New survey reveals Maricopans’ concerns and their hopes for the city’s future

Maricopa residents are concerned with high utility rates, pleased with the city’s public safety departments and hopeful that a community center will be built according to the newly released Maricopa Citizen Survey.

The survey, conducted by Raymond Turco and Associates, polled more than 400 Maricopa residents asking a litany of questions regarding their housing status, time in the city, ethnicity, satisfaction with services and future wants.

“This is a very important survey for gauging the community,” said City Manager Kevin Evans. “It is a survey council should look at refreshing every two years.”

The survey shows that 78 percent of the citizens are satisfied with their quality of life, 95 percent feel safe in the community and 91 percent own their homes. Ninety-six percent of residents want a movie theater, 91 percent want more retail and 88 percent want more full-service restaurants.

Interestingly, 80 percent think the city has enough, or could use fewer, fast-food establishments.

Residents were also questioned on their level of support for proposed city projects. Leading the way with 79 percent support was an overpass at SR 347. Tied for second with 78 percent was the widening of SR 347 and the construction of a recreation center.

Besides charting current public opinion, the survey also compares responses to those generated by a similar survey two years ago.

One of the comparisons Evans noted was the percentage of people who said they lived in Maricopa for more than four years, a number which increased from 21 percent to 56 percent.

“This tells me people who are losing their homes in Maricopa are moving into other homes in the city,” said Councilmember Carl Diedrich.