Albert Lea residents view the city in much higher regard than in 2015, according to results from a survey conducted by the city this year.

City Manager Chad Adams presented the numbers Tuesday during an Albert Lea City Council meeting.

According to the survey, the percentage of non-white residents who had a positive view of the city’s quality of life increased from 29 to 52 percent and the percentage of residents ages 18 to 34 who view the city similarly increased from 37 percent to 67 percent. For residents who have lived in Albert Lea for five years or less, that percentage increased from 48 percent to 66 percent. Positive views of Albert Lea’s quality of life increased from 55 to 61 percent among all age groups.

The results gathered this year are part of the city’s National Citizen Survey, the third survey since 2012 designed to provide a baseline on how city government is serving residents, to gauge perceptions of the city and to make comparisons with peer cities.

Residents were asked questions ranging from their feelings of community safety, the local economy, religious atmosphere and other subjects.

The overall image or reputation of Albert Lea among non-white residents increased from 16 percent to 52 percent, coinciding with an increase among all age groups from 38 percent to 46 percent.

Adams said the city cannot single-handedly take credit for improvements, adding stakeholders, businesses, nonprofit organizations and private residents have helped improve the community.

“The City Council direction in setting goals, setting expectations for staff,” he said. “Our staff delivering on that, carrying out a lot of those goals in terms of action planning and such. So it’s been very fruitful for us to see some very positive results in the approach … and the intentional approach that we’ve made to try to improve customer service areas, quality of life areas. And just about every area that we’ve targeted strong, we’ve really seen some significant advancements on.”

According to numbers presented by Adams, the overall appearance of Albert Lea was rated at a 70 percent positive clip among males in this year’s survey, compared to 56 percent in 2015. Positive views of the city’s appearance also increased by more than 10 percent for residents making between $50,000 and $99,000 a year. The increase in that category among all age groups increased from 58 percent to 67 percent.

Positive views of city-sponsored special events increased from 24 to 47 percent for non-white residents and 36 percent to 68 percent for residents ages 18 to 34, correlating with a jump in that category for all residents from 51 percent to 63 percent.

Residents ages 18 to 34 rated the community’s ease of travel by bicycle at a 82 percent positive rate, an increase from 66 percent in 2015 and a correlation with an increase in that category in all groups from 62 percent to 71 percent.

An estimated 56 percent of residents ages 18 to 34 rated the city’s downtown/commercial area as vibrant, more than triple the 18 percent of the group who had a similar view three years ago. That number more than doubled for males — 19 percent to 44 percent — and residents making less than $49,999 — 23 to 37 percent, correlating with an overall increase from 26 percent to 40 percent.

Positive resident views on customer service provided by city employees increased from 42 percent to 82 percent in the 18 to 34 age bracket, correlating with an overall increase from 65 percent to 74 percent.

Among non-white residents, positive views on police services increased from 43 percent to 76 percent. That number jumped from 55 percent to 70 percent in the 18 to 34 age group and from 74 to 80 percent overall.

Seventy-two percent of residents in the 18 to 34 age group said they would recommend living in Albert Lea to someone else, a more than 25-percent increase from the 46 percent of residents in the same age bracket who said they would in 2015.

Adams said he plans to present survey geographic results at the Nov. 26 council meeting.

Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker attributed the improvements to the policies and direction the council has implemented and the community for buying into the council’s direction.

He said as an Albert Lea native, he has seen the city’s high and low points and cited the survey as proof the community is trending the right direction.

Despite the positive numbers, Baker said there is more work to do.

“I don’t think that when you have a goal to improve something, that you should continue or discontinue trying to improve it just because you have attained maybe a goal,” he said. “I think it’s an ongoing process, where you need to continue to work, continue to listen to what the people have to say, continue taking on ideas, continuing the debates and talks and move forward.”

In other action, the council:

• Allowed for the combination of two lots at 400 Johnson St. and 402 Johnson St. to allow for a larger lot with future plans for a new home.

• Approved disposing of a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT through an electronic bidding environment used to sell surplus vehicles.

• Approved a re-plat in Westwood Hills Second Subdivision to divide two lots for eventual sale. The council also authorized Adams and Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. to enter into an updated agreement to include work and required payments that have not occurred prior to developing additional homes in Westwood Hills and Westwood Hills Second Subdivision.