Healthy & Livable City
Healthy & Livable City
Healthy & Livable Cities are characterized by high levels of civic pride, community engagement and a strong sense of place. Increasingly, livability and community health also are synonymous with sustainability. Maintaining health means not only having access to high quality health care, but also the facilities and services needed to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, such as parks and trails.
The completion of the Temecula Valley Hospital was a major goal of the QLMP 2010, and was accomplished early in the decade. A network of health services has developed and the hospital now has plans to expand, including a new Behavioral Health facility. The hospital is working to attract new doctors to serve the growing population and to provide an expanding range of services. A barrier that many employers experience is high housing costs in Temecula. Through its 6th cycle Housing Element and other programs, the City is striving to create more “Attainable Housing” in the community. This is housing that is affordable to working people so that workers can live close to their jobs in Temecula.
The Blue Ribbon Committee is especially cognizant of the importance of addressing mental health, and this QLMP includes a measure of mental health in Temecula from the Strategic Health Alliance Pursuing Equity or “SHAPE” Riverside County health surveys. The experience of the COVID pandemic certainly reinforced the critical importance of avenues for social interaction and entertainment, but it is evident in normal everyday life that the ability of a place to nurture its residents spirits as well as their material needs is an essential aspect of livability. The City’s open spaces, libraries, museums, cultural and performance venues, places of worship, and entertainment spots provide a rich contribution to community life that is highly valued by its residents.
Measuring Our Progress
| Indicator | Meets/Exceeds Goals | Progressing | Needs Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma (Goal: 9.5%) | 8.5% | ||
| Adults with Diabetes (Goal: 10%; “Progressing” 10-13%; “Needs Improvement” 13%+) | 7.5% | ||
| Adults Who are Sedentary (Goal: 21.2%; “Progressing” 21.2-29.6%; “Needs Improvement” >29.6) | 19.3% | ||
| Poor Mental Health (Goal:16.1%) | 13.3% |
| Indicator | Meets/Exceeds Goals | Progressing | Needs Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developed parklands: Goal: 5 acres per 1,000 residents; “Progressing” is 3.0-4.9 acres per 1,000 residents; “Need Improvement” is <3.0 acres per 1,000 residents) | 2.8 acres | ||
| Accessible Parks: Percent of population within 15 minute walk of a neighborhood park: Goal: 85%; “Progressing” is 70-84%; “Needs Improvement” is <70% | 54% | ||
| Pedestrian Use of Trails: Goal: Increase; “Progressing” is steady level; “Needs Improvement” is a decrease | Increasing | ||
| Bicyclist Use of Trails Increase: Goal: Increase; “Progressing” is steady level; “Needs Improvement” is a decrease | Increasing |
| Indicator | Meets/Exceeds Goals | Progressing | Needs Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Library Use: Goal: Circulation greater than 700,000; “Progressing” is Circulation between 500,000 and 699,000; “Needs Improvement” is Circulation of 499,000 or less | 559,230 Circulation | ||
| Visit to City Museums: Goal: Increase; “Progressing” is steady level; “Needs Improvement” is a decrease | Increasing | ||
| Old Town Community Theater Ticket Sales: Goal: Increase; “Progressing” is steady level; “Needs Improvement” is a decrease | Increasing |
Our Accomplishments, Strategic Objectives, and Goals for 2040
- Temecula Valley Hospital
- Community Services Master Plan
- Western Escarpment acquisition completed
- State of the art technology for Temecula Library
- Eagles Soar inclusive needs play structure and splash pad
- Friendship Park with inclusive play structures for children of all abilities
- Replacement of multiple play structures with newly themed and enhanced playgrounds citywide
- Built four pump tracks at various City parks
- Expansion of Temecula Valley Hospital, including Behavioral Health facility
- Ensure a variety of housing choices for different stages of life
- Phase Old Town into a mixed-use residential and culturally rich downtown
- Integrate and expand Teen facilities and services at the Community Recreation Center
- Explore mobile library resource vans to extend service more evenly throughout the City
- Create Uptown Temecula Regional Sports Park
- Murrieta Creek Trail, Phase III
- Lake Skinner Trail via Metropolitan Water District easement
- Rehab existing tennis facilities
- New gym
- Additional pickle ball courts
- Become Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community
- Open trails at the Roripaugh Preserve
- Support healthy and active lifestyles by promoting recreation programs, parks, trails and competitive facilities for swimming, tennis, soccer, baseball, basketball, and other sports, including action sports
- Be a sustainable community that embraces residents’ quality of life through protecting the natural environment, maintaining the City’s fiscal stability, and supporting the community’s health and equity
- Be a diverse community that values and supports people of all ages, backgrounds, cultures, disabilities and religious beliefs
- Provide accessible sports, recreational, cultural, health/therapeutic and community engagement facilities, programs and resources for all Temecula residents, including seniors, youth, families and those with special needs
- Enhance Temecula’s position as a regional medical center of excellence, offering advanced medical specialties and research facilities, and a sufficient ratio of physicians to residents
- Value the growth of non-profit organizations, churches, temples, mosques, and other places of worship
- Continue to be a community where local history is remembered and respected, and local culture and artistic creativity is supported
Community Survey
The survey acts as the City’s report card from the community. The purpose of the study is to assess perceptions of quality of life in the City and identify important issues and services. The survey gathers opinions on topics and has the residents rate the topics by level of priority (high priority vs. lower priority). It also evaluates perceptions of local government and customer services by rating the expectation level (exceeds expectations vs. not satisfied).
Exceeds Expectations or is a High Priority (>85%)
Progressing or is a Medium Priority (70-84%)
Not Satisfied or is a Lower Priority (<70%)
Overall Quality of Life
87.6%
Resident satisfaction with Overall Quality of Life
71.2%
Resident importance of providing senior services
81.7%
Resident satisfaction with senior services
62.8%
Resident importance of providing teen services
79.7%
Resident satisfaction with growth management and planning (commercial)
51.7%
Resident satisfaction with growth management and planning (residential)
Parks and Recreation
90.8%
Resident satisfaction with the variety of parks and recreation facilities
Education, Civic and Cultural Amenities
62.1%
Resident importance of providing cultural arts, public art, theater and museum services
90.5%
Resident satisfaction with library services
85.4%
Resident satisfaction with the quality of education of Temecula Valley Unified School District
Rating of Resident Spending Priorities
68.2%
For improved appearance of public infrastructure and landscapes
68.4%
Expand Teen services and programs
67.9%
Develop high quality arts, culture, history, and sporting events and facilities
67.4%
Increase recreational programs
At it’s core, residents desire that Temecula be a place where they can live through the arc of their entire lives, with housing and services for all ages, incomes, and abilities; a city that allows each resident to live life to their fullest and most satisfying potential.