WEST Vancouver residents are happy with their library, their rec centres, their parks, their police and their arts programs.
But when it comes to garbage collection, transit and traffic calming, service could stand improvement.
Those are a few of the results from a West Vancouver survey conducted to determine satisfaction levels with municipal services. The district conducts the surveys every three years.
This year the Mustel Group conducted the survey of more than 700 residents in June.
Residents who completed the survey were asked for their opinions on topics ranging from how the district should pay for services to whether they are in favour of coach houses.
The conclusion: West Vancouver residents are for the most part a contented group, according to the survey results, with 80 per cent rating life in their bucolic berg as "good" and more than 90 per cent reporting they are either "very" or "somewhat" satisfied with the municipal services they receive.
The highest approval ratings went to police, firefighters, the library, parks and trails, recreational services and arts programs.
Residents were less than thrilled with their garbage collection. Satisfaction with that dropped from 95 per cent in 2010 to 79 per cent in 2013 - likely the result of a recent change limiting garbage pickup to every other week, according to the district.
Numbers satisfied with bus service also dropped from 88 per cent to 82 per cent.
Other areas receiving a somewhat tepid response included the district's efforts at engaging the community on various projects.
Residents were also more critical than they have been in the past on the general value they receive for property taxes paid.
Residents aged 65 and older were more likely to be happy with the value they received for taxes paid than younger residents.
In 2012, the district collected about $54 million in property taxes towards its $123 million operating budget. Of that, almost $50 million was collected from residential taxpayers.
Despite that, 40 per cent of those who responded would favour a tax increase to maintain services, if necessary. But another quarter of those responding said they'd only support a tax increase if it would lead to more services or infrastructure renewal.
If they had to find other ways to pay for services, residents surveyed said they'd favour contracting out services, partnering with other North Shore municipalities or creating new revenue sources (by renting out park space for events, for instance) if those measures made economic sense.
In terms of specific initiatives asked about in the survey, residents also supported allowing coach houses in West Vancouver by a margin of two to one.
Opinions were divided, however, on whether coach houses should be permitted throughout the municipality or permitted only in certain neighbourhoods.
West Vancouver Mayor Michael Smith described the survey as a snapshot that gives the district an idea of where the municipality is succeeding and where it needs improvement.
Chief Const. Peter Lepine's penned an open letter to the community in response to the survey. Read it at wvpd.ca/breaking-stories/6-new/912-template.
He said the results will help council and staff when it comes to making budget decisions.
The survey cost the district approximately $12,000 to conduct.
