Surveys with Purpose
Community Input for Services, Decisions, and Planning
FlashVote surveys generally fall into three buckets—Services, Decisions, and Planning—based on how the results get used.
- Services = “How are we doing?” (improve operational performance, boost satisfaction, identify hotspots)
- Decisions = “What should we do?” (evaluate options & tradeoffs tied to a near-term choice or project)
- Planning = “Where are we going?” (establish priorities, set long-range direction, and guide investments over multiple years)
FlashVote for Services
Cadence:
Recurring (most common: annual, seasonal, or before/after changes)
Goal:
Increase resident satisfaction and get more value from existing resources
What you get:
A baseline scorecard, clear hotspots, and a trendline that proves what’s improving (and what isn’t)Service surveys measure how well things are working day to day—like snow plowing, parks maintenance, communications, or parking enforcement—so staff can spot problems early, target fixes, and report progress. These are often recurring because the real power is trending results over time (baseline → improve → re-measure).
For Services
- Code Enforcement
- Parking Services
- Community Priorities
- Communication Preferences
- Parks & Recreation
- Public Safety Perceptions
- Streets & Transportation
- Economic Development (pulse)
- Economic Development (pulse)
FlashVote for Decisions
Cadence:
One-time / as-needed (timed to a decision window)
Goal:
Actionable insights to evaluate decision trade-offs and choose the best community-supported solution(s)
What you get:
Clear support levels for various options, the tradeoffs residents will accept, and defensible guidance for staff and Council. Decision surveys are used when something specific is on the table—an ordinance, capital choice, policy change, or major tradeoff—so Council and staff can make a high-stakes call with a clear read on where the broader community stands. These are typically launched ahead of a staff recommendation, Council discussion, or public hearing window, and are designed to test real options and tradeoffs (not just collect comments).
For Decisions
- Backyard Chickens
- Short-Term Rentals (STR)
- Playground Redesign
- Ice Rink Updates
- Addressing Homelessness
- Pickleball Courts
- Open Space Development Decisions
- Bicycle Lanes / Road Options
- Commercial Vacancies
- Downtown Business & Visitation Strategy
FlashVote for Planning
Cadence:
Recurring in cycles (annual + multi-year updates)
Goal:
Plan for current and future needs, align investments, and avoid future problems
What you get:
A repeatable “north star” for priorities + sequencing, with checkpoints that keep big plans grounded in real resident input. Planning surveys help communities set direction and make multi-year choices—often tied to long-range plans, capital project pipelines, and department master plans. The goal isn’t just a snapshot of sentiment; it’s a repeatable planning signal you can use to prioritize, sequence, and communicate what comes next.
A practical way to think about planning surveys is a simple rhythm:
- Set direction: clarify priorities and “what success looks like”
- Build the roadmap: test options, investments, and phasing
- Stay on track: re-measure annually/biennially to show progress and adjust
For Planning
- Annual Budgeting
- Parks & Recreation Master Plans
- Strategic Plan
- Annual Work Plan / Departmental Priorities
- Community Growth Direction
- Emergency Preparedness Planning
- Climate Action Plan
- Capital Improvement Planning Support
- Transportation / Mobility Planning
- Downtown Downtown or Corridor Planning& Visitation Strategy
- Housing Strategy
- Urban Forestry Plans
If any of the topics above are relevant—or you’ve got something adjacent you’re working through—tell us what decision or service area you’re focused on and your timeline. We’ll recommend the best-fit survey approach (service, decision, or planning), share a few comparable real examples, and draft a first-pass question set that’s ready for staff review.
