San Diego, CA... The San Diego City Council today recognized the City's top-rated departments and program for their work in providing services to the City of San Diego citizens. The ratings were based on the City's eighth annual telephone survey of residents (PDF: 1.8Mb).

"According to the 2002 Resident Satisfaction Survey, 95 percent of San Diego residents are satisfied with the City's services," said City Manager Michael Uberuaga. "Overall, citizens continue to be pleased with living in San Diego, with 83 percent indicating satisfaction with quality of life in the City."

Mayor Dick Murphy said the survey is a continuing annual indication of what residents think about the City's work. "I'm proud to recognize the services these City employees provide to our citizens on a daily basis," he said.

The survey showed that the highest-rated City service was Fire Emergency Service with a 96 percent satisfaction rating. The department had 90,517 emergency responses in 2002 and continually has received satisfaction ratings above 90 percent.

Mayor Murphy and City Manager Uberuaga joined with Joe Benoit, Division Executive/Senior Vice President of Union Bank of California, to present the annual Resident Satisfaction Award to Assistant Fire Chief Augie Ghio.

"Our Fire-Rescue Department provides quality services to our citizens, as indicated by this award, but it is also recognized for its expertise and is called upon to help in national emergencies such as the recent shuttle disaster that is being assisted by two fire personnel," said City Manager Uberuaga.

The top-rated service is commemorated on a perpetual trophy in the lobby of the City Administration Building that depicts the City's neighborhoods against a backdrop of downtown San Diego on the bay. Union Bank of California sponsors the awards program. The winning department receives a desktop version of the perpetual trophy.

Other programs with a satisfaction rating of 90 percent or greater included:

• Residential Trash Collection and City-Provided Home Recycling both with a 95 percent rating and the winner of the top-rated award the last two years. Environmental Services Department; Richard Hays, Director; Collection Services Division, Chuck Woolever, Deputy Director.
  
  
• Quality Library Services, 92 percent, Library Department; Anna Tatar, Director.
  
  
• Quality Parks And Recreation Facilities, 92 percent, Park and Recreation Department; Ellen Oppenheim, Director.
  
  
• Quality Web Site As A Means To Conduct Business, Get Information, Or Receive Services From The City, 92 percent, Information Technology and Communications Department, Richard Wilken, Director; E-Government Program, Bill Cull, Manager.

The survey was conducted in October 2002 by the Behavior Research Center. It involved 603 in-depth telephone surveys to obtain statistically significant results with a demographic mix comparable to the actual population of the City.

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