OCTOBER 2021
The City of Larkspur is pleased to announce we will be conducting a comprehensive quality of life survey next month.
City leaders are seeking the community’s input so that leaders can best serve Kingsport residents.
Residents will soon have a chance to provide feedback on city services and the quality of life in Muscatine.
The city of Oshkosh is making national headlines for its efforts in improving community satisfaction through online forums.
Flagstaff residents continue to experience a high quality of life, but housing affordability poses barriers to residents hoping to remain in the community, a recent survey found.
JOHNSON CITY OFFICIALS ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO COMPLETE CITIZEN SURVEY
Johnson City leaders are looking to hear from the community regarding the city’s projects and progress.
SEPTEMBER 2021
Ridgefield has launched a survey to gain insight on people’s experiences in the city.
Lake Zurich is surveying residents about the quality of life in the community, their satisfaction with municipal services, where public resources should be directed and where they think the village is headed overall.
What are Palm Coast residents most concerned about? That's what the Palm Coast City Council is trying to determine before the National Citizen Survey is sent out to residents starting in October.
Polco users and readers visiting WNA member websites from Aug. 19 to 31 were asked whether they supported mask requirements in schools. We asked this question in light of recent recommendations that masks be required in schools this fall.
This week, the City of Papillion announced that the Papillion 2021 Community Survey is now available online for public participation.
The City of Redlands is inviting all residents to express their thoughts on priorities for your government and the quality of life in Redlands.
Conducted earlier this spring, the Community Survey is an opportunity to hear from residents about their perceptions of the community. It is administered by the National Research Center and is a scientific survey that also offers insight into any disparate responses among different identities, demographics and regions across Fort Collins.
Public engagement is important to both the citizens of this community and the City of Coronado. Public engagement allows the City to better identify the community’s values, ideas, and recommendations. It informs residents about important issues that local government is dealing with and informed and engaged resident produces buy-in and support with less conflict.
Redlands residents have two weeks to fill out a questionnaire, in English or Spanish, designed to help city officials prioritize work.
The City of Redlands is inviting all residents to express their thoughts on priorities for your government and the quality of life in Redlands.
New survey results indicate most respondents are satisfied with Rio Rancho and available services, although there are a few low points.
A new poll question asking whether readers support vaccine requirements in the workplace is available to be used by WNA members.
The village of Schaumburg will measure residents' attitudes about living in the community to see whether the COVID-19 pandemic and other circumstances of the past three years have caused any changes since the largely positive responses to a 2018 survey.
CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, CITY SURVEY AND OUTDOOR DINING
Senior Management Analyst Janine Zúñiga gave background on the 2021 National Community Survey, citing that the first one was performed in 2003, with follow-ups in 2011 and 2014.
Residents who responded to a comprehensive survey earlier this year say the City is a highly desirable and safe place to live, giving positive ratings to Coronado as a place to live and for its overall quality of life.
The City of Redlands is inviting all residents to give us your thoughts on priorities for your government and the quality of life in Redlands.
In April, F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva released a survey to 3,000 random households aged 55 or older across Sanibel and Captiva addressing an array of topics related to living on the islands.
The American Rescue Plan is delivering an unprecedented $350 billion in direct aid to state and local governments across the country, and the sheer size of their share has many leaders overwhelmed.
For households not selected to participate in a random sampling for the ongoing 2021 city of Edmond Citizen Survey, there is now an online option for residents to provide feedback.
Corvallis is set to embark on its periodic community survey.
AUGUST 2021
In 2020, the Davidson Board of Commissioners and town staff developed the 2020-21 strategic plan based on objectives that had been identified by the community. The board prioritized which areas they wanted to focus on for the next two years and settled on these six following categories:
The Town has partnered with Polco, an innovative online engagement platform that lets residents provide direct input to the local government decision-making process. By using Polco, Needham is making public participation easier for residents.
As part of the City of Cedar Park's continued commitment to customer service, a random sampling of Cedar Park residents were surveyed in spring this year.
The City of Eden Prairie is using Polco to gather community opinions about civic engagement.
The City of Redlands will be conducting a comprehensive quality of life survey beginning this month.
The American Rescue Plan is delivering an unprecedented $350 billion in direct aid to state and local governments across the country and the sheer size of their share has many leaders overwhelmed.
The City of Rio Rancho’s 2021 Citizen Survey results indicated most participants are pleased with the city and its services.
A survey will gauge Rochester's park priorities.
Residents are being asked their views on the future of Rochester's Parks & Recreation System.
The City of Redlands will be conducting a comprehensive quality of life survey beginning this month. The survey will first be available online for randomly selected residents and soon after, all residents will be invited to complete the survey by visiting the City’s website.
Three thousand Lake Zurich households will receive a survey in the mail Tuesday that village leaders say will help them better make decisions about the town's future.
Lake Havasu City residents see the city as a great place to retire, they rate the neighborliness of fellow residents as about average, and believe that access to affordable high speed internet is poor, according to the results of a community survey distributed in Havasu this spring.
The City has recently opened its fifth biennial Citizen Survey to all City residents through Aug. 27, 2021. The survey can be accessed online.
The town of Flower Mound recently received the “2020 Voice of the People Award for Excellence in Recreation and Wellness” from the International City/County Management Association and Polco, an online community polling and survey platform.
JULY 2021
"We conducted a statistically valid national police services survey and heard pretty loud and clear from our citizens that they recognize that there's been an increase in crime, substantially, over the past few years," City Administrator Chris Kukulski said.
This summer, the Town of Estes Park will be seeking community input using the National Community Survey.
Edina has continued to receive high scores on its quality of life, according to a 2021 survey of its residents.
What housing and community needs exist in Jeffco because of the COVID-19 pandemic? What policies would make Jeffco a healthier place to live, work and play? Let us know this and more by taking BOTH the Health/Wellbeing Survey and the Community Needs Assessment Survey!
Results from the third biennial survey of Bloomington residents were presented at the Bloomington City Council meeting Wednesday, according to a press release Thursday.
Results of the third biennial city-wide survey were presented at the July 21 meeting of the Bloomington City Council. As in 2019 and 2017, the randomized, scientifically valid survey conducted in March and April of this year gave residents the opportunity to provide feedback on their general perceptions of the quality of life in Bloomington; to evaluate City programs, services, government performance; and to identify projects or issues facing the City.
Town Manager Norman Khumalo is pleased to share a summary of the National Community Survey's Livability Report for the Town of Hopkinton and thanks residents for taking the time to respond to the survey.
Kate Parmelee, director of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, and Sarah Prohaska, director of Communications, discuss a few highlights of the 2021 National Community Survey, which was taken earlier this year by Port St. Lucie residents.
The Town of Parker recently conducted its community survey, which occurs every three years to obtain feedback from residents about their satisfaction with the town and its policies.
The City of Asheville’s Office of Data and Performance (ODAP) was created to increase transparency in government and to empower the community and City staff to use data for equitable outcomes, accountability, and communication. ODAP has been fully staffed for 100 days and has already been involved in a number of external and internal activities to advance this mission.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is asking locals to participate in its upcoming surveys.
JUNE 2021
The results are in for the 2021 National Community Survey in Kalamazoo.
A community survey highlighted issues that the city of Kalamazoo needs to work on, and other areas where the city is doing well, based on citizen opinions.
Every two years the city takes the pulse of the people who live there to see what they're concerned about. The 2021 National Community Survey showed 92% of people said it was “essential” or “very important” that utilities be the major focus over the next two years.
I want to spend a moment with you to share with my thoughts about the National Community survey for 2021. Thank you for filling out the survey.
The current Town Board just completed its first year. And what a year it was.
In a national survey, Roseville residents rated their satisfaction with living in Roseville among the highest in the country in several key areas including as a place to live, utility infrastructure, city services and economic health.
MAY 2021
Eden Prairie residents continue to have a high opinion of their municipality’s services and amenities.
Let your voice be heard and help drive decisions for Broomfield's future by taking the 2021 Community Survey!
The Town of Gilbert is asking residents to participate in its biennual National Community Survey.
Residents are invited to share their thoughts and opinions regarding life in Shakopee as part of the city's 2021 community-wide survey, according to a news release from the city of Shakopee.
The City of Mendota Heights is developing a Strategic Plan that will provide long term direction and guide future maintenance and improvement decisions for the City's parks and recreation system. Please help prioritize Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation opportunities by taking this online two-minute survey via Polco.
RESIDENTS RATE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, STRONG ECONOMIC HEALTH IN MCKINNEY
After a recent citizen satisfaction survey, 93 percent of respondents rated the City of McKinney as an excellent or good place to live, confirming they enjoy a higher quality of life than most communities across the nation.
Extended through May 21, the community has the opportunity to participate in a resident survey that will allow F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva and other island organizations to have a clearer understanding of the needs being met and gaps in services to the aging population of Sanibel and Captiva.
Despite Palo Alto's recent efforts to promote social justice, the percentage of residents who believe the city is doing a good job in welcoming people with diverse backgrounds is at its lowest point in nearly two decades, a newly released survey shows.
APRIL 2021
A new public opinion survey shows there's concern about whether Chicago is on the right track.
The City is seeking feedback on its performance to help gauge community satisfaction in Coronado. The City is working once again with the National Research Center out of Boulder, Colorado, to help develop a scientifically valid survey of residents. Those residents randomly selected to participate can soon expect to receive a postcard announcing that a survey is about to be mailed.
Moorpark residents give the city's overall quality of life high grades, but lower marks in several economic areas, a recent city-commissioned survey shows.
Did you receive a Community Survey in the mail? Lake Havasu City values your opinion and wants to know your thoughts to help guide future decisions.
The city of Edina’s 2021 Quality of Life Survey is underway. The city contracted with Polco (NRC) to develop the six-page survey. The survey includes questions about local policies and amenities, rating local government services and resident use of government services and facilities.
The Town of Boone is asking for public input during the Town of Boone Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community Survey.
A recent assessment found residents have a generally favorable view of the State College Police Department, but that not all community members share the same perceptions of the department and local safety issues.
The city of Goodyear wants to hear from its residents via a 15-minute survey that includes a range of questions about the community, city programs and services. It’s an opportunity for residents to share what they love about the city and what can improve.
Town of Davidson residents have the opportunity to provide feedback for the biannual National Community Survey beginning this week.
The City of Bloomington invites residents to participate in the online 2021 Bloomington Community Survey from April 21 – May 5.
In April, 3,000 households with those aged 55 or older across Sanibel and Captiva received a request by mail from F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva to complete a survey addressing an array of topics related to living on the islands.
MARCH 2021
Lake Havasu City is conducting a citizen survey to ask residents for their ideas and opinions about the City. The results of the survey will help the City identify what they are doing well and where they need to improve in order to meet the needs of the citizens.
In Eagan’s most recent community survey, most residents gave excellent or good ratings to Eagan as a place to live, in the overall quality of life and as a place to raise children.
The City of Battle Creek wants to hear from its residents regarding which services they feel are the most important, as well as how those services are defined.
Surprise residents who did not receive a National Community Survey (NCS) by mail can now take the survey online.
In April, 3,000 households will receive a request by mail from F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva to complete a survey addressing an array of topics related to living on the islands as a household aged 55 or over.
The city partners with an independent research firm to survey residents every two years. Eagan ranked highly among 600 cities nationally.
Milwaukee city leaders want to find out how the pandemic is affecting residents' mental health. They expect a new survey will find the isolation and economic challenges over the last year to have taken a significant toll.
Dee Sabol said it would be disappointing to see the takeaway from a recent survey be that a high percentage of residents believe Rochester is welcoming.
The Diversity Council executive director said the full results show that how welcoming the city is considered depends on a person’s position. For people with low incomes or who identify as transgender, the city is seen as far less welcoming than it is to others, according to the survey conducted by Polco’s National Research Center.
Palm Coast has many assets — its restaurants, its shopping, its tennis and golf facilities, its Community Center and City Hall — but the one most prized by people who answered Palm Coast's 2020 Citizen Survey was the one not built by human hands: The natural habitat.
The town of Little Elm is conducting a survey to gauge residential feedback on key issues in the town that will shape future decisions.
This month, the City of Bloomington will ask residents to participate in the 2021 Bloomington Community Survey. This is the third community-wide, scientific survey of Bloomington residents, and is again being administered by National Research Center, Inc. (NRC).
The City of Gulf Breeze completed its first National Citizen Survey™ soon after being forced to face the impacts of Hurricane Sally and the closure of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. In spite of those major life disruptions, however, Gulf Breeze residents continue to praise the city as a place to live, raise children and retire, according to a press release from the City of Gulf Breeze.
Starting on March 10, restaurants in Dane County will be able to double their indoor capacity from 25% to 50%. Limits for indoor gathering where food and drink are provided will increase from 25 people to 150. Are you ready to dine indoors?
On Monday, a Polco/National Research Center, Inc., gave the West Bend Common Council the first look at the results of a community survey that closed in January. Survey results found West Bend citizens enjoy a high quality of life, view economic health as a priority, positively rate mobility but not street repair and appreciate local government.
A group of Billings residents surveyed in a Polco study gave the Billings Police Department high marks as far as trustworthiness but generally felt the city has a problem with crime, members of the Billings City Council heard at a Monday work session.
Brighton’s community survey in 2021 will come in two phases beginning in March and continuing through May.
The City of Kalamazoo is encouraging residents to participate in an upcoming community-wide survey.
FEBRUARY 2021
The City of Puyallup’s first Community Satisfaction Survey is now open to all city residents.
Los Alamos County Council will review and discuss results of The National Employee Survey™ for County employees Tuesday evening during their regular virtual session.
The Star-Observer partners with Polco and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association on regular polling about current events and other topics in Wisconsin.
Scottsdale regularly surveys its residents to give them a chance to rate their quality of life and provide feedback on city programs and services. The results help Scottsdale set service priorities and provide comparisons with other cities.
The city’s National Community Survey results, with data from 797 residents, is a potential tool for local leadership, but councilors said it won’t be the only one.
The public is being asked to complete a brief survey on Rochester’s rapid transit project.
Mary Miller is widely known in the Lafayette community. As the founder of Lafayette and the first female bank president in the United States, the history of Miller’s pioneer spirit has been admired for years. In recent months, however, the city of Lafayette was presented with a darker history of some members of the Miller family through a petition and information presented by some Lafayette residents.
Despite a global pandemic, we’re continuing to build something special in PSL — a safe, beautiful and prosperous City for All People. While you will certainly find committed elected and appointed officials at City Hall, ones who are invested in the hopes and dreams of our community, you’ll be hard pressed to find them pursuing pet projects at the public’s expense because, instead, our team has committed to an award-winning, citizen-driven strategic planning and budgeting process to fulfill our community’s great promise.
The Grand Traverse County Board is hoping to use a community survey to shape how it deals with the most pressing issues in the county — affordable housing, child care and mental health care.
The city of Northfield is asking for the public to participate in a short survey with questions related to the city’s strategic plan for service delivery and quality of community life by using Polco, an online public engagement platform.
The city is looking to residents for input on repurposing Jones Golf Course, a flood-prone venue in the southwest quadrant that had long been a drag on revenue in the city’s four-course municipal golf system.
Surprise residents can share their thoughts on living in Surprise in the 2021 National Community Survey.
A survey of Grand Traverse County residents conducted by a national company to determine the “livability” of the community generated plenty of positive responses, with higher-than-normal ratings for recreational opportunities, downtown vibrancy, the quality of local businesses, and natural resources. But the survey results – which will be reviewed today (Wednesday) by Grand Traverse County commissioners at a virtual study session – also point to several challenges, with lower-than-average ratings for cost of living, variety and affordability of housing, high-speed Internet access, government transparency, and access to quality child care and preschool.
Pasco County received higher marks this year than it did last year in numerous categories in the annual National Community Survey. Even so, substantial improvements are needed, if the county wants to achieve its stated goal of being a premier county.
JANUARY 2021
Eden Prairie city leaders are asking for resident input to help inform decisions as they work alongside other local, regional, state and federal organizations.
The City is now making the survey available to every resident, through our community survey provider Polco online. Feedback provided through these surveys will help the city and City Council prioritize initiatives, services, and programs
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.
COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN TO ALL LOUDOUN RESIDENTS
An online version of the Loudoun County 2021 Community Survey is now open to all Loudoun County residents at loudoun.gov/surveythrough Feb. 1.
An online survey is open to all city residents as part of Scottsdale's bi-annual effort to collect opinions and feedback from the community. The information is used by the city and City Council to prioritize initiatives, services and programs.
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.
