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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApprove Resolution No. 4193, Affirming Support and Partnership of 2010 Census Promotional Efforts Commission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Keri Thorpe, Assistant Planner Andy Epple, Director of Planning and Community Development Chris Kukulski, City Manager SUBJECT: U.S. Census 2010 – Recommendation and Resolution in support MEETING DATE: July 20, 2009 AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Commission 1) approve Resolution 4193 in support of the 2010 Census promotional efforts, 2) volunteer their time for radio and TV Census 2010 promotional announcements, and 3) recommend trusted voices in the Community to serve on the Complete Count Committee. Staff also recommends that the Commission approve the following staff directives: 1) register the City of Bozeman as a Census 2010 Partner; 2) Coordinate the formation and tasks of the Complete Count Committee; 3) Advertise the Census 2010 on the City website and on Channel 20; 4) utilize the $2,999 dollars available from the Census Bureau to purchase locally made promotional products; and 5) Donate free meeting space for meetings and training of Census Bureau employees. BACKGROUND: April 1, 2010 is Census Day when every person living in the United States must be counted as mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Census Bureau will begin mailing forms to households in March. The Census 2010 form, reduced to a two page questionnaire, is distributed every 10 years*. The Census Bureau hopes to increase the response rate with this new shorter form. When a household doesn’t respond by mail, a Census worker must then visit the household to gather the information requested. They may visit the home up to three times. The mail-in response rate for Bozeman in 2000 was 70% which is good and typical for most of the communities in Montana. Still, the Census Bureau is dedicated to improving this response rate. The Census Bureau asks for support from communities around Montana to help promote the 2010 Census. A statewide Complete Count Committee (CCC) has already been formed, chaired by Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger. The hope is that the efforts of this CCC (coordinated by the Montana Census and Economic Information Center), coupled with the efforts of local city and county CCCs, will dramatically increase the response rate. The Census Bureau believes that locals promoting the Census locally will produce better results. The Census Bureau allocates $2,999 to each community to purchase promotional materials produced locally, but hope that 143 communities will allocate additional funds. Currently, the Bureau is analyzing Census track information to inform local partners where Census 2000 response rates were lowest to help focus the efforts of the local CCC. To start this process the Census Bureau has asked that we 1) proclaim our support for the Census 2010, 2) become a Census 2010 Partner and 3) officially create a CCC. A CCC should be created once Census Track information has been compiled to provide direction of where the Community’s response rate was weakest. Recruiting members from neighborhood associations, faith based groups, the Chamber of Commerce, Montana State University and other major employers to utilize existing networks to distribute Census 2010 promotional materials via e- mail, newsletters and website postings will be the most cost effective method of local promotion. Much of the promotion will be facilitated through e-mail correspondence. Staff will need to receive from the Commission recommendations for CCC members and will coordinate with the Clerk and Recorder’s Office on the best method to facilitate this. Staff plans to advertise the Census 2010 on the City website and on Channel 20 and utilizing the $3,000 dollars available from the Census Bureau to purchase locally produced promotional products. Staff does not recommend allocating additional funds for advertising. The Census Bureau plans to run newspaper, radio and television ads in 2010. Donating meeting space for meetings and training of Census workers is a cost effective and simple way to promote the work of the U.S. Census Bureau. Mike “Jackie” Brown, the Montana Partnership Specialist for the Bureau, plans to recruit local leaders to volunteer for televised and radio broadcast PSAs. Staff asks Commissioners to volunteer their time and/or recommend to staff other “trusted voices” in the community for radio and TV announcements. * The American Community Survey is the “long” form (14 pages) and is mailed on an annual basis to randomly selected households. This collects more detailed information: income, housing type and amenities, education level, modes of transportation, employment status, etc. FISCAL EFFECTS: The costs to the City come from staff time, postal fees, and office supplies. These have been generally budgeted for in the Department’s FY10 preliminarily approved budget. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission. Attachments: Resolution No. 4193 Report Compiled on: July 15, 2009 144 COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 4193 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA, AFFIRMING SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 2010 CENSUS. WHEREAS, the US Census Bureau is required by the Constitution of the United States of America to conduct a count of the population which provides a historic opportunity for the City of Bozeman to help shape the foundation of our society and play an active role in American democracy; and WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman is committed to ensuring every resident is counted; and WHEREAS, more than $300 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to communities, and decisions are made on matters of national and local importance based on census data, including healthcare, community development, housing, education, transportation, social services, employment and much more; and WHEREAS, census data determine how many seats each state will have in the US House of Representatives as well as the redistricting of (state legislatures, county and city council and voting districts); and WHEREAS, the 2010 census creates hundreds of thousands of jobs across the nation; and 145 Resolution No. 4193 2 WHEREAS, every Census Bureau worker takes a lifetime oath to protect confidentiality and ensure that data identifying respondents or their household not be released or shared for 72 years; and WHEREAS, a united voice from businesses, government, community-based and faith-based organizations, educators, media and others will allow the 2010 Census message to reach a broader audience, providing trusted advocates who can spark positive conversations about the 2010 Census. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana: Section 1 That the City of Bozeman does hereby support the goals and ideals for the 2010 Census and will disseminate 2010 Census information to encourage participation. Section 2 That the City of Bozeman asks local businesses and organizations to partner together to achieve and accurate and complete count. Section 3 That the City of Bozeman encourages people in the community of Bozeman to participate in and help promote the U.S. Census 2010. Section 4 That this resolution shall be effective upon its adoption. 146 Resolution No. 4193 3 PASSED AND ADOPTED By the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana at a regular session thereof held on the 20th day of July, 2009. ____________________________________ KAAREN JACOBSON Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________ STACY ULMEN, CMC City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ____________________________________ GREG SULLIVAN City Attorney 147