Residents Upbeat About Quality of Life in Brookfield

Residents continue to be upbeat about the city and its services, according to preliminary data released from a communitywide survey conducted this spring.

Of 1,808 households that completed the survey, nearly 86 percent said the quality of life in their neighborhood and in the city at large stayed the same or improved in the last five years. About 82 percent said Brookfield's image in the metropolitan Milwaukee area stayed the same or improved.

The top four priorities for Brookfield were identified as:

• Maintaining quality of the area’s public schools

• Encouraging redevelopment of commercial areas

• Maintaining tax base to provide high level of services

• Improving traffic movement in the city

Overall, Brookfeld residents scored the city with an average of 71 on a nationally recognized measurement — the American Customer Service Index (ACSI). The highest possible score is 100, and the average score for communities in Wisconsin is 67; in the Midwest, 62 and nationally, 62.

The city mailed the survey to all 15,902 households in spring and 1,808 responded, representing a scientifically valid sample size with an approximate 2.2% margin of error. 

Demographics skew older than Census

The demographics of the survey respondents skewed a bit older than the Brookfield population per the 2010 Census, which was similar to the experience in previous city surveys. Respondents were equally dispersed throughout the community. The last citywide survey was conducted in 2009.

The survey solicited feedback regarding satisfaction with city services, programs and infrastructure, opinions regarding quality of life issues including trends, and priorities regarding city budgeting and services.

Cobalt Community Research, the not-for-profit consultant who managed the survey, will present its findings at the June 19 Common Council meeting.

Aldermen will consider the results of the survey when establishing community priorities for the next two years in July and when setting city budgets for 2013 and 2014. A copy of the survey results will be posted on the city’s website.

Mayor Steven Ponto said in a news release that he was pleased with the results and called the survey "an important tool" in measuring community satisfaction with city services and what future priorities should be.

"Despite the economic recession and its impacts on households, and in the midst of political tensions across thesState, I am highly pleased and reassured that the vast majority of our citizens who took their time to complete the survey have found that Brookfield remains a solid community to live, raise a family, and conduct business," Ponto said.

"I am highly appreciative of all residents, community volunteers, businesses, school representatives, elected officials and city staff that collectively sustain Brookfield's success," the mayor said. "We encourage all residents to remain engaged and continue to provide feedback and suggestions to your elected and appointed officials."