A survey of 400 full-time Oakland Park residents shows that the majority feel the city is “headed in the right direction” and is pleased with services.
The 32-question survey, which was presented to the city commission this week, was conducted by The Kitchens Group from March 4 to 7 using landlines, cell phones and online.
“The citizens of Oakland Park feel very satisfied with their city and its management,” according to the report provided by The Kitchens Group. “Lower positive ratings are a result of people not being familiar with [city] services.”
Part of the survey was also about the city’s current development of downtown Oakland Park and the area south of it, dubbed OP3D (Oakland Park Design Development District). Seventy-six percent said that redevelopment of the area is necessary to bring in new jobs and businesses, of which 77% said it should be a top priority for the city.
Brightline has also had an interest in creating a stop in Oakland Park, just west of City Hall on Dixie Highway, and 77% of respondents were in favor of this. This topic was also discussed at the city’s last community meeting on March 31 with residents asking if it was a “done deal.”
“Since that opportunity is before the city, it’s part of our plan to ensure that we know what is going on and we know how to plan for that in the development of our downtown,” said Renee Miller of R. Miller Consulting Group. “It’s something that we have to plan for if it does come our way.”
During the meeting, consultants said that the city is expected to add 400 new households from 2020 to 2025 and that the household income of Oakland Park residents is expected to increase 15%.
As for city services, survey participants gave positive feedback on garbage pickup (94% very or somewhat favorable), maintaining parks and recreational facilities (88%), and providing EMS and paramedics (78%). Oakland Park also ranked high with participants when it came to sponsoring community events (73%), traffic enforcement (67%), marketing to new businesses (64%), and maintaining libraries (63%).
When it came to the city’s millage rate, 59% said taxes are “what they would expect to pay.”
The racial demographics of the survey participants were 56% white, 16% African American, 15% Hispanic/Latino, 10% something else, and 3% did not answer. Gender was half and half with a slight lean toward men and the ages of participants were also fairly even; the largest group was 30 to 50 years old at 25%.
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