Citizen survey design is the structured process of creating resident-focused questionnaires to measure community needs, service satisfaction, and policy priorities. It applies rigorous survey methods—clear, unbiased questions, representative sampling or mixed-mode outreach, pretesting, and consistent fielding—to produce reliable, comparable insights decision makers can trust. Effective designs use accessible language, right-sized length, appropriate response options, and privacy protections, then analyze results to inform budgets, capital planning, and performance tracking over time. Sources: AAPOR Best Practices for Survey Research; Iowa League of Cities guidance on citizen surveys.