Feedback from Southlake's 2021 citizen satisfaction survey revealed less than half of residents think their quality of life has improved, a decline from the 2019 survey.

Southlake City Council reviewed the feedback from community members at a council meeting Feb. 15.

The city’s main priority in administering this biennial survey is asking residents the most important issue facing Southlake to get a better understanding of where the community thinks the city should spend resources.

The city received 1,242 total responses.

Residents find some of the biggest priorities in Southlake include infrastructure, transportation, management of city development, congestion on the roads, community feel and diversity.

In 2019, when residents were asked about Southlake’s quality-of-life progression since living in the city, 56% of the respondents said the quality-of-life has improved; 29% of the respondents said it stayed the same; and 16% said it has gotten worse. In 2021, 43% of the respondents said the quality-of-life has improved; 27% said it stayed the same; and 30% said it has gotten worse.

Residents’ satisfaction with the city’s enforcement of traffic laws in 2021 significantly decreased compared to results from 2019, the latest results showed. The survey results also showed an increase in satisfaction in all other city services, including managing traffic congestion; providing pedestrian pathways, sidewalks and trails; and providing information on development.

“If it’s not measured, we can’t improve it—[we are] always seeking to improve,” Mayor John Huffman said.