Summary#

Council approved the item on the consent agenda on May 26, 2026, and received the 2026 Spring Research Results and attachments for the City’s records. The decision accepts the research as information; it does not change City rules, services, taxes or spending. City staff say the results are intended to inform planning and decisions, not guarantee any particular action.

• The main survey was a random telephone survey of 2,500 adult Calgarians, conducted February 17 to March 16, 2026. Its stated margin of error is ±2 percentage points.
• Respondents most often named traffic and roads (39%), crime, safety and policing (21%), and growth and planning (15%) as priorities for local leaders.
• The survey found 62% were satisfied with the overall level and quality of City services, and 51% rated value for municipal property taxes as good.
• City staff say detailed findings for equity-deserving groups will be published in mid-2026.

What it means for you#

• Calgarians: The decision does not directly change your taxes or City services. City staff and councillors may use the results in their work, but any follow-up actions are at their discretion.
• Survey participants and other residents: The results reflect survey responses, not a vote on City policy. The survey used random phone numbers and was weighted by age, gender and ward.
• People who use City services: The report identifies areas where satisfaction may need attention, including roads and transit, but does not require changes to those services.

Money#

The City report says there is no anticipated financial impact from the decision.

• The materials do not give the cost of conducting the survey.

What is unclear#

• The decision does not set out how City staff or councillors must use the findings, or require them to act on particular results.
• The report says service-specific survey questions changed, so those satisfaction results cannot be compared with earlier surveys. It also cautions that comparisons for some other measures are limited.
• The report says detailed findings for equity-deserving groups are due in mid-2026; those findings are not included here.

Case for#

• City staff say the research gives councillors and staff information about residents’ views on services, quality of life and priorities. A possible argument for receiving it is that these findings can inform planning without prescribing a particular response.
• The survey used a random sample of 2,500 adults, with results weighted by age, gender and ward. The stated margin of error for the full sample is ±2 percentage points.

Case against#

• The survey records residents’ perceptions, which are not the same as measures of service performance. For example, the report says satisfaction with roads was low, but this decision does not require a response.
• The report cautions that changes to the questionnaire limit comparisons with earlier results; service-specific satisfaction questions cannot be compared with previous surveys.