JANUARY 2021
The National Community Survey allows residents to rate their overall quality of life and provide specific feedback about municipal services, public safety, customer service and their level of participation in community events and activities.
When asked to rate life in San Jose, residents still largely give it a “meh” or worse.
How are we doing, as your City government? The City of Asheville is working with the Polco/National Community Survey company to find out.
In addition to the Master Plan, the 2020 National Citizens Survey was sent to 1,600 random O’Fallon households as a way to understand the broader needs of the community.
The pulse of Marshalltown was recently taken in a community survey which highlights what residents want improved in their city and how they prioritize different facets of life livability.
The City and County of Honolulu is participating in the 2020 National Community Survey. This year’s survey includes questions about the quality of life, city services, policies and management of the City and County of Honolulu, as well as opinions on issues pertinent to O'ahu residents, such as the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of mail-in ballots, and efforts to assist the homeless.
As the COVID-19 landscape continues to evolve and change, City leaders are using Polco – a civic participation platform – to gather resident input and help inform decisions as we work alongside other local, regional, state and federal organizations.
After voters approved a tax increase to improve Rochester's park system, city leaders are discussing how the new revenues might be spent.
The National Citizen Survey, not conducted in 2019, was launched in 2020 and is currently collecting similar information on community priorities for Palo Alto. The survey was open to a random sampling of residents last month and will open to the public for general responses later this month. With this additional layer of feedback, the Council will have even more community input on their upcoming decisions on priorities and could help inform the budget process and other annual City processes and decision-making.
Eden Prairie's biennial Quality of Life Survey is underway and the City is inviting residents to participate in the online survey now through Friday, Jan. 29.
DECEMBER 2020
Charlotte County wants people who live there to participate in the National Community Survey.
Overall, residents are happy with their life and services provided in Chanhassen, according to the latest community survey results released in December.
The City of Gulf Breeze is asking the community to participate in The National Citizen Survey™ that is designed to provide a baseline of how the City government is serving residents, to gauge perceptions of the City and to make benchmark comparisons with peer cities.
Morristown city officials have garnered two prestigious awards, the Voice of the People award given for implementing suggestions from city government’s annual citizen survey, and the Government Finance Officers Association award for superior budget reporting.
The new year is quickly approaching which means it is time to look toward the future, that is exactly what the Panama City Beach City Council is doing.
Loudoun County is asking residents to participate in The National Community Survey, in which the local government asks residents their views on government services, the county’s quality of life and priorities for government initiatives.
Ann Arbor residents rate the community highly, with 92% considering it a good or excellent place to live, but they also see room for improvement in services and cite high cost of living, according to a new city survey.
A recent survey of 600 people in Los Alamos County indicates that residents enjoy a high quality of life and feel safe in their community.
A new survey asks you questions about the impacts the pandemic has made on you and your family and it's open to everyone in the Med City.
It’s that time: to share your opinions of Charlotte County with a national survey.
Just in time for the holidays, Ormond Beach's City Manager Joyce Shanahan was recognized nationally for her dedication to local government.
The City of Decorah is participating in a community survey about its continuing efforts to respond to the COVID pandemic.
Los Alamos County’s bi-annual citizen survey results are now available for the public to review.
NOVEMBER 2020
Increasing numbers of Williamsburg residents are experiencing housing cost stress and are pessimistic about their economic futures while retaining high levels of confidence in local government, according to the 2020 National Community Survey.
The city of Sedona invites all residents to participate in an online, comprehensive quality of life survey beginning Oct. 28, 2020. Residents may complete the survey by visiting www.sedonaaz.gov/2020survey.
The City of Billings is asking residents to participate in a National Police Services Survey to help gauge resident satisfaction with Billings’ Police Department services and to make comparisons with communities across the nation.
The results of the city's first citizens survey are in, and most people are not pleased with the overall flow of traffic.
The city of Sedona wants to know what’s on your mind. At the end of last month the city posted a comprehensive community survey on its website. The results are used by staff and the Sedona City Council in a variety of ways to gauge the views and thoughts of residents.
Should the City spend more on street repairs and maintenance, or more on pedestrian safety and affordable housing?
The Community Assessment Survey of Older Adults, or CASOA, is a printed survey that was sent to 10,000 randomly selected households across every Pinellas and Pasco zip code in which at least one resident was known to be aged 60 and over.
The City of Billings is partnering with Polco to implement a citywide police services survey and provide a platform for resident engagement.
Should the City spend more on street repairs and maintenance, or more on pedestrian safety and affordable housing?
With the new public safety mill levy in place, the City of Billings is looking to maximize resources in the police department and make comparisons with other communities across the nation. To do that, they want to hear from Billings residents.
OCTOBER 2020
Who won the September 29 presidential debate?
The Polco software company and the and the International City & County Management Association have announced the city of Palm Coast a winner in the Voice of the People Awards.
We know that COVID-19 mortality rates rise with age. But although the pandemic has huge implications for residents of all ages, there is much less news about generational differences in emotional, physical, and economic wellbeing.
Residents are reminded that the Community Inclusion and Racial Equity Survey will close this Friday, Oct. 9. The survey is available on-line.
Who won the Vice Presidential Debate?
For public sector employees, employee benefits provide a significant competitive tool that counteracts the lure of higher salaries in the private sector. Proof of this comes from a summary of data compiled over the last five years by National Research Center (NRC) at Polco, which provides survey research services for public sector organizations and offers an online engagement platform.
Savage’s latest community survey results are in and show the majority of residents continue to enjoy life in Savage.
The National Research Center (NRC) at Polco and the International City & County Management Association (ICMA) recently announced at the ICMA Annual Conference, that the Town of Ashland received this year’s 2020 Voice of the People Awards (VOP)- including the winning award for Transformation in Natural Environment and the finalist award for Transformation in Community Engagement.
SWOT analysis is a study undertaken by an organization to identify its internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as its opportunities.
City officials will ask residents for feedback with its citizen survey set to go out in January.
The town of Flower Mound recently won two Voice of the People awards for “Excellence in Recreation and Wellness” and “Transformation in Education and Enrichment.”
The Plymouth Police Department was awarded the 2020 Voice of the People Award for Safety Excellence. The national award recognizes the high marks residents gave police services and safety in the National Community Survey.
The city of Ann Arbor released a new Priority Based Budgeting Survey on Monday which seeks to gauge public opinion on city spending.
Who won the Oct. 22 Presidential debate?
SEPTEMBER 2020
The latest episode of “WisBusiness.com: The Show” spotlights U.S. Air Force veteran and former White House staffer Nick Mastronardi of Polco, a platform for improving how community leaders seek citizen input on important topics.
Survey says ...? Residents of Batavia and St. Charles are extremely pleased with where they live.
This scientific survey was sent to a randomly selected 3,000 residents, evenly spread out in each of the seven wards.
The Town is undertaking a survey of resident opinions about community and services in collaboration with the National Research Center.
National Research Center (NRC) at Polco and the International City & County Management Association (ICMA) have announced the city of Franklin is the winner of two Voice of the People (VOP) Awards for excellence in education and enrichment and excellence in community engagement.
AUGUST 2020
For the first time in its 50-year history, Panama City Beach has a strategic plan.
The Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management is asking the public to complete a short survey to collect feedback from users of the Recycling and Solid Waste Center.
Do you think Joe Biden made the right pick for his Vice Presidential nominee, Kamala Harris?
The City of Cedar Rapids is asking residents for input on a survey for an independent Citizen Review Board.
The city of Cedar Rapids launched a survey for residents to provide input about a citizens review board and information about their interactions with the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
MAY 2020
Eau Claire City Manager Dale Peters has delayed his retirement to help Eau Claire with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Eau Claire City Council is seeking input on the best qualities for the role of city manager as the position is still open.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is easing restrictions put in place during the coronavirus pandemic by allowing hair and nail salons and barbershops to open on Friday, May 8. Do you agree with his decision?
The City of Beaumont is asking residents to participate in a community survey. The survey is designed to provide a baseline of how the city government is serving residents, to gauge perceptions of the City, and to make comparisons with peer cities.
A new online survey could help businesses owners and community leaders in Marion understand the comfort level of residents as businesses prepare to reopen.
Let the City know what you think about the future of Creekside Community Center and the Bloomington Motor Vehicle Office. Your feedback is important as the City considers closing the facilities due to financial challenges in 2020 and beyond.
Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade, in partnership with POLCO and Downtown, Colorado Inc. (DCI), has released a Colorado COVID-19 Business Survey. Recorded from April 10 to April 30 during the peak of the state’s economic interruption, the survey chronicles the economic challenges facing Colorado businesses.
Missoula County is launching a survey this week to gather feedback from residents on their quality of life, the delivery of county services, safety, transportation, the economy and the natural environment, among other topics. The county is working with the National Research Center to conduct the survey, which aims to help county leaders better understand the needs of the communities they serve, according to a press release
Residents across Missoula County will receive mailed surveys this week asking them to provide feedback to help county leaders better understand the broader needs of the communities they serve. The county is working with the National Research Center to conduct the survey and analyze the results.
Since October, the online civic engagement platform Polco has partnered with the Wisconsin Newspaper Association to equip newspapers across the upper-midwestern state with valuable data and polling information on their readers.
March 2020
As Oahu continues to struggle with one of the worst rates of homelessness in the nation, Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s final budget proposal as mayor includes little new funding to tackle the problem.
Chanhassen residents would support a park bond referendum, according to a city survey conducted late last year.
Louisville City Council last week approved questions some residents will see on a community survey in the next couple of months.
Town Council members and department heads drew from a recent survey of town residents during an almost four-hour long strategic planning session Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Results of a recent community survey showed Grand Rapids residents have a positive view of living in Michigan’s second-largest city.
Woodinville residents enjoy a high quality of life, feel safe in their community, prioritize mobility and value the city’s overall economic health, according to a survey conducted by the National Research Center. Areas of improvement include quality affordable housing and traffic flow throughout town.
Starting today Richfield residents are being asked to participate in the 2020 Richfield Community Survey, administered by the National Research Center. The survey will measure resident satisfaction around quality of life, city services, programming and amenities. In addition to the online option, the survey has also been mailed to 2,500 residents.
When I’m asked how my career in journalism has evolved, I often use this analogy: Early on, it felt like being on railroad tracks. Today, it’s like being on open water.
