 629 4171 Encampments s" ` .. WWW.t181Pa orgar ,, in RILEY RESEARCH ASSOCIAIFS Appendix B: Walkability Maps 0 APPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Good MI Tigard Walks eye Metzger Loop • ztxt E o w E., htSuv Si �a1,„zuls �,> i tt WASHINGTON SOUAkE k43 f3 4,,, sr '?< i'¢`g�'k43�`�' Etuvau��E7 . Crescent ,v.A4n k w. Cemetery LEHwaw St _.. Gr 3”t* **. to Cy f j w .. !otic o 2 /4 144 1ti URnt;;r F.AHCH ST p; , ,.ANtAU s • CSC UST S, No sidewalks. Scatting Paint Parking F WAS f(.4 �mg $t Rasrronma J Walkng Route t l.$tits') ; 1: Sca f@ L ,A.1,any1:4 Z 290 600 Peet riGAA BAPS O RILEY RESEARCH OZ ASSOCIA\TES Appendix B: Walkability Maps 0 APPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Good Middle o f Millen Drive ti Y Independence Dory Parade Juh�¢��ern C1 t1 R Ff A teq RD oLow c� zco0K crtti ,0 JULIA Pi 4 4 i ,IF: dMAx1k � ',yam • .00 - II Stazthg Ps,tnc t n,,k P�rtk rsezde aouss Sate 0 [25 I00 Nett rte° taS 41AVERLY bfi D RILEY RESEARCH' AssocAIs Appendix B: Walkability Maps CAPPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Good • Nice • Cars park here —always worried about kids running out into traffic Tigard Walks A Summer Lake Park G °c'.6a uwt c4 F,br on-y 701 S y, y `ah �m- .T^'tirz a D py Cars park here Summer - ,...k Park ","ra f• rte, .. �. " {Rtv ANj Cars park here Y_ Need better crosswalk. m Ge"' Pick Your Wolk %,t1 LAGE PARtt 1,N ming Paint - Walk 1{,7 Mmes) t,''''' Ftw�� gy 6111:11117.,,..:; Waik2(I.6P4des} P` 1 f - 4 Ill A Oiler Trays Restrooais CAVH.c.,,,ti 1.A.,4-00GN1DR Scale 0 200 400 Feet R MORNING.. 6R . "E .sX 3Q'g .-.R. 'at' •� Pu1 ae . ... FA :of,721,1:On '°ASSOCI RESEARCH Appendix B: Walkability Maps r!0 APPENDIX B: WALKABILITY MAPS (CONTINUED) 0 Color Dot Key Red = Bad Yellow = Iff Green = Goo d ■ Too mud h traffic ■ Too many cars, seems dangerous T i�crrd Walks Tigard Triangle °ARP}�Q ] ilsr ty i8th 20 I'S � # oouc�nh�� '.n WALMART a ■ * Lt Inst sr Weir�n3 :_; HERM `` oso wAr a f 9.•tea 1 i€ , ICY t z • m •s 4. g EYE LANVJ'RD 11 f¢ .,;-171a : GeNZAG,A si LoWE5 " • • •if •t "l••�•••• HAMPTON Sr# Z s � a i r r SwaLrvi Pnb "°� • P PAMELA ST ow 0 iy Hark P Wwaaau$r�b�.•('srn.) �ewsr �.,, c 2S0 5t74 Scak et • 0 CaRM5 5t 6 i } t !)I)SSiYHa'itllv.+ ,q '"^ 6gTHanw.r GIYt t pJ Tf„, '''4J21. R� �i( a e. TI l 4 ,' •t•2`:'"fl p r o RILEY RESEARCH o ASSOCIATES Appendix B: Walkability Maps