City of Larkspur Community Survey Highlights Survey Conducted

City of Larkspur Community Survey Highlights Survey Conducted: February 17 -March 1, 2017

Methodology § Survey of 402 randomly-selected Larkspur residents – All respondents are likely to cast a ballot in the November 2017 election – Interviews were conducted via landline, cell phones, and online – Survey was conducted February 17 -March 1, 2017 § Margin of sampling error of ± 4. 9% at the 95% confidence level § Some percentages do not sum to 100% due to rounding § Select comparisons to 2011 and 2013 surveys 2

Views of Larkspur 3

A majority feels City government is doing an overall “excellent” or “good” job. The overall job Larkspur City Government is doing Excellent 7% 49% Good 22% Only fair Poor Don’t know/NA 3% Excellent/ Good 56% Only Fair/ Poor 25% 19% Using a scale of excellent, good, only fair, or poor, please rate…. 4

These perceptions have stayed relatively consistent over the past several years. The overall job Larkspur City Government is doing Date of Survey Excellent/Good February-March 2017 56% July 2013 59% February 2013 62% July 2011 60% Using a scale of excellent, good, only fair, or poor, please rate each of the following…. 5

Potholes and deteriorating roads are the top issues of concern in Larkspur. I'd like to read you some problems facing the City of Larkspur that other people have mentioned. Please tell me whether you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, somewhat serious problem, or not too serious a problem in Larkspur. Ext. Ser. Prob. Very Ser. Prob. Smwt. Ser. Prob. Potholes Deteriorating streets and roads 39% 15% State budget cuts that reduce the money available for local city services 11% Flooding on local streets The cost of health benefits for retired public employees 30% 26% Deteriorating storm drains The cost of pensions for retired public employees Not Too Ser. Prob. 24% 12% 17% 39% 35% 31% 32% 17% 25% 14% 25% 17% 14% 41% 16% 17% DK/NA Ext. /Very Ser. Prob. 23% 8% 69% 27% 7% 65% 10% 15% 50% 7% 18% 43% 28% 41% 20% 36% 37% 32% Split Sample 6

Few worry much about the local economy or other financial issues. Ext. Ser. Prob. Very Ser. Prob. The amount people pay in local taxes Waste and inefficiency in local government Insufficient public parking Brush and tree overgrowth blocking roads for emergency access Smwt. Ser. Prob. 14% 16% 9% 15% 6% 29% 17% 18% 5% 16% The amount people pay in sales taxes 6% 10% 29% 34% 18% 27% 11% 19% 12% 51% 52% 30% 24% 41% 32% DK/NA 29% 32% 8% 14% Earthquake safety at City Hall and the adjacent fire station Jobs and the local economy Not Too Ser. Prob. Ext. /Very Ser. Prob. 14% 22% 21% 30% 6% 16% 13% I'd like to read you some problems facing the City of Larkspur that other people have mentioned. Please tell me whether you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, somewhat serious problem, or not too serious a problem in Larkspur. Split Sample 7

Unsurprisingly, many hold negative impressions about the condition of City streets. The condition of City streets Excellent 2% Good 18% Only fair 31% Poor Don't know/NA Excellent/ Good 19% 48% Only Fair/ Poor 79% 2% Using a scale of excellent, good, only fair, or poor, please rate each of the following: 8

Furthermore, two-thirds believe the conditions of roads in Larkspur are only getting worse. Thinking about the condition of roads in Larkspur, would you say they are getting better, staying about the same, or getting worse? Getting much better 1% Getting somewhat better 10% Staying about the same 21% Getting somewhat worse 34% Getting much worse Don't know/NA Total Better 11% 32% Total Worse 65% 2% 9

Viability of a Potential Measure C Renewal Measure 10

Split Methodology § Half of the respondents were asked about a potential ballot measure renewing Measure C at the ½ cent rate. § The other half were asked about a potential Measure C renewal at the ¾ cent rate. § As both measures were viable at similar levels, the responses were combined to allow for more detailed demographic analysis. 11

Conceptual Ballot Measure Language (Reviewed by City Attorney) Larkspur Essential City Services Measure. To maintain City services, including • • • Fire protection and 911 emergency/medical response; Repairing aging and deteriorating neighborhood streets, roads, potholes; Clearing brush to prevent fires/improve emergency vehicle access; Upgrading storm drains; and Other services; Shall the City of Larkspur extend the voter-approved sales tax at the (SPLIT SAMPLE C ONLY: ¾ cent rate until ended by voters, providing $1. 65 million annually) (SPLIT SAMPLE D ONLY: ½ cent rate until ended by voters, providing $1. 1 million annually) with authority to incur debt to accelerate infrastructure projects, subject to citizens’ oversight/audits? If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure, or “no” to oppose it? Split Sample 12

Solid majorities expressed support for either renewal concept, both of which require a simple majority. ½ cent ¾ cent 39% Definitely yes 29% Probably yes Undecided, lean no Probably no 5% 2% 6% Definitely no Undecided 17% 2% Total No 25% Total Yes 73% 45% 20% 4% 2% 7% 19% Total Yes 68% Total No 28% 3% If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure, or “no” to oppose it? 13

Demographic/Geographic Summary § Combining the results to allow for more detailed analysis reveals that majorities of all major demographic and geographic subgroups expressed support for a measure, including: – Men and women; – Democrats, Republicans and independents; – White voters and voters of color; – Those of all age groups; – Homeowners and renters; and – Those living in both the 94939 and 94904 zip codes. § Support was particularly strong among renters, younger women; and Democratic women. 14

Priority Projects for a Potential Renewal 15

Road repairs and public safety are the top priorities. I am going to read you a list of ways in which the funds generated by this ballot measure could be spent in Larkspur. Please tell me how important you feel that benefit is to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important. Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Repairing streets and roads Smwt. Impt. 38% Not Too Impt. /DK/NA Ext. / Very Impt. 46% 13% 85% Maintaining and repairing neighborhood streets and roads 42% 40% 15% 82% Repairing potholes 44% 37% 16% 81% Maintaining 911 emergency response times 40% 41% 15% Maintaining fire protection 39% 18% 5% 81% 79% Split Sample 16

Many also prioritize addressing storm drains Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Maintaining emergency medical response times Smwt. Impt. 38% Maintaining and repairing major boulevards and roads 35% Repairing storm drains to prevent flooding on City streets 33% 18% Ext. / Very Impt. 78% 19% 77% 23% 75% Not Too Impt. /DK/NA 40% 42% Maintaining police protection 29% 44% 22% Repairing storm drains to prevent spills of contaminated water into the Bay 29% 41% 24% Clearing hazardous and flammable brush to prevent fires and improve emergency vehicle access 25% 42% 26% 6% 72% 6% 70% 6% 67% I am going to read you a list of ways in which the funds generated by this ballot measure could be spent in Larkspur. Please tell me how important you feel that benefit is to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important. Split Sample 17

Improvements for bicyclists, sidewalks, and earthquake repairs are lower priorities. Ext. / Very Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Smwt. Impt. Not Too Impt. /DK/NA Impt. Maintaining City Library services 27% 31% 29% 13% 59% Clearing flammable brush that poses a serious fire hazard to our neighborhoods 22% 37% 30% Making earthquake safety repairs to the 100 -year-old fire station building 16% Making earthquake safety repairs to the 100 -year-old City Hall building 12% 33% 36% Improving accessibility on streets and sidewalks for seniors and persons with disabilities 14% 30% 41% Improving safety for bicyclists 13% 31% 24% 36% 33% 11% 59% 16% 47% 19% 45% 15% 31% 43% 36% I am going to read you a list of ways in which the funds generated by this ballot measure could be spent in Larkspur. Please tell me how important you feel that benefit is to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important. Split Sample 18

Statements for and against a Renewal Measure § Survey respondents were presented with a variety of statements supporting a potential Measure C renewal measure. Some of the most compelling were: – That future repairs would be more expensive; – That road repairs are needed to improve the worst streets in Marin County – That road repairs would fix hazardous road conditions that currently putting motorists, buses, cyclists, and police and fire safety vehicles at risk; and – That a renewal would give the City the flexibility to accelerate road repairs, enough to repave all City roads over the next 5 years. § Survey respondents were also presented with a variety of statement opposing a potential measure, including – That the funds have and will be wasted or spent on lower-priority projects; – That residents can’t afford more taxes; – That Measure C was promised to be a temporary measure and this tax would last forever; and – That this tax would hurt local businesses. 19

Support stayed consistent above the majority -vote threshold after information. ¾ cent Position Initial Ballot Language After Information Total Yes Total No Undecided 73% 25% 2% 66% 29% 5% ½ cent Position Initial Ballot Language After Information Total Yes Total No Undecided 68% 28% 3% 65% 30% 5% Using a scale of excellent, good, only fair, or poor, please rate each of the following…. 20

Three in five consistently indicated they would vote “yes” on the measures. v Consistent Yes: Voters who consistently indicated they would vote “yes” on the measure. v Consistent No: Voters who consistently indicated they would vote “no” on the measure. v Swing: Voters who do not fall into any of the other categories – remaining consistently undecided or switching positions. Consistent Yes 61% Consistent No 22% Swing 16% 21

Respondents expressed receptiveness to receiving information through the City e-newsletter or the Marin IJ, among other vehicles. Def. Pay Attn. Maybe Pay Attn. Information from a friend or neighbor 32% An e-newsletter from your City A news article in the Marin Independent Journal Def. Not Pay Attn. DK/NA 13% 6% 81% 17% 5% 77% 49% 40% 38% 35% 37% Total Pay Attn. 72% 24% Information from an elected official 18% 51% A website publicized to local residents 19% 46% 27% 8% 24% 7% 69% 66% A post on Nextdoor. com 26% 32% 7% 61% A text from the City 27% 33% 32% 8% 60% I am going to read a list of ways the City of Larkspur may provide information to local residents. Please tell me whether you would definitely pay attention, maybe pay attention, or definitely not pay attention to information about the City if it were presented to you in that way. 22

Conclusions & Next Steps 23

Conclusions § Those likely to participate in a November 2017 election generally feel good about life in Larkspur and its City government. § However, the quality of local roads is a major concern. § A ballot measure renewing Measure C is currently viable. § Consistent with past best practices, FM 3 Research recommends getting more input and feedback from the public as the City continues exploring its options, including a second short survey in June. 24

Next Steps § As it is clear that the community wants significant progress made on improvements to our potholes, streets and roads, City staff will: – Continue to gather more feedback and perspectives from civic leaders and members of the community who may not have had the opportunity to respond to this survey – Develop scenarios for addressing these needs within an escalated five year period – Assess the financing and revenue options needed to achieve these benchmarks – Report back to Council in the coming months 25

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For more information, contact: Curt Below Curt@FM 3 research. com Lucia Del Puppo Lucia@FM 3 research. com