PREPARED BY: MATT RODRIGUEZ DATE OF MEETING: 05/06/19
SUBJECT:
TITLE
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING THE 2020 U.S. CENSUS AND SUPPORTING ALL EFFORTS TO ENSURE A COMPLETE, FAIR AND ACCURATE COUNT OF ALL CALIFORNIANS
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
FY 2019-21 Council Priority Workplan Compliance Statement
Major Policy Goal: Enhance Community Resilience and Policy No. #100.2 - Continue development of Multi-ethnic diversity and awareness in City programs and services; Policy No. #205 - Civic Engagement are adopted policy items under the FY 2019-21 Council Priority Workplan, effective March 1, 2019.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This is not a project as defined by CEQA
BACKGROUND
California cities can play in active role in helping to make the 2020 U.S. Census fair and accurate, especially for historically undercounted populations: racial and ethnic minorities, young children and renters. The 2010 census undercounted 95,000 (or 0.26 percent of) all California residents).
Though the overall count was an improvement from the previous undercounts (2.74 percent in 1990 and 1.52 percent in 2000), the rate of undercounted populations remains consistently high, and that has many cities concerned about getting an accurate account in the upcoming census. One of the main implications of a miscount is the loss of annual federal and state funding for local government as well as philanthropic funding for social programs and services. In addition, one or more Congressional seats given to California could be lost.
Obtaining an accurate and complete count poses challenges due to several factors. The housing affordability crisis has forced more Californians to move into hard-to-count unconventional housing and overcrowded dwellings or to become homeless. For the first time, the Census is a digital census and more than 75 percent of California households will be receiving an invitation to complete their census form online, even though many households lack broadband or digital literacy.
On April 2, 2019, the State of California Census Office held a kick-off event at the State Capitol in Sacramento to jump-start the public awareness of the 2020 Census and have requested the League of California Cities to encourage all its members to adopt a resolution recognizing the importance of the 2020 U.S. Census. Additionally, Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, First District Office, has also requested that the San Pablo City Council support the 2020 US Census by resolution (see attachment).
Contra Costa County has a web link requesting other parties and organizations to partner with the County on the 2020 Census with more public information listed at:
<https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6999/Census-2020>
Quick Facts about the 2020 Census:
Why is the 2020 Census important?
• Every Californian counts
• It’s about fair representation
• It’s about fair share of funding
• It’s your civic duty
• It’s about redistricting
• You are the expert - your responses help
• Your data collected is confidential
How is the Census data used?
• To advocate more resources for community members
• To ensure public safety and plan new schools and hospitals
• To decide where to open companies and businesses, which create jobs
• By federal law, U.S. Census Bureau cannot share the data collected with immigration or law enforcement agencies or allow it to determine eligibility for government benefits
The State of California has made a historic commitment to the 2020 Census by investing over $100M to help ensure a complete count. With more than $70M directly allocated for county, tribal and community-based organizations, the State of California is taking special care to reach hard-to-count communities. Philanthropic organizations, such as the California Endowment and the Irvine Foundation, made a $20M commitment in 2017-2018 to support local and regional census work by allocating funding and sustaining coordinated efforts like the Census Policy Advocacy Network. Aside from forming local census complete count committees at the County level, local cities are requested to partner with federal and state agencies, tribal governments, counties and community-based organizations and tap into existing 2020 Census initiatives.
Resources to Help Identify Your Hard-to-Count Populations
• 2020 Census Maps: California’s Hard-to-Count Communities. The Public Policy Institute of California projects the likelihood of nonresponse rates for individual hard-to-count groups.
• 2010 Census Participation Rates. This U.S. Census Bureau map shows participation rates in the 2010 and 2000 censuses.
• California Hard-to-Count Index Map. This map provides demographic information in addition to the Hard-to-Count Index.
For more information, any member of the public may go to the attached web links:
www.census.gov/2020resources <http://www.census.gov/2020resources> or <https://census.ca.gov/resources>.
The League of California Cites has requested that all local cities send their adopted Resolutions to the following:
• Samantha Caygill, League of California Cities Regional Public Affairs Manager (via email: scaygill@cacities.org <mailto:scaygill@cacities.org>; and
• Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org <mailto:cityletters@cacities.org>; and
• Dorothy Johnson, Assistant Director, Legislative Affairs, California Complete Count - Census 2020, Dorothy.johnson@census.ca.gov <mailto:Dorothy.johnson@census.ca.gov>
FISCAL IMPACT
None associated with this action.
ATTACHMENT
1) Resolution