Quality of Life seems to be a self-explanatory term but in terms of city planning it is a many layered term. It has become a concept that city planners use to evaluate how well they are doing their job. The voters of Menifee values the importance of Quality of Life as a concept enough to pass Measure DD. According to the City of Menifee website:

In November 2016, Menifee voters enacted Menifee’s Quality of Life Measure (Measure DD). This voter approved 1% sales tax has allowed the City of Menifee to maintain and enhance city services and programs before and during the COVID-19 crises including emergency preparedness, police and fire services, and road safety and traffic mitigation. Menifee’s Quality of Life Measure funds are required to remain local and are not subject to state takeaways. An independent Citizen Oversight Committee provides a review of the Quality of Life Measure expenditures to ensure funds are spent as voters intended.

The voters in Menifee support this concept to the degree that they rejected Measure M in 2022 an attempt to repeal Measure DD. The better we in Menifee understand this term the more we can get involved and urge our leaders to maintain and improve our Quality of Life. The AARP Livability Index measures how livable American communities and neighborhoods are. It assesses several elements that affect Quality of Life, such as access to housing, transportation, healthcare, and leisure activities. The index is intended to assist communities in assessing how effectively they are serving citizens' needs, particularly those of those who are aging in place. /p>

Data from numerous sources, including the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are used to calculate the AARP Livability Index. The index is based on seven different factors, including the following:

1. Housing: This dimension examines the availability and cost of housing as well as the availability of factors that enable seniors live independently, such as ramps and handrails.
2. Neighborhood: This factor assesses a community's accessibility and walkability as well asthe existence of parks, open areas, and other facilities.
3. Transit: This aspect evaluates the accessibility of public transportation as well as the infrastructure for walking and bicycling.
4. Health: This component examines the accessibility of healthcare services, such as those provided by pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics.
5. Engagement: This factor assesses the availability of community resources like elder centers, libraries, and volunteer opportunities.
6. Opportunity: This factor assesses the accessibility of options for employment and education as well as the availability of reasonably priced goods and services.
7. Environment: This factor examines the state of the surrounding physical environment, including the water and air quality as well as the presence of open space.

Depending on the requirements of a community, the AARP Livability Index's influence on quality of life can vary. However, on general, areas with higher livability rankings have better quality of life because they provide a variety of activities and services that help inhabitants age in place. For instance, elderly who may have mobility challenges will usually discover a community with adequate access to healthcare and transportation more appealing, but residents of all ages may find a town with a range of recreational options more appealing. In short the index reflects how the area is giving the people what they expect. To illustrate this New York City has a high index but the aspects of Menifee that attract us here are not reflected in what New York City has but it provides what people need there.

The AARP Livability Index provides information on a community's strengths and shortcomings and highlights areas that may need development, which can be used to guide city planning initiatives. For instance, if a municipality has a low transportation score, city planners may give priority to initiatives that expand access to public transit or enhance infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

The AARP Livability Index is a signature initiative of the Public Policy Institute to measure the quality of life in American communities across multiple dimensions: housing, transportation, neighborhood characteristics, environment, health, opportunity, and civic and social engagement. The AARP Livability Index helps users better understand their communities and make decisions about future needs. In this series of articles on Quality of Life. We will explore this index and see how it can be used to plan our community. See you next time.

Menifee should be proud of Measure DD and rejection of Measure M as it shows our commitment to maintain and improve our Quality of Life. The oversight committee should meet twice a year yet on the City of Menifee website there are no agendas or minutes for past two years. We hope this lack of adherence to Measure DD will be addressed shortly.

You can find the AARP Livability Index at Home – AARP Livability Index. You will find that Menifee was given a score of 39. While Hemet has an index of 45 and Temecula an index of 44. Next time we will take a look at why Quality of Life might be regarded as better in these two areas.