CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Receive the 2026 National Community Survey presentation by Polco
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DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
SUBMITTED BY: Marcie Schatz, Assistant to the City Manager
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The City's Bridge to 2023 Priorities Plan recommended that the City conduct a statistically valid resident survey every two or three years to give decision makers an assessment of resident satisfaction.
In 2023, the City partnered with Polco, an independent research firm and civic engagement company, to launch the National Community Survey (NCS) in Naperville. The City used the 2023 survey results to create the Naperville 2027: Investing in Our Community Priorities Plan. The plan prioritizes future improvements based on residents' highest values and concerns.
The City contracted with Polco again this year to administer the 2026 survey. The 2026 NCS retains the 2023 core questions, modifying only the half-page of custom queries. This consistency allows the City to compare the two datasets directly and identify statistically significant shifts in resident opinion.
The survey captures feedback across ten facets of community livability, including but not limited to safety, economy, mobility and community design. It is used by more than 400 government entities across the country to gain resident perceptions about their community's quality of life and services. Using the same survey allows staff the ability to benchmark Naperville results against other government entities.
The NCS utilized random sampling via direct-mail postcards to ensure a statistically valid survey. The City also conducted an Open Participation Survey through a link on the City's website. The Open Participation Survey results are included in the final report but are separate from the statistically significant sample.
DISCUSSION:
The City is happy to report that Naperville remains one of the highest-rated communities as a place to live...
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