Quality of Life Indicators

civility and neighborhood pride data

Litter Index -- updated 6/15/10
civic & social connectivity

Litter Index -- updated 6/15/10

The Litter Index is a national initiative of Keep America Beautiful that provides a starting point for the litter prevention process.  The Litter Index is conducted by Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) volunteer teams who rank areas of the community on a cleanliness scale from 1 to 4 (the lower the number, the lower the amount of litter observed in the area).  KTMB has a long history of successful involvement with neighborhood and community cleanups--from the Sparks Clean Sweep to the Reno Clean & Green to their Adopt-a-Spot program and other localized efforts.  Freeway debris can be especially dangerous for drivers and residents end up paying for related accident costs.  According to Waste Management, Washoe County residents brought more than 14,000 yards of waste to the Lockwood Dump during the April 2009 Free Dump Week.  Although more litter was obvious in 2009 than 2008, the Litter Index has improved steadily since the first neighborhood measures in 2001. 

civic & social connectivity

Identifying whether people are contributing to the community, and other issues of civic and social connectivity, will allow the community to dialog and initiate responsive efforts to improve measures of what we increasingly value in our community.

In TMT’s December 2007 community survey, 82.6% of respondents reported being happy living in the community, while only 10.8% responded that they are simply biding their time until they can move; of the latter, 15.1% plan to leave for better social opportunities, followed by 12.3% weather, 12.3% growth/population, 11% better cultural opportunities, 9.6% way of life/family, 6.8% general change/new start, 5.5% better job opportunities, 5.5% expense/cost of living, 5.5% crime/safety/health, and 2.7% better educational opportunities.  Similarly, 73.4% of respondents said they are intentionally investing their time and energy in this community. In addition, 45.6% of respondents, reported a homeowners or neighborhood association where they live, but only 21.4% of these respondents reported that the association strengthens their connection to the neighborhood or the community.

Of TMT survey respondents, 14% reported having a personal experience of racial or ethnic bias in this community in the last year.  According to the draft 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results, 22.9% of Washoe County students reported they had been a victim of a racial slur in the past 30 days.