Public content with economy and safety, city survey finds

Public sentiment in Larkspur on the economy and public safety continues to surpass national benchmarks, while work might still be needed to engage the community, a new poll found.

The City Council heard a presentation Wednesday from Polco, formerly the National Research Center, on a community survey undertaken by 600 municipalities nationwide.

Joe Dell'Olio, a survey associate with Polco, said some of the key takeaways from the Larkspur survey were the value residents placed on quality of life, friends and family, proximity to natural resources and small-town feel.

“This is what stood out to us,” he said.

The poll found that Larkspur residents value the local economy, feel a strong sense of safety and appreciate access to recreational opportunities.

“Nearly or all residents said they felt safe in the neighborhoods or in the downtown commercial areas during the day,” said Dell'Olio.

Larkspur residents' answers ranked similarly to the national benchmark on 85 topics; above the national benchmark on 30 topics; and below the national benchmark on seven topics.

Vice Mayor Catherine Way noted that “engagement with community” was among the topics below the national benchmark.

Dell'Olio said the term could be related to city outreach in communicating with residents, though it could be related to community engagement among residents.

In the area of public safety, 94% of residents said it is either “good” or “excellent.” Overall economic health ranked similarly among 81% of the respondents. Both surpassed the national benchmarks.

Assistant City Manager Shannon O'Hare said the city aimed to gauge public sentiment on policy. “The survey allows for the city to evaluate changes in Larkspur opinions over time,” O'Hare said.

She said the information would be used to assess benchmarks of the city's success. She said the information helps reinforce that Larkspur public opinion matches a national perspective on issues such as inflation, interest rates and consumer confidence.

The councilmembers said the poll highlights work that has yet to be done.

Councilmember Kevin Carroll inquired about the demographics of the poll, noting that despite general public happiness with the state of the city, there were still respondents seeking expanded services.

“I was struck by 52% were interested in more affordable housing,” said Carroll.

The city participated in the national community survey in 2021. The results of that survey were used to chart changes in public opinion over the years, with improvements in opinions on safety services,