Leadership, Ethics, and Trust

The Do’s and Don’ts of Community Surveys

Download
Page from GFR

After Hurricane Helene in September 2024, the City of Asheville, North Carolina City Council had far more demand for recovery-related expenses than the city could possibly afford. Workloads were intense, and finances were stretched thin. But the leaders were intent on using their limited resources in a way that would be most responsive to the public. Within a very short period, before the city council would identify its priorities, the city wanted to get a solid understanding of what needs weren’t being met for the community.

Enter the powerful tool called a “citizen survey.”


  • Publication date: June 2025
  • Authors: Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene
Download