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4 <br />"minimizing loss of life due to emergencies," "improving neighborhoods," and "encouraging a <br />vital downtown." <br />Those who gave low performance ratings to "developing job opportunities" mainly cited <br />"unemployment/low-paying jobs" as the reason. Those who gave low performance ratings to <br />"providing good value for tax dollars spent" mainly cited "poor money management/waste" as <br />the reason. Those who gave low performance ratings to "supporting youth and child <br />development" mainly cited "not enough being done," and "schools are under-funded" as reasons. <br />Those who gave low performance ratings to "encouraging a vital downtown" mainly cited <br />"moving in the wrong direction" as the reason. <br />POPULATION GROWTH IN EUGENE (Q44) <br />Respondents were asked if population growth and development during the past ten years has <br />been too fast, too slow, or just right. The last decade has seen dramatic. fluctuations in how the <br />community feels about the rate of population growth. The percent who feel that population <br />growth in Eugene is "too fast" almost tripled between 1990 and 1999 (from 20% in 1990 to 56% <br />in 1999), and then started dropping, from 56% in 1999 to 30% in 2004, where it remains this <br />year (31 %) after a rise to 40% last year. <br />ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN EUGENE (Q45) <br />73% of respondents feel that their economic opportunity in Eugene during the past five years has <br />gotten better or stayed the same, compared with 65% in 2005, 60% in 2004, and 50% in 2003. <br />The percentage of respondents who feel the situation has worsened is currently 20%, down from <br />26% in 2005, 36% in 2004, and 45% in 2003. The number of respondents who believe that the <br />situation has stayed the same has remained relatively stable since 1998. <br />CITY'S ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (Q46-Q51) <br />City residents support the concept of the City taking an active role assisting businesses in order <br />to provide more jobs in the community, though the level of support varies significantly <br />depending on what form that assistance takes and whether it is provided to local businesses or <br />outside companies. 79% feel the City should take an active role helping local businesses create <br />and retain jobs (no change from 2005). 79% feel the City should provide problem-solving <br />assistance to businesses for siting, permit, and development issues (no statistical change from <br />2005). 69% feel the City should take an active role helping outside companies come to Eugene <br />in order to increase economic opportunities (up from 62% in 2005). 55% feel the City should <br />provide tax incentives to businesses creating new jobs (no change from 2005). 51% feel the City <br />should provide assistance with road, sewer, and utility costs to new and expanding businesses <br />(no change from 2005). 49% feel the City should provide financial support to businesses in <br />targeted areas, such as Downtown (no change from 2005). <br />PUBLIC SAFETY (Q52-Q55) <br />91 % of respondents feel "very" or "somewhat" safe walking alone in their neighborhood after <br />dark, while 67% feel "very" or "somewhat" safe walking alone in business areas after dark. 18% <br />feel "very" safe after dark in business areas, down from 33% in 2005. 61% feel "very" safe after <br />dark in their neighborhood, the same as in 2005. <br />Advanced Marketing Research, Inc. <br />