There's no doubt Port Moody has a lot to offer: Parks and outdoor recreation sites, transit options in and out of the region and local businesses that put community first.
And, for many local residents, those amenities helped boost their overall quality of life, according to a new citizen poll.
The latest edition of the City of Port Moody's biannual report showed a 98 per cent satisfaction score from 1,044 respondents aged 18 years and older that took part in the Ipsos survey.
Broken down, 52 per cent rated their quality of life as "very good," and 83 per cent of which said they receive good value for their tax dollars while living in the City of the Arts.
Ipsos says the quality of life perceptions are higher among women than men at 100 and 95 per cent respectively.
As well, 55 per cent of participants said their quality of life has stayed the same in the last three years — Ipsos also notes a 12 per cent improvement rating — based on community growth, amenities, activities and services.
However, 32 per cent of respondents said their Port Moody living experience has "worsened" with growing traffic congestion (38 per cent) and housing development (36 per cent) as the main factors.
Eighteen per cent of the surveyors say a lack of affordable housing options is the number one social issue for the city considering what's being built in the area.
Additionally, problems with city governance also went up in the poll.
The survey suggests 10 per cent of respondents to the subject mentioned mayor and council as reasons for a "worsened" quality of life with eight per cent claiming it as the top issue.
"Comparing the survey results over time allows the city to understand how residents’ attitudes and priorities may be changing, identify new or emerging issues facing the community, and assess the progress the city is making in addressing key issues," explains Lindsay Todd, Port Moody's acting communications and engagement manager, in a release.
Overall, 51 per cent of citizen survey respondents said they would support the city going into debt to help finance new amenities — 49 per cent were opposed to the idea with most believing services are "fine as is."
When asked where improvements are needed for Port Moody services, 14 per cent of respondents pointed to recreation, 13 per cent to traffic congestion, and nine per cent for city growth management, as well as arts and culture.
The survey was conducted for the first time in four years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic by phone and online for the very first time.
Between April 12 and May 9, 400 eligible Port Moody residents were surveyed by telephone and 644 went online.
More than 50 per cent of participants in both survey outlets were female, roughly 43 per cent were male and nearly three per cent were either non-binary or didn't provide a gender identity.
For detailed results of Port Moody's 2022 citizen survey, you can visit the city's website.
