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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.b. Census 2000 CITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR DISCUSSION CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DATE: May 12, 1999 AGENDA ITEM: Census 2000 AGENDA NO. PREPARED BY: Dan Rogness, Community Development Director �'�E� ,�� � � ATTACHMENTS: Information from the Census Bureau , The overall organization of the 2000 Census is getting more active due to the short time remaining for before the census count on April 1, 2000. One of the pieces of information the city has received is related to a locally designated committee known as the "Complete Count Committee". Established by the mayor and council,this committee would be responsible for two goals: (1) make everyone in the community aware of the Census 2000, and(2) motivate full participation within the community. The enclosed material provides a more detailed description of the committee, which could be an existing group rather than a newly formed group. If the city chooses not to designate a Complete Count Committee, then a form must be submitted to the Census Bureau that provide reasons for non-participation. RECOMMENDED ACTION: For Discussion Only CENSUS 2000 COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE HANDBOOK FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 1V�ESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR The Census Bureau is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to take a census every ten yeazs. We will be held accountable for its success. However, state, local and tribal govemments can significantly enhance our efforts by bringing local knowledge to the process -knowledge that the Census Bureau does not possess. The Complete Count Committee is a major vehicle for planning and implementing local, targeted efforts that will uniquely address the special characteristics of your community. The role of the Complete Count Committee will be to plan and implement a locally-based promotion to publicize the importance of Census 2000. The work of this committee can be innovative, exciting and fun with the ultimate goal of achieving widespread participation in the census for the betterment of your community and its residents. It can have benefits beyond the census. We strongly recommend the formation of a Complete Count Committee in your area. The_Census 2000 Complete Count Committee Handbook provides guidelines for the active involvement of government officials in promoting the census to residents of your jurisdictions and your employees. We are providing this handbook to the highest-elected o�cial in approximately 39,000 local and tribal governments. The handbook suggests a structure for organizing a local campaign,provides a listing of activities governments can implement, and furnishes a timetable for these activities. The handbook also describes many of the Census Bureau's promotion projects and major census operations to further show you areas where you can participate in the census. Your participation in Census 2000 programs is voluntary. But many local officials have chosen to participate because they want this opportunity to tailor these programs to the conditions in their azea. � The Census Bureau is strongly committed to improving the way it conducts the census in the year 2000. Our plari effectively tackles the problems experienced in past censuses and is directed at improving the completeness of the count, improving the differential completeness among population groups and azeas, and decreasing the cost. Your help is certain to make a difference! James F. Holmes Acting Director Bureau of the Census 3 CHAPTER 1 -THE COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE PROGRAM For Census 2000,the Census Bureau is offering state, local, and tribal governments the opportunity to participate in a number of programs and activities that will contribute to a more accurate count. One of these programs, the Complete Count Committee Program, is a cooperative effort between governments and the Census Bureau to incorporate local knowledge, expertise, influence, and resources to enhance census efforts in data collection,recruiting, and promotional activities. Established by the highest-elected government official, Complete Count Committees aze comprised of key influential community leaders including representatives from government, education, media,community and religious organizations, and businesses. The Complete Count Committee embodies the importance of cooperative efforts between state, local, and tribal governments; the communities; and the Census Bureau. Get started on your Complete Count Committee program soon! Identify community leaders and gatekeepers to serve as committee members; develop a community-specific plan of action for Census 2000; and take the lead in communicating the importance of participating in the census. A. Role of the Local Complete Count Committee 1. Goal of the Complete Count Committee • Make everyone in the community aware of Census 2000. • Motivate communities to participate by filling out the census form and returning it immediately. � Z. Objectives of the Complete Count Committee .,' • Develop a local targeted plan of action to support Census 2000 operations, recruiting, and promotion. : • Use highly visible and well-respected local figures to increase community support for and response to the census. • Promote the census to community residents through government departments, particularly those agencies with extensive public contacts. • Implement activities that will improve census participation by all residents, � especially historically undercounted segments of the population. `f _ _ -� .(� t� � 4 � • Emphasize the Census Bureau's commitment to confidentiality to further increase � participation in the census. ` • Augment media programs,publicity, and promotions conducted by the Census Bureau. • Provide local knowledge and intelligence that will assist Census Bureau's operational activities and programs. • Support Census Bureau's programs and activities that promote and improve the ' census. • Support Census Bureau's recruitment of employees needed to conduct the census. B. How to Organize Your Committee The Complete Count Committee can function at many levels of government. For example, , many Complete Count Committees are formed by city governments. However, in rural areas of the country, it might be more appropriate for the Complete Count Committee to operate at the county or township level. In some cases, several adjoining counties have come together to form a Complete Count Committee. Also, in some instances Complete Count Committees can be established through or coordinated by umbrella government units such as the Councils of Government,Regional Commissions, and County Associations. Other structures may already exist in your community for planning and implementing local promotional activities. These structures may be highly effective and serve as a perfect vehicle for implementing the work of a Complete Count Committee. If so,we encourage you to use such structures. 1. Appointing a Chairperson and Committee Members ' T'he chairperson and members of the committee should be well-respected and influential leaders and"gatekeepers"from all segments of the community, for example,business, labor, local government,homeless,religious and educational organizations,neighborhood associations, and ethnic and minority organizations. All of the people appointed to the committee should be willing to invest time,resources, and energy in this project. 5 2. Naming the Committee You may wish to call your committee something other than a Complete Count Committee. We are providing a few suggestions: (1) (your locality) Committee for Census 2000 (2) (your locality)Planning Committee for Census 2000 (3) (your locality) Census 2000 Community Action Committee 3. Period of Service The committee chairperson and other members should be appointed by the highest- elected official to serve from April 1998 through June 2000. This period should allow sufficient time in advance of Census Day to plan and carry out activities designed to encourage cooperation and assist the local census offices in their data collection activities. Since the census is not taken in one day, the activities of the committee should continue for most of the collection process, with the peak impact of the committee targeted towards April 1, 2000. 4. Forming Subcommittees The chairperson may wish to divide the members of the committee into subcommittees based on the activities that the committee plans to undertake. For example, a subcommittee might be established to identify local officials and other persons of influence to record public service announcements, and appear on local television and radio shows about the census. A second subcommittee might target the educational arena and work to ensure that the Census in the Schools materials are being used in the schools. A third subcommittee might target local businesses and encourage them to post census materials and sponsor local events. While another�subcommittee might identify areas where there are large concentrations of persons'who speak languages other than English. � 5. Announcing the Formation of the Committee We encourage you to publicize your efforts to support the census by highlighting the important work your committee will be performing over the two year period. We have provided a sample press release (Appendix A)that can be used in announcing the formation of the Complete Count Committee to the public. Spaces have been left blank in which local names of officials and committee members can be inserted. This is simply a suggested format. 21 CHAPTER 3 - SAMPLE OF 1990 PARTNERSHIPS In 1990, state, local, and tribal governments, organizations, and businesses, partnered with the Census Bureau to support the 1990 census. The following aze just a few examples of the scope, quality, and variety of activities they implemented: The Citv of Los Angeles-Brought together 300 community leaders to form a Complete Count Committee; created their own census slogan and logo; inserted census messages in city mailings; developed promotional materials in various languages and disseminated them through service programs; included the census message on the city's Rose Bowl parade float; created a speaker's bureau for city employees; sponsored a census art contest for people without housing and a video to show at shelters; and the mayor and city council members issued endorsements. The CitY of Detroit- Created a multi-cultural campaign to recruit census takers; hosted census block parties and parades in hazd-to-count neighborhoods; and put together a media campaign including a video, billboards,transit cards,brochures, and print advertisements. The City of Milwaukee-Produced bumper stickers, buttons, balloons; prepazed press releases; secured private sector sponsors for a kickoff event that featured local entertainers; created a census mascot who appeared at schools, malls, and elder care centers; a popular local group created and performed original census rap song; and an all-star team member served as census spokesperson. The Citv of Orlando - Produced bumper stickers for city and county vehicles; placed messages in utility bills; and enlisted professional basketball stars for promotional appearances. Local shopping malls gave discounts for ready-to mail census questionnaires. � The Cit� of Baltimore -Distributed promotional materials through social service outreach organizations and door-to-door in public housing developments; played videos S at Welfare and Social Security o�ces; provided local leaders to appeaz on television talk shows; held several public "kickoff'events; and produced various supplemental promotional materials, such as banners,posters, and handbills. The City of Birmingham -Distributed information flyers throughout the city;mailed promotional materials to over 800 churches;placed flyers in barbershops,beauty shops, and mom and pop grocery stores; made March 1990 "Census Math Month"in city schools; and organized a media event around the mayor and other city officials marching to the mailbox to return their questionnaires. �35(MO) U.S.DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BUREAU OFTHE CENSUS COMPLETE COUNT PROGRAM PARTICIPATION RESPONSE United States Census 2000 Kansas City(2600): Bureau of the Census Regional Census Center 10015 N Executive Hilis Bivd � . Kansas City, MO 64153 Attn: Ben Arzu Title and Address of chief executive/highest elected official a. Name b.Title c.Address d.Telephone Area code Number Contact person (if different from above) a. Name b.Titie c. Address d.Telephone Area code Number Please mark(X) ihe appropriaie box 1.❑ I plan to establish a Complete Count Committee to implement local promotion activities. 2.❑ I have already established a Complete Count Committee. 3.O I plan to use an existing structure or program to implement local promotion activities. 4.❑ I do not plan to establish a Complete Count Committee for the following,reason(s): Signature Date C O U N T Y �� County Administration May 5, 1999 ����,��� Brandc Richardson �Y -71999 County Administrator Tom Burt C0�Ot� ROSEMOUNT Dakota County City Manager Administration Center 1590 Highway 55 City of Rosemount Hastings,MN 55033-2372 2875 145th Street West Rosemount, MN 55068 65 I.438.4528 . Fax 651.438.4405 www.co.dakota.mn.us Dear Tom, brandt.richardson@co.dakota.mn.us As you are aware, Dakota County is planning to relocate its Central Highway Department Operations Facility on Biscayne Avenue. The County Board anticipates selecting a new site within the next several months and beginning the design process this summer. If all goes well, the new facility will be open in the spring of 2001. When the new facility is completed, the County expects to discontinue operations at the current site and sell it. Based on a recent appraisal, the building and grounds are valued at approximately one million dollars. When making their decision to relocate the Highway Department's operations, the Commissioners considered the resale value of the current facility as a financial trade-off for the new site. It is important that we be able to sell the property as soon as it is no longer needed to reimburse the County's building fund. The property is zoned for public use. The County may offer the facility first to othec government agencies. However, if no other public agency is interested, we will offer it for sale to the general public. A private business would need to rezone the property for new use - most likely light industrial. Clearly, any buyer interPsteci in the pronerty wtl! want an understar,�+ing w�th the C�tv of Rosemount that it would be willing to rezone. Without a zoning change to be consistent with its current use, the property's value will be greatly diminished. To move forward with our plans, the County needs an indication from the City of Rosemount regarding its expectations for the property on Biscayne Avenue should the County sell it. Please let me know how we should proceed with discussions between the City and County on this issue. Feel free to call me or Ken Harrington in Capital Planning at (651) 438-4542. Sincerely, Brandt Richardson County Administrator _ cc: Ken Harrington ., - ca Pnnted on re.�ded paper with 30%ponconwmer waste. AN EQUP1 OPPJrilLNfiY EMPLOYER