City Of Courtenay Releases Results For Resident Satisfaction Survey

The City of Courtenay has released results from its 2024 Resident Satisfaction Survey.

It’s the second year the survey has been conducted and was done so by phone, targeting 300 respondents.

A separate city-wide online engagement survey was also conducted in the fall and will be reported on separately.

The City says the surveys are intended to offer actionable insights for both the City and its residents, identifying successes and highlighting areas needing improvement, providing concrete data to inform budget deliberations and strategic planning.

For residents, the survey offers a vital platform to share their opinions and priorities. By participating, the report says, residents can directly influence Courtenay’s future, as their perspectives are heard and considered in decision making.

While a strong majority (84%) of Courtenay residents still rate the quality of life in the city as good or very good, a growing number perceive a decline in this quality over time.

Specifically, 68% of 2024 respondents believe quality of life has worsened over the past three years, compared to 59% in 2023.

The perception of decline is more pronounced among certain demographic groups, including middle-aged (35-54) residents, those with children, and those with disabilities.

Residents identified several key areas for improvement to enhance quality of life in Courtenay, including initiatives to address homelessness (41%), substance use and addiction (17%), and the development of more affordable housing (15%).

In other areas, residents’ perspectives on the value they receive for their tax dollars are evolving. In 2024, 70% of Courtenay residents perceived good or very good value for their taxes, compared to 78% the year before.

The 2024 survey gathered feedback on resident satisfaction across 11 key service areas, such as traffic management, land use and community planning, bylaw enforcement, garbage and recycling, recreation, fire services, and water/wastewater management.

The City notes that seven of the 11 service areas saw increased satisfaction levels compared to 2023, three remained the same, and only one (recreation) experienced a decrease.

Online s showed the most substantial improvement, rising from 65% satisfaction in 2023 to 81% in 2024. This increase is believed to be a direct result of the City's efforts to expand online service offerings based on 2023 survey feedback.

While the 2023 and 2024 surveys provide a foundation, the report indicates a more meaningful analysis of trends and resident expectations will be possible with a more extensive dataset.

Five years of data will eventually establish a robust baseline for evidence-based decision-making and ensure that resulting insights are accurate and reliable.

Find the Council meeting highlights at City of Courtenay.