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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 18_06/11/20091. VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING: VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA AGENDA ITEM TRANSMITTAL FORM Meeting Date: 6/11 /09 Meeting Type: Regular Ordinance #: Crick hire to ente~~ text. Consent Agenda: Chose an item. Resolution #: Resolution 16-09 Originating Department: Village Clerk 2. AGENDA ITEM TITLE: (Wording form the SUBJECT line of your staff report) Resolution 16-09, Forming a Partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau and Creating a Complete Count Committee 3. BUDGET /FINANCIAL IMPACT: Account #: NIA Amount of this item: N/A Current Budgeted Amount Available: N/A Amount Remaining after item: N/A Budget Transfer Required: No Appropriate Fund Balance: No 4. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF MAJOR ISSUES: (This is a snap shot description of the agenda item) The Census Bureau met with the Mayor, Deb and myself to discuss their request that the Village Council establish a "Complete County Committee" (CCC) made up of representatives that would be a cross section of the community in area of education, media, business, religion and community groups. The CCC would be created by the Council to increase awareness about the Census and motivate residents in the community to respond. 5. APPROVALS: Dept. Head: (~.~~~- Finance Director: ^ Reviewed for Financial Sufficiency ^~No Financial Impact i Attorney: (for legal sufficiency) - ----. Village Manager: ~!"-+'~ • SUBMIT FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION: ^ • APPROVE ITEM: ^ Yes ^ No ^ • DENY ITEM: ^ MEMORANDUM Village of Tequesta Clerk's Office TO: Mr. Michael R. Couzzo, Jr., Village Manager Honorable Mayor and Village Council Members FROM: Lori McWilliams, Village Clerk '~ DATE: June 2, 2009 SUBJECT: US Census Bureau "Complete Count Committee" The Census Bureau met with the Mayor, Deb and myself to discuss their request that the Village Council establish a "Complete County Committee" (CCC) made up of representatives that would be a cross section of the community in area of education, media, business, religion and community groups. The CCC would be created by the Council to increase awareness about the Census and motivate residents in the community to respond. The Committee would be tasked with developing and implementing a plan designed to target the unique characteristics of our community. It would be charged with influencing members of the community to complete their 2010 census questionnaire; increasing the response rate, and utilizing local knowledge and expertise to design and implement a census awareness campaign. Did you know that if Tequesta's population is undercounted in the Decennial count that we could lose up to $1,000 per (non-counted) resident per year and that Federal funds are based on population??? These uncounted residents would be considered "uncounted" for the next 10 years. That can be a lot of lost money in the long run!!! Sample activities of the CCC would be developing a list of barriers or concerns that could impede the census progress; create ways to dispel myths; place messages in water bills, property tax bills, and other correspondence; develop activities to involve local government employees; place banners and census materials in public locations; include census logo and information on website; link census bureau on website; ask elected officials to encourage residents to complete the questionnaire and place census information on marquees. With that said, I will be placing a resolution on the June Council agenda asking that the Village participate in organizing a "Complete County Committee" and to come prepared to discuss potential members of the community that would best serve the Village. The Agenda Memo -Village Council Meeting 6/11/09 Page 2 of 2 Council would as a whole select as many members of the committee as they feel relevant and necessary. The following are possible suggestions: Education -Mary Hinton; Faith-based -Pastor Beresford; Media -Kathy Greene; other areas of community expertise could be government, community-based (Legion/Girl Scouts/Kiwanis) or business. Since we are a small community, it is not imperative that we appoint members to all the above listed sections. In order to expedite the process, it would be helpful if you could contact potential members prior to the Council meeting to determine their interest and let me know. ~E -a _~~ ~ ~~ $' ~ ~, ~ °- S^ / How Does o Complete Couut Committee lNork? Now that you are familiar with what a census is and why we conduct a census every 10 years, you can appreciate how much work is required to count every resident living in the country. The Census Bureau cannot do this alone. We require the assistance of partners-individuals, groups, and organizations across the nation that can help us build awareness about the census, why it is important, and encourage their community to participate. One very effective way to accomplish this is through Complete Count Committees. WSac~t ils ~ Complete Court Co~rmittee? A Complete Count Committee (CCC) is a volunteer committee established by tribal, state, and local governments, and/or community leaders, to increase awareness about the census and motivate residents in the community to respond. The committees work best when they include a cross section of community representatives from government agencies, education, business, religious organizations, and the media. The CCC is charged with developing and implementing a plan designed to target the unique characteristics of their community. Complete Count Committees (CCCs) come in different types and sizes, depending on how they are organized and where they are located. The following table gives you an idea of the types and sizes that are most common. 2oA® Census Complete Count Committee Guide Type of CCC Responsible Body Size Location State State government Large Statewide Local Local government Large, Urban, (Regional, County, Medium, Rural, or City, Town) or Small Suburban Community Community Large, Urban, organization/ Medium, Rural, or leader or Small Suburban Government-sponsored CCCs may have a state, regional, or local focus, and operate within the jurisdiction of their highest elected official(s). Local government CCCs may include more than one jurisdiction. Community-sponsored CCCs may be organized by a community group or a coalition of community groups. A CCC may also be assumed by or assigned to an existing committee or group such as a city planning board, a regional planning commission, or a local community committee. Once the CCC members have been identified, chairpersons may wish to divide the members into subcommittees based on the activities that the committee plans to undertake. For example, a media subcommittee may be formed to identify local officials and other persons of influence to record public service announcements (PSAs) and appear on local television and radio shows about the census. A second subcommittee might be on education, targeting the schools, colleges, and uni- versities with promotional materials and ensuring that the Census in Schools materials are being used by schools across the state. Another may be a business subcommittee that targets businesses and encourages them to post census materials and sponsor local events. Other possible subcommittees may include afaith-based focus to reach religious groups in a community or a youth focus to target organizations providing services to children, such as Head Start or day care centers. The type of subcommittee created is really based on the needs of the community the CCC serves or the focus of committee outreach. Tailor subcommittees to meet the community needs. Examples of subcommittees and what they do are covered under "What is the subcommittee structure of a Complete Count Committee?" on page 1 5. The common thread among all CCCs is that they are a team. CCCs are a team: ~t~~~`~;t~y~ .;~ ~~ass"fd~~~` ;`~"`~31;;0 . ;9~~ ,r. ~,~. ,,,.- Why F®r~ r~ ~'®rnplete C'®~~t C®iYOf?1%tt6~? A Complete Count Committee should be formed to: r~~ 5~' ~. .~ :''.3 . ~a~. , The CCC speaks the language of its community, therefore establishing an information highway that even the Internet cannot rival-neighbor informing neighbor. The CCC makes sure each resident is aware of the importance of an accurate census count. Based on the previous table, there are three types of Complete Count Committees, state government- sponsored, local government-sponsored, or community-sponsored. Let's take a look at each of these and review the differences between the committee types and sizes. Knowing what the differences are will help determine how to form your Complete Count Committee. The Governor of the state, who appoints individuals to serve as members on the committee, typically creates state Complete Count Committees. The committee may be chaired by an individual desig- nated by the Governor, such as the Governor's Liaison or staff from the State Data Center. State CCCs may be fairly large with anywhere from 20 to 100 members. The committee members should be representative of the residents of the state and have 201® Census Complete Count Committee Guide 9 the time and commitment needed for a successful committee. State CCCs typically have members from various state agencies, local government agencies, schools, churches, media, and community organizations. Tap groups or organizations that will best help you implement and achieve your goals. State CCCs may operate with or without a subcommittee structure. Examples of subcommittees and what they do are covered under "What is the subcommittee structure of a Complete Count Committee?" on page 1 5. State CCCs often have a better understanding of the economic impact of a complete count and are highly motivated to develop a comprehensive outreach plan. They tend to have more resources (funds and/or staff) to support a CCC. Examples of State Complete Count Comm®ttee Strategies Several states organized Complete Count Committees in Census 2000, and we can look to them for best practices. The important thing to remember is to do the best you can with the resources you have. Here are some suggested strategies that worked well for them: • Allocate state funds for implementation of the state CCC. • Develop an action plan. ^ Assign staff to work with the state CCC. • Set clear, achievable goals and objectives. • Identify targets- (populations or areas) for aggressive outreach through- • direct community outreach-touching as many people as possible through swap meets, sports events, festivals, parades, etc. • strategic partnerships with counties, schools, state agencies, and community-based organi- zations. • a state media campaign with a catchy slogan. Example: California state CCC in 2000 used the slogan "California, You Count!" ^ Coordinate activities with local CCCs throughout the state. • Develop a state 2010 Census Web site with links to the Census Bureau Web site. • Create promotional materials and items for populations or areas identified. ^ Create events in key areas where none exist. Sample ~icti~r®ties ®f Stc;~t~ Complete Co~snt Comm®ttees 2008-2009 • Allocate funds to conduct CCC outreach. ^ Encourage local governments to form Complete Count Committees. Develop a list of barriers or concerns that might impede the progress of the 2010 Census in your state, such as pockets of populations speaking a language other than English, recent immigrants, and significant numbers of children under age 18. Explore ways/activities to address or overcome these barriers. • Develop and implement activities to involve state government employees in 2010 Census awareness campaign. • Include the 2010 Census logo and messages on letterhead, brochures, newsletters, and Web site. ^ Display census information/materials in all state government buildings. ^ Sponsor a contest to create a state slogan and/ or mascot for promoting the 2010 Census. January-March 2010 ^ Add census messages to meetings and corres- pondence. ^ Implement major promotional events around mailout of questionnaires and nonresponse follow-up. • Provide information on federally funded programs that have benefited the state. • Saturate targeted areas with census information that is easy-to-read and understand. • Change telephone hold messages in state offices to remind residents to complete and return their questionnaire immediately. April 2010 • Have government employees answer the phones with a 2010 Census message. ® Change telephone hold messages in state offices to one that encourages residents to cooperate with the census workers that may come to their home if they don't return their questionnaire. 1 0 2®b® C~nsws Complete Count Committee Guide May-July 2010 ^ Prepare final report of committee activities and provide a copy of your report to your regional census contact person. Local Complete Count Committees are formed by the highest elected official in that jurisdiction, such as a mayor, county commissioner, tribal leader, or regional chairman. The highest elected official may appoint a chair of the CCC and may then appoint residents of the community to serve as members of the CCC. Members appointed could be representative of a cross section of the community, be willing and able to serve until the census is over, and help implement a creative outreach campaign in areas that may pose a challenge in 2010. Members could include persons from the areas of education, media, business, religion, and community groups. Most local government CCCs are small to medium size depending on the jurisdiction. A town may have a small committee with only 3-5 members, while a city CCC may be medium to large size with anywhere from 10 to more than 100 members, depending on the size of the city or tribe. Both county and regional CCCs, since they cover a larger geography, tend to be larger in size with 20-50 members. The size and number of members depends on what works best for each jurisdiction and what will make the most effective and successful committee. Mayors, county commissioners, and heads of regional boards understand the importance of getting a complete and accurate census count and how census data impacts their communities. In previous censuses, experience has shown that local government CCCs are more productive with subcommittee structure. Examples of subcommittees and what they do are covered under "What is the subcommittee structure of a Complete Count Committee?" on page 1 5. Exw~ple.~ ~f i®c~cl c;~~cl 7'a~ib~l ~~raapA~t~ ~~e~nt ~~a~~reAtte~ 5'tlr~t~g®~s Nationwide, there were 1 1 ,800 Complete Count Committees formed in Census 2000, and the major- ity of them were local government committees. Here are some suggested strategies that worked for them: ^ Allocate funds for the CCC, and assign a staff person to work with the committee. ^ Set clear, achievable goals and objectives. ^ Identify areas of the community that you want to target, either a geographical area or a population group that might be hard to count. ^ Use a "grassroots" approach, working with community-based organizations and groups who have direct contact with residents, especially those who may be hard to count. ^ Create promotional materials and products customized for your area. ^ Implement special events such as a Census Day "Be Counted" parade. Se~r~-ple ~4ct®vstie~ ~f ~~c~aA ~®a~pl~t~ Co~aret C®i~rr~ittees 2008-2009 ^ Develop a list of barriers or concerns that might impede the progress of the 2010 Census in your local area, such as recent immigrants, non-English speaking groups, high crime areas, and communities with gated residents. Explore ways/activities to address or overcome those barriers. ,~m ~ ~ ~ ;~~ ^ Create ways to dispel myths and alleviate fears about the privacy and confidentiality of census data. ^ Place census messages in water bills, property tax bills, and other correspondence generated by the jurisdiction. ^ Develop and implement activities to involve local government employees in 2010 Census awareness campaign. ^ Encourage corporations to become official sponsors of your census activities. ^ Have census banners, posters, and other ~ signage placed in highly visible public locations. ^ Include the 2010 Census logo and message on bus schedules, brochures, newsletters, and your local jurisdiction Web site. ^ Sponsor a census booth at county fairs, carnivals, and festivals (especially cultural or ethnic celebrations). ^ Sponsor a contest to design a sticker or poster promoting the 2010 Census. ^ Have census information available during voter registration drives. 2010 Census Complete Count Committee Guide January-March 2010 v~ ^ Add a census message to all meetings, events, and correspondence. ^ Provide information on federally funded programs that have benefited the community ^ Plan a major promotional event around the mailout of census questionnaires. ^ Saturate public access areas with easy-to- read and understandable census information customized for your community. /^ Ask elected officials to encourage residents to complete and return questionnaires immediately. ~• Place a census message on all municipal marquees urging residents to complete and return their questionnaires. April 2010 ^ Place public service announcements in local media encouraging residents to cooperate with census workers. Community Complete Count Committees are often formed in areas that do not have a government CCC or areas that may require a more targeted outreach approach. Community CCCs may be formed by a community group/organization or a coalition of several organizations. For example, an organization in a predominantly elderly community may want to form a community CCC in order to build awareness among that population and encourage them to respond when questionnaires are delivered. A tenant's association may form a committee to educate tenants about the census and help those needing assistance in completing their questionnaire. Community CCCs identify their own chair and committee members. They may choose residents who are influential leaders or gatekeepers in the community to serve as members or others that will help accomplish the goals of the committee. Community CCCs are usually small to medium in size with anywhere from 5 to 25 members depend- ing on the sponsoring organization(s) and the size of the community it represents. Small committees may not need subcommittees, however, larger committees may find this structure helps them focus and work more effectively. Examples of Community CompAete Count Committee Strategies A number of organizations formed community Complete Count Committees in Census 2000. Some examples of these organizations are Community Action groups, Hispanic Service Center, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and Human Development Commission. Here are some suggested strategies that worked for them: • Set clear, achievable goals and objectives for your committee. Identify what your committee will focus on. Some examples include increasing the response rate in public housing communities among cultural/ethnic groups in your area or among students in colleges/universities, outreach and promotion to youth or elderly in the community, or a global approach if no other CCCs are in the area. • Develop an action plan that will include activi- ties, events, etc., which will support your efforts and help you meet your goals and objectives. • Create promotional materials that appeal to your focus areas,. if resources are available. • Implement special events that will generate interest and participation in the census. Sample ~A~ctivities oaf CoaBamu,~ity Complete Count Ce~mmittees 2008-2009 ^ Identify organizations in the community that can provide space for Questionnaire Assistance Centers and will serve as a Be Counted site. Pass this information on to your census contact person. ^ Make a list of community-based organizations in your area. Hold a meeting with leaders of the organizations and solicit their help in creating a census awareness campaign targeted for community residents. ^ Check the community calendar in your area for events. Contact event organizers to see if you can a have a census table or pass out census materials to increase awareness. ^ Plan and solicit sponsors fora "Census Day/ Night Street Festival" in late 2009. Think of creative games or activities where census information can be incorporated. ^ Develop a 2009 Census Activity Calendar, ask organizations to choose a month in which they will sponsor census activities or promote census awareness. ~ 2 2®1® Census Complete Count Committee Guide ^ Ask organizations to include a census article or message in all of their publications from April 2009 to August 2010. January through March 2010 ^ Encourage organizations to include 2010 Census on the agenda of their meetings, workshops, or conferences. ^ Distribute/post fliers announcing the delivery of the census questionnaire at busy locations in the community. ^ Check with your census contact person about the locations of Questionnaire Assistance Centers and Be Counted sites in your commu- nity. Get signs from the contact person with the days and times the centers will be open. If signs are not available, make and post them as a committee project. ^ Sponsor a "Little Miss/Mr. Census" contest and have the winners complete and mail a "symbolic" census questionnaire. April 2010 ^ Encourage residents to complete and mailback their census questionnaires. ^ Plan a Census Day event to motivate community response. ^ Check with your census contact person about response rates for your community. If rates are low, plan special events or activities to motivate residents to respond. ^ Remind residents if they don't mailback their questionnaire a census worker may come to their home. Encourage residents to cooperate with census workers. May 201 O ^ Continue to encourage community residents to cooperate with census workers. ^ Evaluate what worked best for your community and briefly report this information to your census liaison. ^ Celebrate your success and thank all those involved in making it happen. 201® Census Complete Count Committee Guide ~ 3 ~. ~ - j t =. ~ fit.. .<_:_ '~~ ~ , 7"~~ S~~~elt~ss^~ ^ The Census Bureau regional staff will serve as a liaison or an informational resource. ^ The operation of the Complete Count Committee flows from the highest elected official or community leader to the chairperson, the committee members, and/or to the community at large. ^ The highest elected official or community leader appoints a chairperson. The chairperson is the liaison or main source of contact between the Complete Count Committee and the Census Bureau. ^ The chairperson collaborates with the highest elected official or community leader to select subcommittee chairs. ^ The Complete Count Committee should involve every aspect of a local community in its subcommittee structure-government, education, faith-based, media, community-based organizations, business, and recruiting. The U.S. Census Bureau does not manage the Complete Count Committee. The following are examples of a typical subcommittee struc- ture. Other subcommittees may be formed based on the focus of the CCC or the needs of the community. Examples of other subcommittee topics are migrant and seasonal farmworkers, children/youth services, immigrants, senior services, and the disabled community. Government subcommittee-Assists in all activities between the Census Bureau and the local government, such as participation in decennial geography programs, free space -- 2010 Census Complete Count Committee Guide ~ 5 for Questionnaire Assistance Centers, and identifying other resources for CCC activities. Education subcommittee-Facilitates census awareness for local schools from prekindergarten through twelfth grade, as well as postsecondary education institutions in the area. May also encourage school administrators, teachers, and students to use Census In Schools materials. Faith-based subcommittee-Creates and coordi- nates activities and materials that can be used by any local faith-based institution in the promotion of the 2010 Census awareness and participation. Media subcommittee-Creates and facilitates ways to get the census message to all community residents, using all available sources such as local newspapers, newsletters, fliers, local festivals, billboards, radio, and television. Community-based organizations subcommittee-Collaborates with community organizations to inform residents of the importance of participating in the 2010 Census and the benefits derived from census data. Business subcommittee-Creates and coordi- nates activities that involve businesses in census awareness, such as distribution of census infor- mation and census messages on packaging (grocery bags), and the inclusion of the census logo and message on sales promotion materials. Figure 1. Sample Organazataonal Chart ~d z.. .t ~ti~ ~~ Recruiting subcommittee-Disseminates informa- tion about census job openings for the 2010 Census. Information will include the number of jobs avail- able, types of jobs available, and the locations of testing and training sites. The subcommittee chairpersons may recruit mem- bers for their respective teams. The ideal candidates for a Complete Count Committee are those com- munity members who have expertise, influence, and experience in the area of the respective committee. Committees are more productive and successful if willing to invest time, resources, and energy in this project. Figure 1 is a sample Complete Count Committee organizational chart. The organizational chart is a guide to assist in forming a CCC and implementing the CCC plan. Once discussion has started about the focus and goals of the committee, subcommittees and/or activities may be added to fit the customized plan. Both the government-led and the community-led Complete Count Committee operation flows the same, from chairperson to committee and/or subcommittees and then to the community at large. The community CCC essentially functions the same as the governmental CCC. $~:;~ _f ,I ~ _ -- - r - -- ___ ~_ i ~ I ~ COMMUNITY- ~ GOVERNMENT , , EDUCATION ~ FAITH-BASED MEDIA i i BASED ' BUSINESS f RECRUITING ', SUBCOMMITTEE ! j SUBCOMMITTEE ~ SUBCOMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ~ ;ORGANIZATIONS j SUBCOMMITTEE i SUBCOMMITTEE ~. _.__._-- -- ------_--- _~ _..--- -_-__. I ~. SUBCOMMITTEE_ ~ __ '__. ____ -._~ i ___ __ 1 ( 2010 Census Complete Count Committee Guide RESOLUTION NO. 16-09 A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE .COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA, FORMING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU; CREATING A COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, the next Decennial Census will be taken in the year 2010, and political representation to the United States House of Representatives, state legislatures and local government is determined by the Decennial Census, and the Village of Tequesta recognizes the equal importance of each resident in the 2010 Census count; and, WHEREAS, the Village of Tequesta has agreed to be one of 39,000 government entities in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau; and WHEREAS, the Village of Tequesta understands that its primary role in this partnership is to formulate a COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE that could include, but is not limited to the following sections of the population for membership: government, education, media, faith-based/religion, community-based organizations, business and recruiting; and WHEREAS, the Complete Count Committee is a volunteer committee created to increase awareness about the Census and to motivate residents to respond; and WHEREAS, the role of the committee is to bridge all gaps between the community and the Census Bureau on geographic matters and outreach activities; and to utilize all media aspects (print and electronic) to inform, motivate, and educate the Village's residents of the necessity and importance of their rapid response and 100% participation in the 2010 Census. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1 The Village Council of the Village of Tequesta, hereby formally establishes a partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau for the Decennial 2010 Census; and 1 Section 2 .The Village Council authorizes the formation of a "Complete Count Committee" to help increase awareness about the Census and to motivate residents to respond; and Section 3 The Complete Count Committee shall consist of members as appointed by the Village Council as a whole; all of whom shall be year round residents and registered voters of Tequesta; and Section 4 The Complete Count Committee shall meet as frequently as necessary in order to build community awareness and encourage participation; and Section 5 During the first meeting of the Committee, a Chair and Vice-Chair will be appointed; and Section 6 The Complete Count Committee shall automatically be dissolved on August 1, 2010; and Section 7 This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage. 2