July 20-23, 2017

Survey Conducted

220-4835
Methodology
600 interviews with randomly
selected Alameda voters
Conducted July 20-23, 2017, via
landline and cell phones
Margin of sampling error of
+/-4.0% at the 95% confidence
interval for the overall sample;
+/-5.7% for split samples
Due to rounding, some
percentages do not add up to
100%
Comparisons to prior community
surveys conducted in 2015 and
2008

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 Presentation Organization
Community Perceptions
Community Budget Priorities
Potential Marijuana Policies
Potential Local Funding Measures
Impact of Information on the Viability of Potential Local
Funding Measures
Providing Information to the Community
Conclusions

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4
 Key Findings
Majorities approved of City
government, the Council and Mayor.
Few saw the Citys management of its
budget, local taxes, or pension issues
as problematic.
Most were satisfied with City services
especially fire, police and parks.
Their most urgent concerns were
common to many Bay Area
communities: housing costs and
traffic.
In addition, climate change and sea-
level rise concerned more than two in
five respondents.

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Nearly three in five felt Alameda is headed
in the right direction; they were even more
optimistic about their neighborhoods.
Would you say that things in ______________ are generally headed in the right
direction, or do you feel that things are pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
Right Direction Mixed DK/NA Wrong Track

2017 77% 7% 12%

Your neighborhood 2015 75% 5% 6% 14%

2008 74% 8% 5% 13%

2017 57% 11% 7% 25%

The City of Alameda 2015 59% 10% 9% 22%

2008 61% 9% 8% 22%

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 Majorities approved of City leadership.

I am now going to read you a brief list of public officials and agencies.
Please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of the job each is doing.

Strng. App. Swmt. App. DK/NA Smwt. Disapp. Strng. Disapp. Total Total
App. Disapp.

Alameda City
23% 42% 13% 11% 11% 64% 23%
Government overall

Alameda City
20% 39% 22% 11% 8% 59% 19%
Management

Alameda Mayor and

20% 38% 16% 14% 12% 58% 26%
City Council

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 Nearly all services were viewed positively.
I am going to ask you about some specific services that the City of Alameda provides. Please tell me
whether you think the City is doing an excellent, good, only fair, or poor job in providing that service.

Exc./Good Fair/Poor

Quality of fire services 81% 8%

Level of neighborhood safety 81% 17%

Quality of park facilities 80% 15%

Quality of police services 78% 18%

Quality of recreation programs 70% 14%

Quality of customer service at the Library 66% 5%

Quality of Library programs for children and adults 65% 8%

Quality of street maintenance 57% 43%

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 Housing costs were seen as the biggest
local problem, followed by congestion.
Ext. Ser. Prob. Very Ser. Prob. Smwt. Ser. Prob. Not Too Ser. Prob. DK/NA Ext./
Very
The cost of housing 44% 29% 16% 7% 73%
A lack of housing affordable for
working families 34% 34% 14% 13% 5% 68%
Traffic and congestion on local streets
and roads 35% 24% 24% 16% 60%
Climate change 25% 24% 23% 21% 7% 49%
Too much growth and development 25% 22% 20% 29% 47%
Sea-level rise 17% 25% 22% 26% 11% 42%
A lack of parking in commercial districts 19% 16% 27% 37% 34%
Lack of preparedness for disasters such as
floods or earthquakes 13% 21% 23% 24% 19% 34%
A lack of good-paying jobs 14% 17% 28% 20% 21% 31%
Speeding and reckless driving 16% 14% 33% 33% 29%
The cost of public employee pensions for the
City budget 12% 16% 19% 15% 38% 28%
The amount people pay in City taxes 10% 16% 21% 43% 9% 26%
Waste and inefficiency in local government 11% 12% 29% 22% 26% 23%
Crime 6% 11% 36% 44% 17%
I'd like to read you some problems facing the City of Alameda 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 a not too serious problem in Alameda. 9
 Concern about traffic has more
than doubled since 2008.
(Extremely/Very Serious Problem)
2015-2017
Problems 2008 2015 2017
Difference
Traffic and congestion on local streets and roads 27% 47% 60% +13%

The amount people pay in City taxes 32% 15% 26% +11%

A lack of parking in commercial districts 23% 24% 34% +10%

Too much growth and development -- 38% 47% +9%

Crime 28% 9% 17% +8%

Waste and inefficiency in local government 43% 18% 23% +5%

The cost of housing 55% 69% 73% +4%

I'd like to read you some problems facing the City of Alameda 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 a not too serious problem in Alameda. 10
11
 Key Findings
Very few respondents expressed a willingness
to cut City services.
Respondents were willing to pay more to
improve maintenance of storm drains, streets
and sidewalks.
Maintaining public safety services and quality
of life were top priorities for the City budget,
with financial stability and Bay pollution also in
a top tier of priorities.
Park maintenance, disaster preparation, and
housing and homelessness were also
important, though there was less urgency
around these programs.
Very few were highly concerned about the
animal shelter, community solar, or the Citys
historic core, relative to other City programs.

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 Few were willing to cut City services; two in
five were willing to pay more to improve
storm drains, streets and sidewalks.
I am going to mention some of the services the City provides its residents. Every two years, the City faces
hard choices about these services in order to balance its budget. Please tell me whether you think cuts should
be made to that service in order to help balance the budget, whether that service should be maintained at
current levels, or whether you would be willing to pay additional taxes or fees to improve that service.
Improve Maintain Cut DK/NA

Repairing streets, sidewalks and storm drains 42% 54%

Attracting and retaining businesses 30% 54% 12%

Maintaining City parks 21% 76%

Providing youth and senior programs 23% 67% 6%

Providing library services 14% 80%

Police, fire and 911 emergency response 16% 74% 7%

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 Public safety and maintaining quality of life
were top priorities for additional funding.
Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Smwt. Impt. Not Too Impt. DK/NA Ext./Very
Impt.
Maintaining 911 police response times 40% 42% 13% 82%
Maintaining police response to violent
crimes 39% 42% 14% 81%
Maintaining 911 response times to fire
emergencies 38% 42% 12% 6% 80%

Maintaining quality of life 44% 35% 13% 79%

Maintaining 911 emergency medical
response times 36% 43% 17% 79%
^Maintaining the City of Alamedas
financial stability 29% 45% 20% 74%
Maintaining police response to property
crimes, such as burglaries 28% 45% 20% 6% 74%
Maintaining and repairing storm drains to
keep pollution out of the Bay 29% 44% 22% 5% 73%

Funding essential City services 26% 45% 21% 5% 71%

I am going to read you a list of City projects and programs. If additional funds were made available, please tell me how important increasing
spending on each project or program would be to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too
important. 14
 Storm drains, streets, parks and potholes
also ranked as important spending areas.
Ext./Very
Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Smwt. Impt. Not Too Impt. DK/NA
Impt.
Maintaining and repairing storm drains to
prevent street flooding 26% 44% 23% 6% 69%
Maintaining City streets 23% 46% 26% 5% 69%
Maintaining the condition of
neighborhood parks 23% 45% 26% 5% 69%
Repairing potholes 27% 41% 25% 6% 68%
Improving public transit to address traffic
congestion 32% 34% 21% 11% 66%
Providing programs to make housing more
affordable 33% 33% 20% 13% 65%
Providing programs for youth and young
adults 19% 46% 25% 8% 65%
Better preparing for natural disasters such
as flooding or earthquakes 32% 31% 24% 10% 64%
Providing homeless services 27% 36% 23% 13% 63%
Maintaining programs for seniors 21% 42% 31% 6% 63%
Maintaining the Citys animal shelter 22% 39% 25% 12% 61%
Maintaining trees along City streets 20% 41% 28% 11% 61%
I am going to read you a list of City projects and programs. If additional funds were made available, please tell me how important increasing
spending on each project or program would be to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too
important. 15
 Below are lower-priority spending areas
if additional funding were available. Ext./Very
Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Smwt. Impt. Not Too Impt. DK/NA Impt.
Maintaining and repairing sidewalks 22% 38% 29% 11% 60%
Creating more jobs through economic
development 21% 39% 27% 13% 60%
Maintaining youth and senior recreation
programs 19% 41% 32% 7% 60%
Attracting and retaining businesses 21% 38% 27% 12% 59%
Improving pedestrian, bicycle and transit options
for crossing the estuary 29% 28% 28% 13% 57%
Maintaining existing neighborhood policing
programs 18% 39% 25% 9% 9% 57%
Repairing aging and deteriorating play structures
and facilities at City parks 15% 42% 33% 10% 57%
Making sidewalks more accessible for seniors and
those with physical disabilities 22% 34% 35% 9% 56%
Maintaining library hours and services 17% 38% 33% 9% 55%
Paying down a portion of the Citys outstanding
pension fund for retired employees 15% 31% 36% 12% 7% 45%
Replacing the Citys old animal shelter 11% 31% 30% 20% 8% 42%
Building community solar for City residents to
share who cannot install their own solar panels 14% 26% 25% 30% 40%
Revitalizing the Citys historic core, including the
Carnegie Library and Veterans Building 13% 28% 32% 24% 40%
I am going to read you a list of City projects and programs. If additional funds were made available, please tell me how important increasing
spending on each project or program would be to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too
important. 16
17
 Respondents expressed strong support for
regulations regarding cultivation, processing, and
sale of marijuana, including a 15% receipts tax.
With this in mind, I am now going to read you several different marijuana
polices the City of Alameda may consider in the future. Please tell me
whether that policy sounds like something you would support or oppose.

Strng. Supp. Smwt. Supp. DK/NA Smwt. Opp. Strng. Opp. Total Total
Supp. Opp.
Establishing regulations allowing
business to sell marijuana for 44% 22% 8% 24% 65% 31%
recreational use

Establishing a 15% gross receipts

tax on businesses selling either 42% 24% 6% 8% 21% 65% 28%
medical or recreational marijuana
Establishing regulations allowing
the processing and
manufacturing of marijuana 42% 22% 7% 25% 64% 32%
products for recreational use
Establishing regulations allowing
the commercial cultivation of 37% 22% 8% 28% 59% 37%
marijuana for recreational use

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Revenue Measure Assessment Approach
Half of respondents heard a potential general-
purpose sales tax throughout the survey
(majority vote threshold)
The other half heard an infrastructure bond
measure (two-thirds vote threshold)
The margin of error for each half-sample is 5.7%
This structure enabled the City understand how a
measures viability might be impacted by
community dialogue

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 Hypothetical Ballot Language for a
Local General-Purpose Sales Tax Measure
(Language Approved by City Attorney)

City of Alameda Essential City Services Measure.

To maintain Alamedas financial stability and provide funding

for a variety of services, including police response to
crimes/burglaries; 911 emergency medical/fire response;
addressing traffic congestion; improving pedestrian/bicyclist
safety; maintaining parks, storm drains, senior, youth,
homeless programs; and other City services, shall the City of
Alameda enact a half-cent sales tax until ended by voters,
providing about $5 million annually in locally controlled
revenues, requiring independent audits and public spending
review?

If there were an election today, do you think you would vote yes in favor of this measure, or no to oppose it?
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A local, general-purpose sales tax measure
began with support from nearly two-thirds.
Requires Majority Vote; MOE 5.7%

Definitely yes 36% Total

Probably yes 25% Yes
Undecided, lean yes 5% 65%

Undecided, lean no 3%
Total
Probably no 7% No
Definitely no 17% 27%
A similarly worded sales tax
measure received similar
support (63% YES/31% NO)
Undecided 8% in a 2015 survey for the City.

If there were an election today, do you think you would vote yes in favor of this measure, or no to oppose it? 22
 Hypothetical Ballot Language for a
Local Infrastructure Bond Measure
(Language Approved by City Attorney)

City of Alameda Infrastructure Repair Bond.

To maintain and improve Alamedas infrastructure by

upgrading and repairing storm drains to prevent street flooding
and keep pollution from the Bay; repairing deteriorating
streets, sidewalks, and potholes; and upgrading public facilities
and infrastructure to address earthquake safety, ocean erosion
and rise, and other infrastructure needs, shall the City of
Alameda issue (SPLIT SAMPLE A: $45 million) (SPLIT SAMPLE B:
$95 million) in bonds at legal rates, with all revenues locally
controlled, and requiring independent citizens oversight and
published independent audits?

If there were an election today, do you think you would vote yes in favor of this measure, or no to oppose it?
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 An infrastructure repair bond measure
yielded high levels of support.
Requires Two-Thirds Vote; MOE 8.0%

$45 Million $95 Million

Definitely yes 49% Total 43% Total

Probably yes 23% Yes 25% Yes
Undecided, lean yes 8% 80% 7% 75%

Undecided, lean no 1% Total 5% Total

Probably no 4% No 3% No
Definitely no 9% 15% 7% 15%

Undecided 6% 9%

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 24
25
The sales tax retained a strong margin
of support throughout the survey.
General-Purpose Sales Tax Vote Progression (Requires Majority Vote)
Def. Yes Prob./Und., Lean Yes Undecided Prob./Und., Lean No Def. No. Total Total
Yes No

Initial Ask 36% 30% 8% 10% 17% 65% 27%

Second Ask 42% 31% 6% 7% 14% 73% 22%

Third Ask 35% 33% 5% 10% 18% 67% 29%

51%
If there were an election today, do you think you would vote yes in favor of this measure, or no to oppose it? 26
Bond measure support was closer to
vote threshold throughout the survey.
Infrastructure Bond Vote Progression (Requires Two-Thirds Vote)
Def. Yes Prob./Und., Lean Yes Undecided Prob./Und., Lean No Def. No. Total Total
Yes No

Initial Ask 46% 31% 7% 7% 8% 77% 15%

Second Ask 44% 34% 7% 5% 9% 78% 15%

Third Ask 40% 32% 12% 12% 73% 24%

67%
If there were an election today, do you think you would vote yes in favor of this measure, or no to oppose it? 27
 Information of Most Interest to Respondents
Statements
^(PARKS) Alameda's 21 community and neighborhood parks and beaches are an important part of what
makes living here special. This measure will help maintain our parks, including helping to keep pollution
out of our beaches and Bay, so our parks, beaches and waters are safe and clean for our residents to enjoy.

(ACCOUNTABILITY) This measure will be subject to tough fiscal accountability requirements, including full
public review of all spending and independent financial audits, to ensure that the money is spent
consistent with community priorities.

(STORM DRAINS) State Water Board regulations and other factors require Alameda to make $45 million in
repairs and maintenance to the City's deteriorating storm drain system. This measure will help make these
repairs and maintain our storm drains, preventing street flooding, keeping pollution from spilling into the
Bay, and avoiding state fines.

^(PUBLIC SAFETY RECORD) For the last several years, the City of Alameda has been able to keep crime
rates low. This measure is needed to maintain neighborhood police patrols, keeping crime rates low and
Alameda a safe place to live, run a business, and raise a family.

(DISASTER PREPAREDNESS) Last winter's record rains, which caused tens of thousands of dollars in
flooding damage on the island, are a preview of what we can expect with climate change. This measure
will help the City prepare the community for the next disaster, such as an earthquake or flooding.

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Information regarding park maintenance
and Bay protection resonated strongly.
Very Conv. Smwt. Conv.

^Parks 47% 36% 83%

Accountability 40% 36% 75%
Storm Drains 39% 41% 80%
^Public Safety Record 39% 37% 76%
Disaster Preparedness 39% 33% 72%
^Streets 37% 36% 72%
Federal 37% 35% 72%
^Quality of Life 36% 36% 72%
Sales Tax - Amount 35% 37% 72%
Bond - Historic Core 29% 43% 71%

Q9. I am going to read you some informational statements. Please tell me whether you find it very convincing, somewhat convincing, or not
convincing as a reason to support this measure on a future ballot. ^Not part of Split Sample 29
30
 Preferred sources of information include
word of mouth, website and text messages.
Def. Pay Attn. Maybe Pay Attn.

Information from a friend or neighbor 52% 36% 88%

A website publicized to local residents 42% 32% 74%
A text message from the City 41% 20% 61%
A news article in the Alameda Sun 40% 26% 66%
A news article in the Alameda Journal 36% 32% 68%
Information from an elected official 32% 39% 71%
A booth at a special event, such as a street festival 32% 34% 66%
City Council meetings 31% 30% 61%
Information on the City of Alameda website 31% 28% 58%
An ad in the newspaper 30% 31% 62%
An ad on television 24% 35% 59%
A post on Nextdoor.com 21% 20% 41%
A radio ad 20% 31% 51%
A Facebook post 20% 31% 51%
An ad on a website 20% 31% 51%

I am going to read a list of ways the City of Alameda 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. 31
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 Conclusions
Solid majorities of Alameda survey respondents were interested in
supporting a simple majority requirement sales tax or an
infrastructure bond.

Respondents are satisfied with their quality of life and City services,
and want to maintain them.

Increased housing costs and traffic congestion weighed heavily on

the minds of respondents.

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For more information, contact:

1999 Harrison St., Suite 2020

Oakland, CA 94612
Phone (510) 451-9521
Fax (510) 451-0384
Curt@FM3research.com
Miranda@FM3research.com