City of Manitou Springs 2023 Community Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of an online survey of 515 adult residents in the City of Manitou Springs, Colorado. The interviews were conducted from May 15th to June 15th, 2023.

Residents of Manitou Springs reported very positive views of their community and quality of life. Large majorities rated their neighborhoods and the city overall as excellent or good places to live, and similar ratings were given to the overall quality of life in the community. Recreation opportunities, walking paths, and the general walkability of the city were also viewed positively. However, residents expressed less favorable views of certain aspects of daily life, including traffic flow on major streets, the availability of housing options, access to affordable groceries, and the availability of affordable childcare.

Satisfaction with many city services was generally high. Residents reported strong satisfaction with parks, pedestrian and bicycle trails, community events and gatherings, snow removal, fire and emergency medical services, emergency preparedness, water treatment, street lighting, and police services. Ratings were somewhat lower for services such as street repair, mobility and parking, economic development, and permitting and land-use processes. Services addressing homelessness and the municipal court system received the lowest levels of satisfaction or awareness, with many residents indicating they had no opinion.

When asked about budget priorities, residents placed the highest importance on core safety and infrastructure functions. Fire and emergency medical services, emergency preparedness, parks and trails, and water and sewer infrastructure were among the top priorities. Clean-up and beautification, roadway and sidewalk infrastructure, and police services were also widely viewed as important. Lower priority items included city building remodels, community events, outreach and communications, and permitting or land-use activities.

Residents expressed concerns about the balance between tourism and local needs. A majority believed city government focused more on tourists than on residents, while fewer felt the focus was balanced or favored residents. This perception suggested that some residents felt tourism pressures were affecting how city resources and attention were allocated.

Land use and planning issues were also important to residents. Water conservation and the protection of historic and cultural resources were the most widely prioritized issues. Affordable housing was also considered important by a majority, though opinions were more divided. Other issues, such as expanding retail or entertainment opportunities downtown, were viewed as less critical by comparison.

Residents generally agreed with many of the city’s long-term community vision statements. Large majorities agreed that Manitou Springs functioned as a vibrant arts destination, that the community valued stewardship of historic and cultural resources, and that it promoted health, healing, and well-being. Many also agreed that the city invested in public spaces, services, and community engagement, although agreement declined somewhat when statements addressed economic vitality, transportation systems, and housing accessibility.

Opinions about public safety were largely positive. Strong majorities approved of the performance of the fire department, emergency response times, police presence, and overall police department performance. Many residents also agreed that the city was well prepared to respond to emergencies such as wildfires or floods. When asked about communication, just over half agreed that the city considered resident input when making decisions, while a sizable minority disagreed, indicating room for improvement in public engagement and communication efforts.