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The City of Ridgefield Staff and Council utilize the results from a Community Survey to identify strengths, challenges, and areas of improvement. The takeaways from these surveys prioritize work and funding that benefits residents.
Project Background
In 2015, the City of Ridgefield, recognizing the significant ongoing growth in the community, began a set of strategic initiatives to plan for and better understand the growth and what it would mean for city services. One of these initiatives was a quantitative survey of community needs and satisfaction.
Ridgefield conducted the first Community Survey in the Fall of 2015. This survey measures residents satisfaction within multiple areas of local government services and identifies community priorities. The consultant selected a random sample of Ridgefield households to invite to participate, conducted and analyzed the survey, and presented the results to City Council and Staff. This survey and process was repeated in the fall of 2019 and 2022.
Overall Satisfaction Ratings
Rate your satisfaction with:
2015 Survey
2019 Survey
2022 Survey
Benchmark*
Community Satisfaction Overall
70
65
61
57
Local Government Overall
69
68
64
51
Economic Health Overall
60
57
50
55
Property Taxes Overall
64
60
57
57
Community Events Overall
71
74
72
53
Shopping Opportunities Overall
29
27
45
68
Police Department Overall
83
84
77
67
Transportation Overall
63
56
51
59
Utility Services Overall
74
73
74
70
Parks and Recreation Overall
74
74
73
65
*Benchmark values are survey results for Washington Communities of 10,001-25,000 in 2022.
Key Takeaways and City Actions
2015 Survey
Survey Takeaways
City Actions
Residents would like a grocery store in Ridgefield.
The City worked with Rosauers, the Port of Ridgefield, and local commercial developer Dean Maldonado to bring a supermarket to Ridgefield. Rosauers opened in December, 2019.
Residents would like to see more walking/bike trails and paths.
Required 25% of all new neighborhoods be set aside for parks and open spaces.
Identified trail gaps and planned improvements in the Multi Modal Plan
Residents would like more shopping and restaurants.
The City continued to work with a consultant and Dean Maldonado to identify shopping and restaurant opportunities for Discovery Ridge.
Residents would like better parking, especially Downtown.
The City leased a temporary parking lot for downtown, conducted a survey for downtown parking needs and modified RMC consistent with the survey.
2019 Survey
Survey Takeaways
City Actions
Residents want more walking and biking trails, and they would like them integrated with downtown.
Continued to require 25% of all new neighborhoods be set aside for parks, trails and open spaces.
Provided website information on connecting trail segments with sidewalks and offered suggested trail loops.
Celebrated the opening of the John Hudson trail, a safe walking path connecting downtown and the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
Planned for trail segments to fill gaps identified in the Multi Modal plan, including: Mayor's Meadow to Reiman Road, Gee Creek Trail Heron Drive to Main Ave, Hillhurst Multi-Modal Trail.
Parks remain very important. Themes include more walking, biking trails; more river access; splash pad/water spray features.
Continued to require 25% of all new neighborhoods be set aside for parks and open spaces.
Downtown is a major element in the qualify of life for residents. Would like to see:
Parking: more parking, parking for people with disabilities, traffic flow
Businesses: more local businesses, businesses that attract families, improve storefronts
Walking: more integrated walking access, more walking trails
Constructed a parking lot at Davis Park, located in downtown at Mill St and 3rd Ave.
Continued to support City Partner Ridgefield Main Street in downtown revitalization efforts.
Supported the Port of Ridgefield project to construct the Pioneer Street Rail Overpass, more directly connecting downtown to the waterfront for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Residents interested in more communication on future development, new amenities, and the City's plan to manage growth and infrastructure.
Email, US post, social media (Facebook), and newsletters are the most preferred mechanisms.
Adapted tri-annual newsletter The Ridge to send directly via US post rather than with utility statements.
Created the Development Activity Map to keep residents informed about the progress of various developments around Ridgefield.
Created Ridgefield Roundtable, an online engagement platform, to communicate about projects and receive feedback from residents.
Walking/biking trails continue to be important. Residents seek continued improvement and integration
Continued to require 25% of all new neighborhoods be set aside for parks and open spaces.
Communication improvement is a resident priority. Specifically: responsiveness to resident concerns, government spending, and development projects.
Launched New website incorporating expanded ability for newsletters, advanced search, and improved navigation.
Enhanced use of Ridgefield Roundtable (this site) for capital projects, parks and large City projects like the Comprehensive Plan.
Improved the Development Activity Map to keep residents informed about the progress of various developments around Ridgefield.
Resident concerns about growth: development, loss of green space, traffic congestion, code enforcement, building permits, street maintenance.
Created Code Enforcement Officer position.
Created Pavement Preservation Plan.
Implementing plans for widening Pioneer Street, additional infrastructure for development in Costco area, extending Pioneer to the East, additional roundabouts to improve traffic flow, continuing to research possibility of additional I-5 access.
Active design and development of City owned parks: Dog Park, Refuge Park, Boyse, skate park, Horns Corner.
Residents would like to see:
more trail integration/development
greenspace preservation
more restaurants
an indoor fitness/exercise center,
community pool
Supporting the development Ridgefield YMCA with 4.9 acres of city land located just north of Pioneer Street at 51st Avenue near the Discovery Ridge shopping center. City of Ridgefield residents will receive a discounted Y membership as a benefit of the city providing land for the facility.
Strong support for additional interstate access points
The City of Ridgefield Staff and Council utilize the results from a Community Survey to identify strengths, challenges, and areas of improvement. The takeaways from these surveys prioritize work and funding that benefits residents.
Project Background
In 2015, the City of Ridgefield, recognizing the significant ongoing growth in the community, began a set of strategic initiatives to plan for and better understand the growth and what it would mean for city services. One of these initiatives was a quantitative survey of community needs and satisfaction.
Ridgefield conducted the first Community Survey in the Fall of 2015. This survey measures residents satisfaction within multiple areas of local government services and identifies community priorities. The consultant selected a random sample of Ridgefield households to invite to participate, conducted and analyzed the survey, and presented the results to City Council and Staff. This survey and process was repeated in the fall of 2019 and 2022.
Overall Satisfaction Ratings
Rate your satisfaction with:
2015 Survey
2019 Survey
2022 Survey
Benchmark*
Community Satisfaction Overall
70
65
61
57
Local Government Overall
69
68
64
51
Economic Health Overall
60
57
50
55
Property Taxes Overall
64
60
57
57
Community Events Overall
71
74
72
53
Shopping Opportunities Overall
29
27
45
68
Police Department Overall
83
84
77
67
Transportation Overall
63
56
51
59
Utility Services Overall
74
73
74
70
Parks and Recreation Overall
74
74
73
65
*Benchmark values are survey results for Washington Communities of 10,001-25,000 in 2022.
Key Takeaways and City Actions
2015 Survey
Survey Takeaways
City Actions
Residents would like a grocery store in Ridgefield.
The City worked with Rosauers, the Port of Ridgefield, and local commercial developer Dean Maldonado to bring a supermarket to Ridgefield. Rosauers opened in December, 2019.
Residents would like to see more walking/bike trails and paths.
Required 25% of all new neighborhoods be set aside for parks and open spaces.
Identified trail gaps and planned improvements in the Multi Modal Plan
Residents would like more shopping and restaurants.
The City continued to work with a consultant and Dean Maldonado to identify shopping and restaurant opportunities for Discovery Ridge.
Residents would like better parking, especially Downtown.
The City leased a temporary parking lot for downtown, conducted a survey for downtown parking needs and modified RMC consistent with the survey.
2019 Survey
Survey Takeaways
City Actions
Residents want more walking and biking trails, and they would like them integrated with downtown.
Continued to require 25% of all new neighborhoods be set aside for parks, trails and open spaces.
Provided website information on connecting trail segments with sidewalks and offered suggested trail loops.
Celebrated the opening of the John Hudson trail, a safe walking path connecting downtown and the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
Planned for trail segments to fill gaps identified in the Multi Modal plan, including: Mayor's Meadow to Reiman Road, Gee Creek Trail Heron Drive to Main Ave, Hillhurst Multi-Modal Trail.
Parks remain very important. Themes include more walking, biking trails; more river access; splash pad/water spray features.
Continued to require 25% of all new neighborhoods be set aside for parks and open spaces.
Downtown is a major element in the qualify of life for residents. Would like to see:
Parking: more parking, parking for people with disabilities, traffic flow
Businesses: more local businesses, businesses that attract families, improve storefronts
Walking: more integrated walking access, more walking trails
Constructed a parking lot at Davis Park, located in downtown at Mill St and 3rd Ave.
Continued to support City Partner Ridgefield Main Street in downtown revitalization efforts.
Supported the Port of Ridgefield project to construct the Pioneer Street Rail Overpass, more directly connecting downtown to the waterfront for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Residents interested in more communication on future development, new amenities, and the City's plan to manage growth and infrastructure.
Email, US post, social media (Facebook), and newsletters are the most preferred mechanisms.
Adapted tri-annual newsletter The Ridge to send directly via US post rather than with utility statements.
Created the Development Activity Map to keep residents informed about the progress of various developments around Ridgefield.
Created Ridgefield Roundtable, an online engagement platform, to communicate about projects and receive feedback from residents.
Walking/biking trails continue to be important. Residents seek continued improvement and integration
Continued to require 25% of all new neighborhoods be set aside for parks and open spaces.
Communication improvement is a resident priority. Specifically: responsiveness to resident concerns, government spending, and development projects.
Launched New website incorporating expanded ability for newsletters, advanced search, and improved navigation.
Enhanced use of Ridgefield Roundtable (this site) for capital projects, parks and large City projects like the Comprehensive Plan.
Improved the Development Activity Map to keep residents informed about the progress of various developments around Ridgefield.
Resident concerns about growth: development, loss of green space, traffic congestion, code enforcement, building permits, street maintenance.
Created Code Enforcement Officer position.
Created Pavement Preservation Plan.
Implementing plans for widening Pioneer Street, additional infrastructure for development in Costco area, extending Pioneer to the East, additional roundabouts to improve traffic flow, continuing to research possibility of additional I-5 access.
Active design and development of City owned parks: Dog Park, Refuge Park, Boyse, skate park, Horns Corner.
Residents would like to see:
more trail integration/development
greenspace preservation
more restaurants
an indoor fitness/exercise center,
community pool
Supporting the development Ridgefield YMCA with 4.9 acres of city land located just north of Pioneer Street at 51st Avenue near the Discovery Ridge shopping center. City of Ridgefield residents will receive a discounted Y membership as a benefit of the city providing land for the facility.
Strong support for additional interstate access points
