Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Resident Survey topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wheat Ridge residents rate city highly in 2026 survey; streets and homelessness remain priorities
Summary
The city’s 2026 resident survey found high ratings for parks, trails and overall quality of life, improvements from 2023, and resident support for capital investments in streets, parks and stormwater; staff urged using results to inform budget and potential ballot language.
Consultant Sonia Whittink presented Wheat Ridge’s 2026 resident survey during a June 22 special study session, reporting 7,686 completed responses (a 17% response rate and a 3.5% margin of error). The presentation highlighted broad resident satisfaction with quality of life and strong marks for parks, trails and recreation services, along with clear priorities for long‑term infrastructure funding.
Whittink said nearly eight in 10 respondents rated overall quality of life as "excellent" or "good," and most respondents said they plan to remain in and would recommend Wheat Ridge as a place to live. Park availability, paths and trails, and recreation programs were among the highest-rated city characteristics and all improved since 2023. Police response time to emergency calls and recreation services scored higher than national benchmarks.
Survey respondents identified continued areas for focus: street repair and maintenance, addressing homelessness, and land-use planning and zoning. When asked about long-term capital priorities, residents rated transportation infrastructure (streets and roadways) highest, followed by parks and open space, stormwater and drainage, and sidewalk/bike/ADA accessibility improvements. Whittink told council there is “moderate to strong support” for a potential ballot measure if capital needs begin to affect service delivery.
Council members asked how the survey will be used. Staff said the results will inform talking points for Engage Wheat Ridge outreach, be cross‑referenced with targeted polling later this summer, and be used to align budget decisions with resident priorities. Councilors asked staff to prepare concise materials for district outreach so councilors can discuss survey findings with constituents during July events.
City staff noted the survey shows a rebound in many service ratings since 2023 and recommended tying specific budget items to survey priorities as part of the 2027 budget process and any ballot‑measure planning.
