Residents are largely satisfied with the quality of life and city government, according to a survey commissioned by the city council and conducted by an outside firm from Feb. 6 through 11.
“In general, the level of satisfaction across the board is unusually positive,” said Sharon Pinkerton of the public opinion reseach and strategy company Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates at the March 17 city council meeting.
However, she noted, the 400 registered voters interviewed by her firm expressed some concern about crime, development and parking.
About 48 percent of residents, with a margin of error of five percent, thought that crime in general had increased in the last few years.
However, 95 percent said that they either “Strongly agreed” or “Somewhat agreed” with the statement, “I personally feel safe living in Manhattan Beach.”
“While residents perceive a growing threat, they feel that public services are keeping them safe,” said Pinkerton.
The survey also asked about suggestions made by the Urban Land Institute for downtown.
A vast majority, 79 percent, were in favor of “limiting the size of stores in downtown Manhattan Beach to prevent an increase in large chain stores and protect the small town feel.” While ULI warned against instituting a ban against chain stores, it did suggest using strategic zoning.
A majority were also in favor of various parking solutions proposed by ULI, especially having a shuttle service to bring people to downtown.
However, improved parking was suggested by ULI in part to bring more tourists to downtown, and Pinkerton’s firm found that “More residents disagree that tourism should be promoted.”
The ULI report said that that 60 percent of retail space is supported by visitors and that restaurants rely on visitors for almost 75 percent of their patrons.
On the topic of building a skate park, which has long divided residents, the survey found that 43 percent were in favor and 45 percent against it. However, when asked about the project if it was not funded with city tax dollars, the percent in favor increased to 62 and the percent opposed decreased to 29 percent. ER
