2026 Citizen Survey Results: Your Voice Shaping Dunedin’s Future

Published on April 06, 2026

Written by: Nicole Delfino, Strategy & Sustainability Manager

Every other year, the City of Dunedin asks residents to provide feedback on how the City is performing and delivering services to the community. 

The 2026 Citizen Survey is one of the City’s most important tools to ensure decision making aligns with what residents want and how projects and initiatives are prioritized.  Thanks to the nearly 1,900 residents who participated, we have a clear picture of what our community values and where we can improve.

How the Survey Was Conducted

The 2026 survey was open from February through early March 2026 and built on past surveys from 2019, 2022, and 2024, allowing the City to track trends over time. The survey was conducted by a third-party consultant, Dr. Stephen Neely of Forward Analytics LLC, to host and deliver a final survey report. Dr. Neely is an expert in survey research, quantitative analysis, and public policy, holding an MBA and Ph.D. in Public Administration.

To reach as many residents as possible, the City used a multi-channel outreach approach, including social media and the DunediNEWS newsletter; email campaigns to residents, businesses, and community groups; and flyers, rack cards, and lawn signs across parks and facilities. This grassroots approach helps ensure accessibility and strong participation, even though responses are voluntary.

What We Heard: Key Takeaways

Dunedin Remains a Great Place to Live

Residents continue to rate Dunedin very highly:

• 93.5% say it’s a good or excellent place to live
• 94.9% say it’s a great place to visit
• Strong ratings also for safety and overall aesthetics

Parks & Outdoor Spaces Are a Community Priority

Dunedin’s parks and natural spaces are among the City’s greatest strengths:

• 88% of residents use parks and green spaces
• 77% visit the Causeway
• Most residents prefer outdoor and self-directed activities over structured programs

Later in the survey, questions on maintaining green space and park access are rated highly and identified as important for investment, while programming, festivals, and events rate lower. This reinforces how the community prioritizes access to open space, playgrounds, and parks.

Infrastructure & Stormwater Are Top Concerns

One of the clearest messages from residents:

• Stormwater drainage and flooding are key concerns
• Nearly 44% of infrastructure comments focused on drainage issues
• Roads, sidewalks, and overall infrastructure maintenance remain priorities

Year over year, resiliency and infrastructure efforts have been a priority for the community.  We saw an increased focus on these areas, which were likely influenced by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.  These responses and comments continue to highlight the need for resiliency investments.

Public Safety Is Strong

Public safety services receive very high satisfaction, particularly from those who use them.  “Users” are self-identified as those who have interacted or utilized these services in the past 12 months. 

• Fire services: 88.4% very satisfied/satisfied (users)
• EMS: 94.4% very satisfied/satisfied (users)

Satisfaction with Law enforcement presence (88.9%) and law enforcement response time (73.9%) both rated high amongst users. Survey respondents who rated dissatisfaction were asked to provide additional comments. Most of these responses focused on traffic safety, safety concerns over bicyclists, pedestrians, golf-carts and vehicles, and police presence. 

A Focus on the Economy:  Housing, Business Opportunities & Transportation

Residents identified several ongoing challenges which reflect broader regional and state-wide issues but remain important local priorities. 

• Affordable housing, which has been declining in satisfaction since 2019, remains a concern.  Dissatisfaction outweighs strong satisfaction in this category, despite the City Commission’s recent approval of a 78-unit affordable housing project called The Flats on Main. The City will continue to explore and bring forward affordable housing projects.
• Feedback for business opportunities was reviewed due to receiving some of the survey’s lowest ratings.  Comparing feedback on business opportunities in the 2024/2026 Citizen Survey with the 2025 Business Survey shows a stark contrast, with respondents reporting nearly 80% satisfaction with opportunities in the 2025 survey.  This result warrants additional attention and could be further explored in future surveys to better understand how it relates to job and employment opportunities, as well as new business creation. 
• While public transportation continues to receive mixed feedback, marked improvement in satisfaction was seen in traffic flow and congestion.  There was a 13.8% increase in satisfaction as it relates to traffic.  While this can be attributed to some street improvements, it also may reflect a shifting societal view on what is the “norm” for traffic in our area. 

Marina Impacts Reflected in Feedback

Survey results showed a significant drop in satisfaction with the Dunedin Marina, which aligns with both damage from recent hurricanes and partial reopening and ongoing recovery. This feedback reflects current conditions rather than long-term performance and will be important to track as restoration continues.

What Residents Want Next

When asked about future priorities and tradeoffs, residents were clear in identifying their priorities.  Residents were asked to provide feedback on not only where they would like the City to invest, but also on what services to cut in the face of budget challenges.  For each of these sections, residents ranked their top three choices.

Top Investment Priorities:

• Public infrastructure (51%)
• Coastal resiliency (33%)
• Public safety (31%)

Areas Residents Would Reduce First (if needed):

• Festivals and events
• Arts and cultural programming
• Certain facility enhancements

What Happens Next

The 2026 Citizen Survey does more than measure satisfaction.  It guides action.  The findings will be referenced as the City Commission and Staff undertake the budget process for Fiscal Year 2027. 

To review the entire 2026 Citizen Survey Report presented to Commission on March 31, 2026, please visit: https://dunedin.granicus.com/player/clip/3551?view_id=6&redirect=true.

Thank You, Dunedin!

Your feedback directly shapes the City’s priorities, policies, and investments.

Whether you’ve lived here for decades or are new to the community, your voice helps ensure Dunedin remains a vibrant, resilient, and connected community for years to come.