County and Municipal Planning

Responsive Management often works with county and municipal government agencies to survey residents about their opinions, needs, and preferences with regard to governmental services and programs. Our research examines residents’ opinions on facilities and services, standard of living and quality of life satisfaction, and attitudes toward living in the county or city in general—results from these studies are commonly used for governmental planning and development initiatives. These projects also provide valuable feedback on residents’ opinions on county or municipal government decision-making. To further assist with planning on a more granular level, Responsive Management routinely provides crosstabulations of survey results by gender, age, years of residency, children in the household, education, income, residence in specific areas of the county or city, and numerous other demographic characteristics.

Some of our recent county and municipal planning studies include the following:

York County, Virginia, Residents’ Opinions on Living in York County (2015 and 2011): This study was conducted for York County to determine residents’ opinions on facilities and services in York County and about living in York County in general. The study entailed a telephone survey of York County residents 18 years old and older.
York County, Virginia, Residents’ Opinions on Comprehensive Community Planning: This study was conducted for York County, Virginia to determine county residents’ opinions on community planning. The study entailed a telephone survey of York County residents 18 years old and older.
Opinions of the Surrounding Community Regarding Fort A.P. Hill and Its Activities: This ongoing trend study is conducted for Fort A.P. Hill to determine the opinions of the surrounding community regarding Fort A.P. Hill and its activities. The study entails a scientific telephone survey of residents of the surrounding communities (Caroline, Essex, King George, and Spotsylvania Counties and the City of Fredericksburg).
Henrico County Citizens’ Communication Survey: This study was conducted for the Henrico County Government to determine residents’ awareness and use of County communications. The study entailed a scientific telephone survey of Henrico County residents, stratified by the five Supervisory Districts in the County.
Customers’ Attitudes Toward Republic Services in the City of Monroe, Washington: This study was conducted for the City Council of Monroe, Washington to determine Monroe citizens’ (both residential customers and business customers) attitudes toward their current solid waste service (Republic Services) and the City of Monroe’s handling of customer service. This information was used by the Council to determine whether to extend a contract with Republic Services or accept bids from other vendors. The study entailed a telephone survey of Monroe residential and business customers of Republic Services, ages 18 and older.
Delaware Residents’ Outdoor Recreation Use Patterns and Needs: Conducted for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Parks and Recreation, this study involved a telephone survey of Delaware residents to assess their outdoor recreation patterns and their future outdoor recreation needs. The survey included representative samples from five planning regions (North New Castle County, South New Castle County, Kent County, East Sussex County, and West Sussex County) and five municipalities (Milford, Seaford, Dover, Newark, and Wilmington).
Orange County Residents’ Participation in Outdoor Recreation and Their Recreational Needs: This study was conducted for the Harbors, Beaches and Parks Division of the Orange County Resources and Development Management Department to determine Orange County residents’ participation in outdoor recreation and their recreational needs.
Public Perception of and Values Regarding Parks and Recreation in Missouri: Responsive Management was awarded a contract with the Missouri Park and Recreation Association to design and administer two public opinion surveys: (1) a telephone survey of Missouri citizens and (2) a survey of elected officials and MPRA members. These surveys identified perceptions of and values regarding the parks and recreation opportunities in the state; assessed satisfaction with agency facilities and services; and determined opinions on and attitudes toward the parks and recreation profession’s ability to meet its goals and missions.
Opinions on and Support for or Opposition to Conversion of Rail Lines into Bicycle Trains in Concord, Massachusetts: This study was funded by the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, a not-for-profit organization designed to promote the rail trail. The study was conducted to determine Concord residents’ opinions on and support for or opposition to the conversion of former rail lines into bicycle trails, including opinions on the type of trails. The study entailed a telephone survey of registered voters who live in the Town of Concord.
Survey Regarding the B.P. Oil Spill: This study was conducted to examine Alabama residents’ opinions on and willingness to support a coastal protection program funded through a state tax on gasoline and diesel purchases. The research entailed a focus group and survey of Alabama residents 18 years old and older.
Knowledge and Perception of Air Quality Among Northwest Indiana Residents: This study was conducted to determine Northwest Indiana residents’ knowledge of air quality issues, the relative importance they place on air quality, their sources of information about air quality, and their awareness of and opinions on specific air quality campaigns. The study entailed a scientific telephone survey of Northwest Indiana residents—specifically, residents of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties—as well as two focus groups with Northwest Indiana residents.
Watershed-Literacy Survey of Carson River Watershed Residents: This study was conducted for the Carson Water Subconservancy District to determine Carson River Watershed residents’ knowledge of and attitudes toward watershed health, knowledge of basic watershed concepts, and activities or behaviors that may impact the watershed’s environment. The study entailed a telephone survey of residents of the Carson River Watershed area in Nevada, ages 18 and older.
Public Attitudes Toward Groundwater Pollution: Responsive Management conducted a telephone survey of Butte, Montana, residents to assess their opinions on and attitudes toward groundwater pollution issues.
Georgia Residents’ Opinions on and Participation in Recycling: Responsive Management completed an image testing study for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to determine residents’ opinions on and participation in recycling. For this project, Responsive Management partnered with Hill & Knowlton, R.W. Beck, and Elevation Brand to assist in the development and implementation of an effective statewide recycling communications campaign to increase recycling participation and recovery rates throughout the State of Georgia. The research findings were used to assist in the development of a statewide recycling promotional campaign to create awareness and educate target audiences and Georgia residents in general about recycling.
Georgia Residents’ Opinions on Litter and Anti-Littering Programs in Georgia: This study was conducted to help identify negligent litter sources and establish a baseline of negligent litterers’ awareness of littering and the impact it has on their community; to gauge the effectiveness of the various aspects of Georgia’s litter prevention communications campaign on changing the public perception and awareness of litter, littering issues, and littering behavior; to further the development and implementation of a creative and innovative statewide litter prevention and awareness communication campaign for the State of Georgia; and to measure litter prevention awareness during and after the campaign to evaluate the effects and impact of campaign efforts.