‘It’s gonna move quickly’: City plans action in wake of survey results, pinpoints code enforcement

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- City leaders are preparing immediate action in the wake of results from a wide-ranging city survey distributed to residents this year, with code enforcement, streets and police services topping the list of priorities to address.

City officials and department leaders are scheduled to meet next Tuesday to lay out objectives for accomplishing short and long-term community priorities, one of which is a new 5-year master plan to improve the process of repairing streets and sidewalks.

The survey, which asked residents to rate their satisfaction with the city's key services and provide feedback on community needs, found that more than 75% of respondents were dissatisfied with the maintenance of city streets, sidewalks and alleys.

"We owe it to council and the community to have a professionally created plan ... and people understand with X amount of dollars, we're able to pave so many streets," City Manager Mike Schumacher said. "Which means your street's going to be hit in two years. Three years, whatever that number is."

The program was one of several initiatives discussed on Monday as part of a public work session to review the survey, one that roughly 600 citizens participated in this spring.

The survey identified three "very high priority" areas that Schumacher said provide clear guidance for their next moves, including enforcement of city codes and ordinances, improving the quality of police services and the effectiveness of city communication with the public.

The highest level of satisfaction was reported with St. Joseph's parks and recreation department/facilities (61%) and fire services (88%), with more than 75% of respondents being pleased with the response time and quality of fire department personnel and emergency medical services.

Approximately 50% of survey respondents said they were dissatisfied with the city's code enforcement, things like local traffic laws, weeds and trash, as well as abandoned and blighted properties.

"The survey was very clear. That is by far the number one priority and concern of our customers. We have to rely upon," Schumacher said.

Department directors will be meeting every month moving forward to devise plans and coordinate efforts among one another and the community to turn survey feedback into change. 

"It is going to bring change. That action plan and business plan will be based upon the survey and built by professional staff," Schumacher said. "The directors will come up with their plan and we'll all work together to make sure we're coordinated. The conversation is going to move quickly, particularly for government. "

When taking a look at public safety data, more than 55% of survey takers were dissatisfied with drug and criminal enforcement, as well as efforts to prevent crime and address homelessness.

Overall, just 26% of respondents reported being either satisfied or very satisfied with quality of life in the city. Another 25% were neutral while 49% were dissatisfied.

The survey showed a stark contrast in feelings of safety during the day versus at night. More than 80% said they felt either safe or "very safe" in their neighborhood during the day, but that number dropped to 56% at nighttime. A similar trend was found with St. Joseph's parks as well as Downtown.

The survey, which was developed by Olathe-based research firm ETC Institute, was distributed to 4,000 randomly selected households throughout the city, as well as being made available online.

From young adults to senior citizens, age groups were well represented. Of the survey respondents, 40% came from those in the age range of 18-44, 41% from those ages 45-64 and 21% from residents aged 65 and older. Citizens from almost every area responded.

A key effort for leaders at City Hall is actively working to improve is communication, feedback and interactions with the public, a top priority within the survey. The city has ramped up its social media presence -- now the primary medium for consuming news -- to keep the community up to date on meetings, roadwork, community news and a host of other developments.

"You're going to see a dramatic increase in the number of customer-facing actions," Schumacher said. "We're going to suggest customer comment cards, QR codes all over City Hall and our other facilities ... the customer who files a complaint on whatever issue they may have is then contacted via email every step of the way ... so they know that we are working on their issue."

The availability of housing, particularly affordable options, was a concern that many expressed dissatisfaction with. The city has dramatically heightened its efforts to improve redevelopment and new housing construction, whether for homes or apartments.

Attracting more industry and jobs and improving Downtown amenities were two top areas where those responding to the survey said the city could expand its efforts.

Despite the city's budget for fiscal year 2026 largely set in stone beginning July 1, the city is staying flexible to allow for budget adjustments to help address areas of need when possible.

News-Press NOW will update this story.