Subject:
Title
PREPARATION OF THE 2026 TOWN-WIDE SURVEY (10 MINUTE STAFF PRESENTATION)
Body
PURPOSE:
THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY (NCS) (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL CITIZEN SURVEY) IS A COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT THAT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF LIVABILITY AND RESIDENT PERSPECTIVES ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES, POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT. IT COMPARES LOCAL RESULTS WITH BENCHMARKS COMPILED FROM SURVEYS CONDUCTED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE TOWN OF VIENNA'S FIRST NCS TOOK PLACE IN 2014. THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL 2020, WHEN IT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE 2023 SURVEY WAS THE FIRST NCS CONDUCTED ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF VIENNA SINCE 2018, AND THE TOWN COUNCIL VOTED TO CONDUCT THE SURVEY MOVING FORWARD EVERY TWO YEARS IN A NON-ELECTION YEAR FOR COUNCIL. BEGINNING IN 2026, THE SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED EVERY TWO YEARS.KEY QUESTIONS:
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
The 2026 Town wide survey will help inform future Town Council priorities and decisions by measuring resident satisfaction with Town government and identifying resident priorities for services and other issues that impact the Vienna community.
The NCS is a proprietary benchmark survey that involves a standard set of questions developed by Polco/National Research Center and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The Town has an opportunity to add three custom questions. The purpose of this conference session item is to get guidance from the Town Council on what three areas it wishes to explore. Additional questions may be added for an additional cost.
For reference, a copy of the 2023 survey is attached. The custom questions begin on page 29. Also attached is a suggested timeline for the 2026 survey.
OVERVIEW:
SUMMARY/STAFF IMPRESSIONS:
The National Community Survey is conducted in hundreds of communities across the United States. The company uses scientific survey methods and best practices to facilitate statistically valid find...
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