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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 05-19-2009 - 4oORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 19, 2009 Action Agenda Item No. 4 _ b SUBJECT: 2010 Census Complete Count Committee DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Clerk to the Board ATTACHMENTS: 1. Draft Letter of Invitation 2. List of Potential Organizations for Invitation 3. 2010 Census Partner Resolution INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig N. Benedict, 245-2592 Karen Markovics, 245-2583 Donna Baker, 245-2130 PURPOSE: To: 1. Consider creation of a Complete Count Committee; 2. Authorize the letter of invitation and agency list for the Chair's signature and distribution to local organizations; 3. Approve a partnership resolution to promote the 2010 Census; and 4. Approve the "sun-setting" of the Complete Count Committee in May 2010. BACKGROUND: This item was pulled from the Consent Agenda during the May 5, 2009 regular meeting to enhance and revise the list of "Organizations for Invitation" of potential government and community partners as shown in Attachment #2. A primary goal of the Census Bureau is to increase the national mail back response rate for the 2010 Census. In order to make everyone in the community aware of 2010 Census and maximize response, the Census Bureau suggests local participation in its Complete Count Committee (CCC) Program as the County did in the 2000 Census. A CCC is a volunteer committee established by tribal, state, and local governments, and/or community leaders to increase awareness of the census and motivate residents in the community to respond. The committees work best when they include across-section of community representatives from government agencies, education, business, religious organizations, and the media. The census will be taken in April 2010 and will serve as the basis for population-based revenue sharing over the next decade. In addition the Census provides valuable socio-economic data that can and will be used for a variety of planning purposes. Although County participation in the 2010 Census and CCC program is voluntary, it is highly recommended to ensure an accurate count. Orange County participated in this program during the 2000 Census. 2 Planning Staff suggests: 1. Formation of an Orange County Complete Count Committee consisting of 20-30 members based on response; 2. Sending letters of invitation (Attachment 1) to local organizations (Attachment 2) requesting their participation and assistance (Planning will also include an informational brochure prepared by the US Census with each letter); 3. The first meeting of the CCC this summer to design Orange County's census awareness campaign for implementation through the end of 2009 and until the Census is taken in April 2010 (approximately 5-6 meetings); and 4. "Sun-setting" of the CCC in May 2010. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct public fiscal impact regarding this item. Planning and Clerk's office staff will coordinate the effort to form and manage the CCC. RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends the Board: 1. Approve the creation of a Complete Count Committee; 2. Authorize Chair signature and transmittal of invitations to local organizations; 3. Approve the 2010 Census Partner Resolution (Attachment 3) and authorize the Chair to sign; and 4. Approve the "sun-setting" of the CCC in May 2010. ATTACHMENT 1 DRAFT LETTER. TO BE ON BOCC LETTERHEAD May 14, 2009 XX~~zX, Chair Board or Organization Address SUBJECT: Census 2010 Complete Count Committee llear ~!: ?~~: You are receiving this letter as the Chair of the `BOAKD OK OKGfINIZATION. " Your organization is being invited to participate in the upcoming 2010 Census by proving a representative to serve on the Complete Count Committee (CCC). Complete Count Committees are volunteer teams consisting of community leaders, faith-based groups, schools, businesses, media outlets and others who are appointed by elected officials and work together to make sure all in our community are counted in the Census. Community organizations are important in this endeavor because they have the local knowledge, expertise, influence and resources to enhance Census efforts. As you no doubt are aware, the 2010 Census is important to our community for several reasons, including the distribution of $300 billion annually of federal government funding to state and local governments, as well as determining which states gain or lose representation in Congress. Therefore, it is extremely important that everyone in Orange County be counted, regardless of his or her income, language ability, education or legal status. Complete Count Committees can have a direct effect on making sure we have a successful response rate for our community. Orange County created a Complete Count Committee for Census 2000, one of 12,000 local committees created across the country. In part, because of these efforts, the response rate for the Census 2000 increased the first time in 30 years and helped to improve the quality and accuracy of the data. The Orange County Board of Commissioners supports the goals and ideals for the 2010 Census and encourages your organization to participate in events and initiatives to raise awareness about Census activities. Please review the attached brochure and recommend a representative of your organization to become a member of the Complete Count Committee. Partner organizations may participate by publicizing the Census, donating space for Census meetings, coordinating outreach events, and providing educational materials to their constituencies. Committee meetings will begin this summer and will end by May of 2010 and should not require a burdensome amount of time for participation. Please consider assisting us in this effort. Contact Karen Markovics in the Planning L)epartment at 245-2583 or via email at kmarkovics(c~co.orange.nc.us with the contact information for your organization's representative. Sincerely, Valerie Foushee, Chair C)range County Board of Commissioners 4 ATTACHMENT 2 GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO CONTACT FOR CENSUS COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE Government Departments/Boards/Agencies Carrboro, Town Of Chapel Hill, Town Of Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools -Board and Parent Groups Durham, City of Cooperative Extension Agency Durham Technical Community College Employment Security Commission Hillsborough, Town Of Mebane, City Of OPC (Mental Health) Orange County Housing And Community Development Orange County Human Rights And Relations Orange Correction Facility Orange County Schools, Board and Parent Groups Orange County Board On Aging Orange County Manager and Clerk's Office Orange County Department Of Social Services/Board of Social Services Orange County Housing Authority Orange County Libraries Orange County Planning Department/Planning Board Orange County RSVP (Retired And Senior Volunteer Program) UNC Director Of Housing And Residential Education UNC - other as designated Community Grouus Apartment /Realty Associations Association For Retarded Citizens (ARC) Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber Of Commerce E/ Centro Latino Hillsborough Exchange Club Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber Of Commerce Interfaith Council JOCCA NAACP Minority Representative -other group as designated Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee Orange Congregations In Mission Orange County Literacy Council OE Enterprises Board Of Directors Note: Bold and italics denote the organizations that have been added to the list used to form the Census 2000 Complete Count Committee. Media Outlets Chapel Hill -Herald Chapel Hill News La Conexion Mebane Enterprise News And Observer News Of Orange County Que Pasa The Carrboro Citizen UNC Daily Tar Heel WCHL State Government Radio WPTF 680 AM Radio WCHL-1360 Radio WCOM Radio Orange Politics B/og The Times-News, Burlington Curtis Media North Carolina News Network The Independent Weekly La Voz NBC -17 News 14 NC NOW -UNC TV La Conexion Associated Press News Network Radio WZTK 101.1 FM WRAL TV5 WTVD TV11 Note: Bold and italics denote the organizations that have been added to the list used to form the Census 2000 Complete Count Committee. 5/11/2009 A~~-A~.~, ~r~-~ 3 IT'S I N ®lJR HAlil®S 2010. Census Partner Resolution A resolution affirming Orange County support of and partnership with the 2010 Census. WHEREAS the U.S. Census Bureau is required by the Constitution of the United States of America to conduct a count of the population and provides a historic opportunity for Orange County to help shape the foundation of our society and play an active role in American democracy; WHEREAS Orange County is committed to ensuring every resident is counted 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; WHEREAS census data determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the redistricting of state legislatures, county and city councils, and voting districts; WHEREAS the 2010 Census creates hundreds of thousands of jobs across the nation; 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; 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 that OranaeCounty 1. Supports the goals and ideals for the 2010 Census and will disseminate 2010 Census information to encourage participation. 2. Asks its affiliates and membership to partner together to achieve an accurate and complete count. 3. Encourages people in Orange County to participate in events and initiatives that will raise overall awareness of the 2010 Census and increase participation among all populations. Signature Name Valerie Foushee Title Chair, Board of County Commissioners Organization Orange County, NC USCENSUSBUREAU C S S 2010 6 IT'S IN OUR HANDS 2010 Census Partner Resolution A resolution affirming Orange County support of and partnership with the 2010 Census. WHEREAS the U.S. Census Bureau is required by the Constitution of the United States of America to conduct a count of the population and provides a historic opportunity for Orange County to help shape the foundation of our society and play an active role in American democracy; WHEREAS Orange County is committed to ensuring every resident is counted: 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; WHEREAS census data determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the redistricting of state legislatures, county and city councils, and voting districts; WHEREAS the 2010 Census creates hundreds of thousands of jobs across the nation; 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; 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 that Orange County 1. Supports the goals and ideals for the 2010 Census and will disseminate 2010 Census information to encourage participation. 2. Asks its affiliates and membership to partner together to achieve an accurate and complete count. 3. Encourages people in Orange Countv to participate in events and initiatives that will raise overall awareness of the 2010 Census and increase participation among all populations. Signature ~,c----~ l.r-~ Name Valerie Foushee Title Chair, Board of County Commissioners Organization Orange County, NC iJnited States. USCENSUSBUREAU C@11SUS 2010