MetroQuest Survey ResultsJune 2014

Heartland 2050 is an unprecedented regional visioning project that will help define what kind of region we want to be in 40 years.

People THE HUMAN ASPECT How can we maintain and enhance the quality of life for the people of our region, who are our most important asset?

Places OUR PHYSICAL STRUCTURES The “stuff” from which our towns and cities are made – homes and buildings, streets and sidewalks, bridges, power and water utilities – all make up the built environment of our region.

Resources THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT The air we breathe, the land, and fresh water sources affect our overall health and the physical landscape.

1,877 Unique Visits

894 Complete Surveys

Data

48% No Data

52%

51% 49%

Male Female

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Under 20 20-29 30-39 40 -49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80 and over

11%

3% 5%

1% 1% 2% 4%

82%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Bellevue, 2.0%

Gretna, 1.3%

Papillion, 2.9%

Plattsmouth, 2.2%

Wahoo, 2.6%

Omaha, 76.3%

Bellevue, 4.0%

La Vista, 1.3%

Miilard, 1.8%

Ashland 0.2%

Bennington 0.4%

Blair 0.9%

Ceresco 0.2%

Elkhorn 0.9%

Calhoun 0.2%

Fremont 0.2%

Hooper 0.2%

Ithaca 0.2%

Louiseville 0.2%

Springfield 0.2%

Leshara 0.4%

Valparaiso 0.2%

Firth 0.2%

Murray 0.2%

Nebraska City 0.2%

Union 0.2%

Lincoln 0.2%

Under 1% of total

51%

Carson 3%

Crrescent 7%

Emerson 3%

Glenwood 7%

Malvern 7%

Minden 5%

Mo Valley 3%

Neola 7%

Pisgah 3%

Shelby 2%

Woodbine 2%

Council Bluffs

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Rank Priority Score

1 Efficient use of tax dollars 2.51

2 Active transportation 2.78

3 Equitable access to jobs 2.88

4 Healthy places 2.91

5 Water and energy efficiency 2.93

6 Convenient daily destinations 3.10

7 Balanced housing 3.16

8 Flood protection 3.17

9 Access to nature 3.19

10 Time spent driving 3.24

1.65

2.87

4.06 4.19

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

People THE HUMAN ASPECT How can we maintain and enhance the quality of life for the people of our region, who are our most important asset?

Places OUR PHYSICAL STRUCTURES The “stuff” from which our towns and cities are made – homes and buildings, streets and sidewalks, bridges, power and water utilities – all make up the built environment of our region.

Resources THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT The air we breathe, the land, and fresh water sources affect our overall health and the physical landscape.

•

Strategy Topic

1 Make the Omaha-Council Bluffs region a place that attracts and

retains young talent and new business.

People

2 Invest in renewable sources of energy.

Resources

3 Make it easier to get around by walking, biking and transit

Places

4 Work to reduce crime and alleviate poverty.

People

5 Promote development on vacant and underutilized land in existing cities

and towns

Places

Strategy Topic

6 Improve transit to link hospitals, universities, major employers and strengthen connections between

parts of the region

Places

7 Create a regional park and trail system to improve access to recreation and natural areas

Resources

8 Provide opportunities for the growing Latino and immigrant

communities in our region

People

9 Maintain water quality through protecting water sources and expanding our regional water

system

Resources

10 Expand existing universities and focus on urban technical centers

around research institutions

People

Strategy Topic

11 Commit to provide a wide range of housing types affordable to

residents

Places

12 Shift funding sources to reduce property tax burden

Resources

13 Maintain and preserve agricultural lands and rural lifestyle

Resources

14 Focus transportation spending on creating new roads and maintaining

existing ones

Places

15 Expand levees and limit growth in flood-prone areas to reduce damage

and protect wildlife and habitat.

Resources

• People see a strong economy as the biggest contributor to quality of life.

• Residents feel positive about the local economy, with over half believing the economy is improving.

• People want to see strong job growth in the region, with a focus on quality jobs. New and emerging fields should be supported, as well as advancing the region’s strong sectors, including infrastructure, transportation, agriculture and food processing, aeronautics, and finance.

• New jobs should be accessible by transit, especially for people with lower incomes.

• People want to see investment and revitalization in North Omaha and other central Omaha neighborhoods.

• People want to see job growth, particularly manufacturing, in disadvantaged areas – and they want jobs that are accessible to neighborhood residents.

• People are concerned about inequality, and see it as a potential threat to quality of life. Behind taxes and crime, inequality was the third highest ranked concern.

• Low cost of living or affordability is the leading positive aspect of living in the region.

• Despite the region’s affordability, there are areas of racially concentrated poverty and marginalization.

• Residents want their communities to support healthy and active living. They see “having places within walking distance” as a major contributor to the health of the region.

• People want to make it easier to walk and bike to nearby destinations such as school, parks, restaurants, shopping and entertainment.

• People want increased access to quality health care close to where they live.

• Overall, people are very satisfied with the quality of education in the region.

• People want to maximize educational opportunities for all people, and to make education accessible as the region becomes more diverse.

• People want to see a focus on higher education that includes workforce training and vocational skills, in addition to college/university education.

• Although the outlook is positive, reducing crime is an important priority for the future of the region.

• People want to feel safe and secure.

• People are very concerned about the level of crime, and many see it as a major threat to quality of life.

• People want an inclusive community and more opportunities for residents to be actively involved.

• People want to see the region retain and attract well-educated, well-trained young adults.

• Residents view strong neighborhoods as a major contributor to quality of life.

• Mixed use housing is the type of housing needed most, even though not everyone can see themselves living in that type of home.

• People want to have choices in where and how they live. This includes urban, suburban and rural options.

• People have a strong desire for a wide range of housing options, including more dense urban types, and maintaining the supply of suburban and rural single-family housing.

• It should be convenient to walk or bike to neighborhood stores, businesses, and schools.

• Most people preferred growth strategies that strengthen and improve existing areas, rather than developing new areas. This includes small towns and suburban cities, in addition to the Omaha/Council Bluffs central city.

• People have a very strong preference for infill strategies over development of new areas, and this was strongest among young people.

• Residents want jobs and shopping located close to where they live.

• Nearly all believe that having a plan for regional growth is important, and most feel the Heartland region is doing a good or excellent job preparing for growth.

• Many are concerned that continued outward expansion is financially unsustainable and investments should be made in maintenance for existing areas.

• Some are concerned that increased development will push up housing costs and make the cost of living unaffordable, which is one of the things people value most about the region.

• Most people prefer investments on infill and vacant properties to developing new areas.

• Many people want to see an end to sprawling growth on the edges of the region. Other people are concerned about too much regulation, and a loss of the freedom of choice.

• People want to know that their taxes are being used wisely and efficiently.

• People have a good degree of trust in local government to make good decisions about how the region grows.

• People value public transit and believe it is an important regional investment. They want other options for getting around that allow them to be less car-dependent.

• Most people believe the level of spending should stay the same or increase only somewhat.

• Many people are concerned about climate change and see transit as a way to reduce our carbon footprint.

• People want to see expanded routes for existing bus service and are interested in new forms of transit.

• People would use transit more often if transit stops were closer to where they lived and wanted to go, and if there were other options besides the bus.

• Regional connections are important, to connect people to places beyond the central city.

• People see investment in infrastructure as the greatest benefit to the region’s economy.

• People have a wide variety of views about how transportation funding should be split between roads and public transit.

• Many favor the maintenance of existing roads and highways over construction of new facilities.

• People do not have a major concern about congestion or wasted time spent in traffic, as the region currently enjoys short commute times.

• People have a strong desire for more bike facilities. Safety is a major concern.

• Many people are concerned about climate change and see walking and biking as a way to reduce our carbon footprint.

• People view walkable districts and neighborhoods as an important way to support health.

• People are interested in walking and biking as a way to get around and as a recreational activity.

• People see the transportation sector as a major part of the region’s economy, and stakeholders see it continuing to have a prominent role well into the future.

• New sites for industrial development need access to rail, freight and air transportation.

• People strongly support regional investments in renewable sources of energy.

• People believe technology and broadband access are very important for economic growth and competitiveness.

• Agriculture has been and will continue to be a major component of the region’s economy.

• People want to be able to eat fresh, health locally grown foods.

• People want to preserve rural areas for active farming and landscape conservation.

• People place flood protection relatively low on the priorities relative to other options.

• People preferred limiting development in floodplains and flood prone areas. There was less support for levee expansion because of the high costs and “false sense of security.”

• People place access to nature relatively low on the priorities relative to other options.

• People are generally satisfied with the parks, trails and recreational opportunities in the region.

• Some want to expand the existing trail network for recreation and transportation.

• People strongly support regional investments in renewable sources of energy, including wind, ethanol and solar. It was the second-highest strategy of 15.

• People want to preserve the clean air and water, and maintain the high quality regional water system, but water quality was relatively low on the priorities relative to other options.

Heartland

Regional

Vision

Vision

Strategies

Vision

Goals

Public &

Stakeholder

Input

• Workshops

• SWOT

• Interviews

• Values Research

• Scenario Survey

• & Others

• What did we hear?

• What do we want to achieve?

• What are the consequences?

• How do we achieve our Vision?

• What are the first steps?

• Who are our partners?

Today’s Session