Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/26/2000 Minutes - Town HallCITY OF DIAMOND BAR CENSUS 2000 TOWN HALL MEETING FEBRUARY 26, 2000 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Deborah O'Connor called the Census 2000 Town Hall Meeting to order on Saturday, February 26, 2000 at 9:08 a.m. in the -South Coast Air Quality Management District Auditorium. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Manager Terrence Belanger. 2. ROLL CALL: Council Members Chang, Herrera, Huff, Mayor Pro Tem Ansari and Mayor O'Connor. Council Member Herrera was excused. Also present were: Terrence L. Belanger, City Manager; James DeStefano, Deputy City Manager; David Liu, Deputy Public Works Director; Linda Magnuson, Finance Director; Marsha Roa, Community Services Assistant and Lynda Burgess, City Clerk. 3. WELCOME: Mayor O'Connor 4. INTRODUCTIONS: CM/Belanger introduced Salvatore Flores, Census Manager for the San Gabriel District, which is comprised of 22 governmental agencies. 5. PRESENTATION: Mr. Flores stated that Census 2000 is a United States Government entity answering only to the Congress. The information is not shared with any other agency. This is the 22nd census to be taken. It is expected that there are approximately 275 million residents in 120 million housing units. The San Gabriel District covers 22 governmental entities, has approximately 280,000 households and close to one million individuals. The San Gabriel District covers 22 cities from the San Gabriel River to the Orange County/Riverside border, from the SR 91 to the SR 10. Census information has been held confidential for 72 years. The 2000 Census will be the largest peacetime effort by the U.S. Government with a budget of nearly $5 million. The information will be used to determine where schools, hospitals, roads, businesses, water, infrastructure, etc. are needed. The statistics will be delivered to the President of the United States on December 31, 2000. The States will receive the statistics on about April 1, 2001. On March 6, 2000, all households with addresses that were listed last year will receive a letter notifying them that the Census forms will be forwarded in about 10 days. The forms are available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. One out of six homes will receive the long form. Other households will receive the short form. The District hopes that all forms are returned by April 1. Census takers will visit the homes that did FEBRUARY 26, 2000 PAGE 2 CENSUS TOWN HALL MEETING not respond by returning the completed forms. In order to facilitate the process, Questionnaire Assistance Centers will be set up at strategic sites throughout the 22 cities. The non -response factor is calculated at 39% for the district. Census 2000 is seeking assistance from all community businesses and organizations to get the word out about the importance of information obtained through this effort. Mr. Flores said he anticipates hiring about 1000 people to assist him in this effort. In response to M/O'Connor, Mr. Flores showed the audience copies of the short and long forms and read and explained the questions on the forms. 6. QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION: Mr. Flores responded to Alison Meyers, Walnut YMCA Branch Director that the long form asks what schools young residents of the house attend. C/Chang asked that copies of the short forms in all languages be left at D.B. City Hall. Mr. Flores emphasized that people who have questions about the form should bring their specific form to the Questionnaire Assistance Center because the forms are bar-coded. In response to M/O'Connor, Mr. Flores indicated that his employees would be paid. All volunteers will have picture identification badges, California driver's license or California I.D. card. Employees are instructed not to be out after dark. Most home visits will be on the weekend or early evening. The first response will be a telephone call to the residence in an attempt to set up an appointment. Hiring of census takers will begin this week. Everyone must take a government test in order to qualify to be hired. Approximately 1000 people will be hired by the end of March. Mr. Flores said he did not see any problem gaining access to the gated communities within D. B. Staff and, in particular, CSA/Roa, has been very helpful in communicating the information to the associations. CM/Belanger responded to M/O'Connor that census information had been placed on the City's website, published in all local publications and advertised in The View and The Windmill. The City's website contains an icon on its front page and also provides a video presentation. Vertical banners will be installed at sites throughout the City indicating that Census 2000 Day is coming. The City has been doing many things over the past four to five months to get the word out to the community. In addition, Council initiated the Complete Count Committee, which qualified the City for federal assistance to provide informational materials. FEBRUARY 26, 2000 PAGE 3 CENSUS TOWN HALL MEETING M/O'Connor pointed out that Walnut and Pomona School Districts are working to get the information out to their student population. Staff presented a two -minute video that is available for public viewing on the City's website. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, Mayor O'Connor adjourned the Town Hall Meeting at 10:17 a.m. ATTEST: Mayor X LYNDA BURGESS, City Clerk