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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4.6 - 3133 Census Week Proclamation (2) Page 1 of 3 STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL DATE: March 17, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Linda Smith, City Manager SUBJECT: Census Week Proclamation Prepared by: Suzanne Iarla, Management Analyst II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will proclaim March 22 through March 28, 2020 as Census Week in the City of Dublin to encourage full participation in the 2020 Census. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Present the proclamation. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. DESCRIPTION: In April 2019, the City Council passed Resolution 30-19 recognizing the importance of Census 2020 and supporting a complete, fair and accurate count of all Californians. The attached proclamation proclaims the week of March 22 through 28, 2020, as “Census Week" in Dublin as a reminder for everyone to complete the census questionnaire online, over the phone, or by mail, and to ensure that every baby, child, and adult at their address is counted. The proclamation will be received by representatives of the Dublin Library and the Tri-Valley Career Center, which are both helping to support a complete, fair, and accurate count of our community in the census. Census 2020 is currently underway and every person residing in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas should be counted during this time. The following is a summary of the Census process: Starting on March 12, 2020, every address in Dublin was mailed a notice from the U.S. Census Bureau with instructions on how to complete the Census 2 020 online, by phone, or on paper. Page 2 of 3 Starting on April 8, 2020, addresses that have not yet responded will be mailed the paper form. Starting on May 13, 2020, addresses that have not yet responded will be visited by a Census Bureau employee who can assist with completing the form in person. The census questionnaire can be completed over the phone in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Japanese. It can also be completed i n English by a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf. Additionally, the Census Bureau has developed guides in 59 non-English languages including American Sign Language, as well as braille. In Dublin, assistance with the census is available at both the D ublin Library (200 Civic Plaza) and the Tri-Valley Career Center (6300 Village Parkway, Suite 100). Secure computer access and in-person assistance is available during the Library and Career Center’s normal business hours. The Importance of the Census The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census - a count of America’s population - is taken every 10 years. The first census was conducted in 1790 and the census has been carried out by the Federal Government every 10 years since then. Census data is used for two very important reasons: Determining political representation: each state gets a certain number of seats in the House of Representatives and the electoral college is based on state population size. Distributing federal funding: each year the federal government allocates $675 billion dollars across the country for several different programs. States, counties, and cities receive this money based on population size and characteristics. California receives $76 billion per year from the Federal gove rnment and Alameda County gets billions of dollars from the federal government for essential services -- healthcare, school programs, housing, transportation, social services and more -- based solely on the census count. An undercount of only 3% of the population in Alameda County is estimated to result in a $1 billion loss over the next decade. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE: Strategy 2: Enhance the City’s engagement efforts to better connect and inform residents of city activities and public safety matters. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: A copy of the proclamation will be shared with the Alameda County Complete Count Committee, the Dublin Library, and the Tri-Valley Career Center. Page 3 of 3 ATTACHMENTS: 1. Census Week Proclamation A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA “Census 2020 week” WHEREAS, participating in the 2020 Census is a civic duty and good for our community; and WHEREAS, since the last census in 2010, the San Francisco Bay Area, including the City of Dublin, has seen significant growth and population change making a complete and accurate census count in 2020 vital to our community’s future; and WHEREAS, California receives nearly $77 billion in federal funding that relies, in part, on census data; and WHEREAS, census data is used to determine where to locate schools, public transportation, hospitals and other facilities, determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and is used in the redistricting of the state legislature; and WHEREAS, there are multiple ways to be counted including taking the census online, over the phone, by mail or with a Census Taker; and WHEREAS, personally identifiable information is protected by law and cannot be shared outside of the Census Bureau; further, data security is the highest priority for the Census Bureau and extensive protections are in place to protect the integrity of the 2020 Census; and WHEREAS, this year, for the first time, the census questionnaire is available online and over the phone in twelve languages other than English; Paper forms will be printed in English and Spanish. Additionally, language guides are available in 59 non-English languages plus Braille; and WHEREAS, the Dublin Library (at 200 Civic Plaza) and the Tri-Valley Career Center (at 6300 Village Parkway, Suite 100) will be offering census questionnaire assistance and secure computer access during their normal business hours; and WHEREAS, in April 2019, the City of Dublin passed Resolution 30-19 recognizing the importance of Census 2020 and supporting a complete, fair, and accurate count of all Californians. The City has compiled information and resources online at Dublin.ca.gov/census2020. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin does hereby proclaim the week of March 22 through 28, 2020, as “Census Week" in Dublin and urges everyone in Dublin to complete the census questionnaire online, over the phone or by mail and ensure that every baby, child and adult at their address is counted. DATED: March 17, 2020 Mayor David G. Haubert Vice Mayor Arun Goel Councilmember Melissa Hernandez Councilmember Jean Josey Councilmember Shawn Kumagai