HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4.6 - 3133 Census Week Proclamation
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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.
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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.
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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