Refuse Ratepayers Focus Groups

The City of San Francisco Controller’s Office contracted InterEthnica to conduct 5 focus groups to gather feedback from and understand the perceptions of refuse ratepayers regarding upcoming proposals for refuse rate changes, the rationale behind these changes, and the overall sentiment toward the proposed rate adjustments. InterEthnica recruited single-family and multi-family homeowners and renters who pay their refuse bills directly or indirectly, ensuring diverse representation across a broad range of demographics including neighborhood, income level, ethnic background, and education level. InterEthnica’s team of certified bilingual focus group moderators conducted the focus groups in Spanish and Cantonese with live, simultaneous interpretation for the client in English. Sessions were held virtually on Zoom, for greater accessibility and convenience.

 

InterEthnica synthesized the key findings into an actionable report that will play a critical role in shaping future presentations to the Refuse Ratepayer Board and guiding communications regarding the rate changes to ensure they reflect ratepayer concerns and expectations.