First municipal citizen survey analysed: 77 percent of Chemnitz residents are satisfied with their living situation

The results of the first citizen survey in the city of Chemnitz are now available. For the survey, 6,000 citizens between the ages of 18 and 85 were randomly selected from the population register and asked to complete the attached questionnaire. Between 1 May and 30 June, 2,662 people took part.

The survey is divided into the subject areas "Life satisfaction and future expectations", "Living conditions and infrastructure in the city", "Education, employment and income situation", "Health", "Housing and relocation intentions", "Usage behaviour of leisure and cultural facilities and offers", "Schools and daycare facilities", "Mobility and local public transport", "Safety and order" and "Administration and citizen participation".

The most important findings of the survey:

• 77 per cent of respondents stated that they are (very) satisfied with their current living situation.
• From the citizens' perspective, the five biggest problem areas in the city are construction sites/diversions, security/crime, medical care, the condition of the roads and car parks.
• More than half of the respondents are (very) satisfied with the development of their neighbourhood over the last 5 years.
• When it came to the use of suggested leisure facilities, the zoo and wildlife park were the most popular.
• When asked about the structural condition of schools, day-care centres and after-school care centres, almost two thirds answered (very) satisfied.
• 68 per cent are (very) satisfied with the quality of childcare in daycare centres.
• Almost two thirds of people in Chemnitz travel to work by car. 18 per cent use public transport.
• Just over half of those surveyed feel safe throughout the city during the day. At night, however, three quarters feel rather unsafe.
• 85 per cent of respondents know that Chemnitz is celebrating its 875th anniversary this year.
• 75 per cent of respondents are aware of the city's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2025.

The following results were obtained in the individual subject areas:

Life satisfaction and future expectations:

• 77 per cent of respondents stated that they are (very) satisfied with their current life situation. By contrast, only 5 per cent stated that they were currently (very) dissatisfied. This distribution is reflected across all age groups. The age group between 30 and under 40 had the highest level of satisfaction (83 per cent), while the age group between 60 and under 70 had the lowest (73 per cent).
• 58 per cent were optimistic or very optimistic about their personal future. In contrast, 11 per cent were pessimistic about their future.
• Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of respondents described their own economic situation as good to very good. A further 23 per cent described it as neither good nor bad. Only 7 per cent rate their economic situation as bad or very bad.
• To summarise, it can be said that the assessment of the personal economic situation corresponds very strongly with the statements on life satisfaction.

Living conditions and infrastructure in the city:

• When asked where they thought the five biggest problems in the city of Chemnitz were, 55 per cent of respondents cited roadworks/diversions, followed by security/crime with 51 per cent and medical care with 46 per cent. The condition of the roads followed in 4th place with 38 per cent. Car parks came in 5th place with 34 per cent.
• Living together with foreigners was cited as a problem by 33 per cent.
• Schools and day-care centres were each seen as a problem by 21 percent of respondents.
• Less problematic are leisure facilities for senior citizens (7 per cent), for families (8 per cent), environmental pollution (8 per cent) and the city's financial situation (8 per cent).
• 57 per cent of all respondents were (very) satisfied with the range of green spaces and parks in the city. The supply of desirable living space was rated similarly positively (56 per cent). Just under one in two were (very) satisfied with the range of cultural facilities (49 per cent) and local public transport (46 per cent).
• With regard to the condition of roads, cycle paths and footpaths as well as car parks, green spaces and parks and playgrounds, the vast majority were satisfied or very satisfied with green spaces and parks (52 per cent). Significant dissatisfaction was expressed with the condition of car parks (47 per cent) and roads (46 per cent).

Educational, professional and income situation:

• The average personal net income of those surveyed was €1,327. On average, a household has 2,314 euros of household income at its disposal.
• Most of the households surveyed currently secure their livelihood through income from employment or other earned income (52 per cent) or through a pension (41 per cent).

Health:

• 58 per cent of participants stated that they described their state of health as good or very good. However, one in ten also described their health as poor or very poor.

Housing and relocation intentions:

• Most of those surveyed in Chemnitz live in a rented flat (69 per cent). Of those surveyed, 28 per cent own their own house or condominium.
• Of the participants, 83 per cent said they were (very) satisfied with the general current situation in their neighbourhood. Only 4 per cent were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.
• When asked about the development of the neighbourhood over the last five years, 58 percent said they were (very) satisfied. Only 14 per cent expressed dissatisfaction with the development. Around one in four (28 per cent) did not answer this question or answered "neither good nor bad".
• Of the respondents who indicated their intention to move with "yes" or "possibly", just under half (46 per cent) intend to continue living in the city after the move. Around two thirds of those who would like to continue living in Chemnitz after a possible move stated that they would also like to continue living in the same neighbourhood or district.

Usage behaviour of leisure and cultural facilities and offers:

• 90 per cent of respondents stated that they had visited or actively used at least one of the leisure facilities or offers (excluding cafés, restaurants and pubs) at least once in the last year.
• The zoo and game reserve were particularly popular. In fact, 59 per cent of respondents said they had visited these facilities at least once in the last 12 months. Just over one in two said they had been to the town hall at least once.
• The municipal archive and municipal music school (4 per cent each) and the adult education centre (7 per cent) were used less frequently.

Schools and day-care centres:

• When asked to assess the structural condition of Chemnitz schools, around one in two primary schools were satisfied or very satisfied (52 per cent). In the secondary school sector, 54 per cent expressed dissatisfaction. A clearer picture emerges for grammar schools and vocational schools. For example, 74 per cent of respondents who were able to give an assessment were (very) satisfied with the state of the buildings at grammar schools. The figure for vocational schools was 68 per cent.
• When asked to assess the structural condition of the day-care centres and after-school care centres, 69 and 59 percent respectively were satisfied or very satisfied with the structural condition of the day-care centres and after-school care centres.
• In the assessment of the quality of care in the daycare centre sector, 68 percent were (very) satisfied with the quality of care. In the after-school care sector, 67 per cent stated that they were satisfied or very satisfied.
• When asked whether they had received a place in a daycare centre of their choice for their child, 84% stated that they were not concerned or gave no answer. Of the remaining 16 per cent (415 responses) of respondents, three quarters answered that they had received a place.
• In this section of the survey, it should be noted that the situation at schools and day-care centres was only assessed by some of the respondents. This is partly due to the fact that the participants no longer have a current connection to these areas (e.g. due to age or childlessness).

Mobility and local public transport:

• Of the 1,557 respondents who provided information on the means of transport they use to get to work, 65 per cent prefer a car for their commute. Around 18 per cent use local public transport.
• The choice of transport for leisure time is even clearer. 63 per cent use a car. A further 16 per cent use local public transport and 11 per cent cycle.
• When asked about the two most important reasons for infrequent or non-use of public transport, the participants were given a choice of eight options. The most frequently cited reasons were the options "too expensive" and "unfavourable connection". Around one in three respondents thought that public transport was too expensive. A quarter justified their infrequent use with an unfavourable connection.

Safety and order:

• When asked about the feeling of safety in the city as a whole during the day, the survey revealed a mixed picture. At 52 per cent, only just over half of respondents felt safe in the city, while 44 per cent said they felt unsafe. In contrast, respondents felt much safer in their own neighbourhood. This was answered by 82 per cent alone.
• On the other hand, respondents felt much less safe at night. Here, only 21 per cent said they felt safe in the city. Instead, three quarters of respondents stated that they felt unsafe at night in the city as a whole. The feeling of safety is also declining in people's own neighbourhoods. Only 61 per cent still feel safe here.
• A mixed picture emerges with regard to the presence of the police or the public order office/city order service in the neighbourhood. Around one in three respondents consider this presence to be "neither good nor bad". Around one in four respondents expressed dissatisfaction ((very) poor). Only one in five respondents rated the police presence as "very good" or "good", and only one in ten respondents rated the presence of the municipal police as "very good" or "good". However, one in three respondents also answered "I can't judge" or did not give a response regarding the presence of the municipal police.

Administration and citizen participation:

• When asked about the use or utilisation of administrative services on the Internet, the public authority telephone number 115 or another service, only between 18 percent (public authority telephone number 115, other service) and 31 percent (Internet) of the participants stated that they had used these in the last 12 months.
• Among those who had used a service, satisfaction in the three categories ranged from 89 per cent for the Internet and the public authority number 115 service to 87 per cent for the use of another service.
• With regard to knowledge of the opportunities available to participate in shaping the community, the results are quite varied. While the majority of participants were aware of residents' meetings (63 per cent), petitions/signature collections (57 per cent) and the mayor's office hours (53 per cent), the majority were less familiar with the other forms of participation (including Local Agenda 21, citizens' platforms, online participation, citizens' forums).
• When asked about the topics of citizen participation in which the respondents would like to have a say in the future, the most frequently mentioned areas of the 14 topic areas were urban development (29 per cent), immigration/integration (28 per cent) and local public transport (22 per cent).

General questions at the end of the survey:

• At the end of the survey, the participants were asked whether they were aware that the city of Chemnitz is celebrating its 875th anniversary this year and is applying for the title of "European Capital of Culture" for the year 2025. 85 per cent of respondents were aware of this year's 875th anniversary of the city. Awareness of Chemnitz's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2025 was slightly lower at 75 per cent.

On the citizens' survey in general:

The citizens' survey is conducted annually with the aim of regularly obtaining information on the social and economic situation of Chemnitz citizens as well as on the opinions and assessments of the population as a basis for local political planning and decision-making. The surveys are used to obtain data that improves the information, planning and decision-making basis for administration and politics. At the same time, the survey also serves to evaluate measures and processes within the City of Chemnitz.