Baldwin Times

The City of Gulf Shores has been named a Leading the Way Award Winner by ETC Institute for ranking in the top 10 percent of all U.S. cities in terms of resident satisfaction with local governmental services based on the results of the city's 2021 Resident Satisfaction Survey.

The Leading the Way Award recognizes local governments for outstanding achievement in the delivery of services to residents. Recipients of the awards must rank in the top 10 percent of all local governments in the United States concerning their composite performance in the three core survey areas:

• Satisfaction with the overall quality of services
• Satisfaction with customer service provided by employees
• Satisfaction with the value residents think they receive for local taxes and fees

A maximum of 100 points are awarded in each of these areas based on the survey results. A city must have received a composite score of 210 or more to rank in the top 10 percent, which means the city scored an average of at least 70 points in all three areas. The City of Gulf Shores' composite rating was 235, which is 59 points higher than the average composite score of 176 for all cities in the United States.

"To be recognized for the top 10 percent for resident satisfaction is extraordinary, but it didn't happen by accident," said City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Philip Harris. "This is a direct result of our department heads and city staff's day-to-day execution and commitment to our community. Without their work, we would never be able to deliver these services so exceptionally."

In addition to ranking in the top 10 percent overall, the city also rated in the top 10 percent of all cities in the specific areas listed below.

• Visibility of police in neighborhoods and in commercial/retail area
• Overall quality of police services
• Feeling of safety in City neighborhoods
• Overall quality of fire services
• Condition of sidewalks
• Mowing and tree trimming along streets and public areas
• Quality of on-street bicycle infrastructure
• Maintenance/appearance of community centers
• Appearance of the community

Last fall, the city partnered with ETC Institute to complete the first-ever City of Gulf Shores Resident Satisfaction Survey. The survey data included a benchmark analysis that compared resident satisfaction on services provided by the City of Gulf Shores to cities across the southeast and throughout the United States. The city plans to continue administering Resident Satisfaction Surveys on a bi-annual basis. The next survey is planned for the spring of 2024.

ETC Institute in an industry leader in community surveys and has conducted research for more major U.S. cities than any other firm. In the past five years alone, the firm has worked with over 1,000 cities and counties across the county. To learn more about ETC Institute, visit www.etcinstitute.com.

To view the results or to learn more about the 2021 City of Gulf Shores Resident Satisfaction Survey, please visit www.gulfshoresal.gov/Resident-Satisfaction-Survey.

Original source can be found here.