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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-18-00 Regular Meeting of La Porte Complete Count Committee• • City of La Porte Census 2000 Complete Count Committee Meeting Minutes of January 18, 2000 Members Present: Colleen Hicks, n-`L "~-''~ Mazk Snider, Jeannie Zemanek, Lorraine Jeffery, Linda Barley, Susan Pazastar and Tim O'Conne .~ ~ cr Members Absent: Beth Rickert, Reverend Randy Gilchrist, Steve Jacks, Marlin Fenn, Kathy Alberts, Ada Bowen, Reverend Tom Rawls, Debra Kurz, Vick~¢ Abshire, Dr. Wayne Spears, and Joeena Davis. Others Present: Gwen) Goodwin, Census Bureau. City Staff Present: Martha Gillett and Masood Malik. I. Call to Order. Committee Chairman Jeannie Zemanek called the meeting to order. at 6:00 P.M. II. Consider approving minutes of regular meeting on October 19, 1999 and November 16, 1999. Motion was made by Tim O' Conner to accept the minutes as amended. A second by Susan Parastaz. The motion carried unanimously. III. Review tasks list and sub-committees activities plan. Media sub-committee -Tim O'Conner reported on the activities of the media sub-committee. He will be coordinating information to John Black at the Bayshore Sun. Mr. O'Conner noted the Student Council at the La Porte High School is willing to assist the Census Committee. Mr. O'Conner noted he would like to see a statement be inserted on the water bills as well. City staff informed the committee this was possible with the new billing system. Business Committee -Mark Snider reported he has been working with plant managers to seek funding to pay for magnets which can be mailed out with the City of La Porte water bills. He showed the committee a sample of the magnets and City staff will coordinate the mail out through the Utility Billing Division. Mark Snider was commended by the committee for his efforts on this project. • Page 2 -Census Minutes The committee agreed the magnets should be sent out towards the end of February or the first part of March 2000. Mr. Snider presented the final draft of a letter to be sent to all businesses within the City of La Porte. Labels from the La Porte Chamber of Commerce will be used for the mail out. The City of La Porte will provide the envelopes and postage. The letter will be mailed out by the end of the week. Linda Barley from Neighborhood Centers agreed to provide volunteers to help with the mailing. The committee agreed that Mayor Norman L. Malone and Mark Snider should sign the letter. It was also noted the Housing Committee would send the same letter to all Homeowner's Associations. City staff will handle this mail out as well. The committee noted concerns and discussed methods to ensure apartment complexes and retirement home facilities would be reached by the Census process. Gwen Goodwin noted the committee might want to consider buttons or ink pens. However, the committee noted these would not work well with the mail out process. Government Committee - A report was provided to the committee (see attached). Lorraine Jeffrey requested additional posters to be placed at the Library. Gwen Goodwin stated the committee needs to determine where the "To Be Counted Centers" and Questionnaire Assistance Centers will be located. The "To Be Counted Centers" will be utilized for citizens to pick up forms only. No formal assistance in completing these forms will be provided at these centers. The committee agreed they did not want to set up Assistance Centers but would let the Neighborhood Centers, Public Library, WIC and Health and Human Services Department refer phone calls for assistance to the City Secretary's Office.. These centers will also keep forms to provide to citizens inquiring about Census matters and assist them with minor questions. Assistance will be coordinated with citizens on an as needed basis. Formal assistance matters and questions will be directed to the City Secretary's Office. To Be Counted Centers will only be needed for about one week in April. Questionnaire Assistance Centers will be set up on an as needed basis. City staff will set up a meeting to inform these entities about the process. Gwen Goodwin invited the committee to Census Grand Openings (see attached). IV. Develop a list of census activities up to census day 2000 -April 1, 2000. • These matters were determined during committee reports and outlined above. Page 3 -Census Minutes In addition, they will be discussed further at the next meeting. V. Other items The committee agreed to change the meeting time from 6:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. Gwen Goodwin informed the committee there were no hard to reach areas during the 1990 Census. Masood Malik and Martha Gillett informed the committee the would continue to announce the Census at all City meetings and relay the information in the employee newsletter. VI. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 P.M. Respectfully submitted, ~~n ~~~~ ~~~~ Martha Gillett City Secretary Approved on February 15, 2000 • • MEETING NOTICE CENSUS 2000 COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE: JANUARY 18, 2000 TIME: 6:00 p.m. PLACE: CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 604 WEST FAIRMONT PARKWAY LA PORTE, TEXAS 77571 RSVP: CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE - 281-471-5020 EXT. 233 VILLAGE SUBS SHRIMP POOR BOYS, CHIPS, SOFT DRINKS, AND COOKIES WILL BE PROVIDED. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING SO WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH FOOD. • LaPorte Complete Count Committee (Government Sub-committee Report) • Correspondence with U. S. Department of Commerce, Bweau of the Census, and Geography Department regazding Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS), New Construction Program or LUCA and Master Address File. • .Identify locations for Be Counted Centers and Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC). • Plan to place Census messages in water bills, property tax bills and other related correspondence. • Develop a timeline to visit each department of the City to involve employees in the Census 2000 awazeness campaign. • Identify hard to enumerate areas in the City, and discuss problems or concerns that might come across during Census 2000. • Make Census statements at the staff meetings. • Display Census information in the City Ha11, and all other government buildings. • Print the Census message on the City's upcoming calendaz for year 2000. • Plan to have Census banners, posters and other sign on government vehicles, other than police and emergency vehicles. • Include Census logo and message on brochures, newsletters, and other public information material. • Consult with the Post office to create excitement about returning Census forms similaz to the A,gril 15 (Tax Day). • Keep the Census awazeness momentum strong within the City Government. • January 18, 2000 ~ ~~~ _ ~ f Dear La Porte / Bayshore Chamber of Commerce Member: We are writing you on behalf of the La Porte Census 2000 Committee. Our Committee is charged with the goal of achieving 100°/a participation in completing the Census for La Porte. Please find attached an information letter that we prepared, explaining the multiple benefits to the La Porte community of having a "complete" census count. We ask that you review the attachment, and pass the information along to your constituents. It is imperative that confidentiality 6e stressed to everyone you communicate with. The single greatest challenge the Census Bureau faces is the notion that the census is an invasion of privacy. In actuality, the information is used almost exclusively for determining the distribution of Federal and State funding and the number of State Representative Districts a community is entitled. Some of the projects funded include roads, hospitals, health care for the elderly and indigent, schools, colleges and universities. Current estimates indicate that La Porte s#ands to gain several hundred thousand dollars in additional funding, and procure at feast one (1) additional State Representative position, if an accurate census count is facilitated. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this endeavor. Please feet free to contact either of us, should you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Norman Malone, Mayor City of La Porte, Texas 281-471-5020 ~ r2---~ Mark Snider, Chairman La Porte Census Committee 281-470-1491 * Attachments • Census. 2000 The census is as important to our nation as highways and telephone lines. Every question is required by law to manage or evaluate federal programs or is needed to meet federal case law requirements. Federal and state funds supporting schools, employment services, housing assistance, road construction, hospital services, program for the elderly and more are distributed based on census figures. You will be receiving a census form this year. Please fill it out and let us count on you to do your part for our city. FIVE BIG REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD FILL OUT YOUR CENSUS FORM 1. Help your community thrive. Does your neighborhood have a lot of traffic congestion, elderly people living alone or over crowded schools`I Census numbers can help you community work out public improvement strategies. 2. Get Help In Times of Need. Many 911 emergency systems are based on maps developed for the last census. Census information helps health providers predict the spread of disease through communities with children or elderly people. When floods, tornadoes or earthquakes hit, the census tells rescuers how many people will need their help. When Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida in 1991, census information aided the rescue effort by providing estimates of the number of people in each block. 3. Make Government Work for You. It's a good way to tell our leaders who we are and what we need The numbers are used to help determine the distribution of over $100 billion in federal funds and even more in state funds. We're talking hospitals, highways, stadiums and school lunch programs. Senior citizens in one New England community successfully argued their case for a new community center before county commissioners. They used the census numbers to support their request. 4. Reduce Risk for American Business. Because census numbers help industry reduce financial risk and locate potential markets, businesses are able to produce the products you want. All the Basic Facts you Need to Know to Start a New Business, a publication of the Massachusetts Department of Commerce, shows small businesses how to use census numbers to determine the marketability of newproducts. 5. Help Yourself and Your Family. Individual records are held confidential for 72 years, but you can request a certificate from past censuses that can be used as proof to establish your age, residence or relationship, information that could help you qualify for a pension, establish citizenship or obtain an inheritance. In 2072, your great-grandchildren may want to use census information to research family history. Right now, you children may be using census information to do their homework Because we've had a census every 10 years since 1790, we know how farAmerica has come. IT'S ALL CONFIDENTIAL The Law Protects Your Answers. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share your answers with the IRS, FBI, Welfare, Immigration - or any other government agency. No court of law, not even the President of the United States, can find out your answers. The same law that keeps your answers out of the hands of these agencies, prevents the Census Bureau from selling or giving away your address to people who want to send you mail. Technology Protects Your Answers. The Census Bureau protects your information with numerous security measures, including electronic barriers, scrambling devices and dedicated lines. Your answers are combined with others to produce the statistical summaries that are published No one can connect your answers with your name or address. Census 2000 is Coming... and the Census Bureau is Getting Ready! You Are Cordially Invited to the Grand Opening of the Local Census Office in our community The U.S. Census Bureau is in the final stages of preparing for America's 22nd national census -Census 2000. To promote public awareness and participation in the census, the Census Bureau would like you o visit your local census office -the office where .census taking in our community will be managed. Please take advantage of this special opportunity to meet your community's census managers and learn firsthand about Census 2000 plans and operations in this. area. This is a one-time opportunity, since after the grand opening, the census field will. be closed to the public. Date: `Tuesday, January 25, 1999 2:00..- 4:00 p.m. Site: 2.000 Professional Building 2000 Loop 197 N., 2°a Floor Texas City, Texas 77590 Parking available in rear of building Who: Keynote Speakers Charles T. Doyle, Mayor of Texas City -James D. Yardbrough, Galveston County Judge Rick Dovalina, LULAC National President (tentative) Congressman Nick Lampson, U.S. Representative, District 9 (tentative) Alfonso Mirabal, Regional Director of U. S. Census Bureau Why: The national census is vitally important to your community. Census numbers affect the political representation and the federal funding your community will have for the next ten years. This means money for schools, roads, health clinics, senior centers, job training, and many other public services. Please RSVP by phoning your Local Census Office at 409-965-9262 The Census Bureau welcomes your interest and support and we look forward to seeing you at our Grand Opening 2000 Professional Building, 2000 Loop 197 N., 2°d Floor, Texas City, Texas 77590, (409) 965-9240 t~~ 5t~ct #~~ ~1L ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~J'j i JAN 2 '7 2000 ~~~ ~' S~ Background: Given the importance of the 2000 Census, Mayor Norman Malone and the La Porte City Council formed the La Porte Complete Count Committee in the Summer of 1999. The Committee consists of 21 members & met for the first time in August 1999. The Committee represents broad cross-section of the community and has members from business and industrial groups, governmental agencies, community groups and other civic organizations. Mission: The mission of the La Porte Complete Count Committee is ensure the most accurate count of the population in La Porte by partnering with the United States Bureau of the Census. The Committee will accomplish its mission by developing and implementing educational outreach strategies to encourage residents to answer the census in April 2000. Goals 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. 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 focal figure 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. • Emphasize the Census Bureau's commitment to confidentiality to further increase participation in the census. • Augment media program, publicity, a~~d promotions conducted by the Census Bureau. Committee Members: Colleen Hicks Linda Barley Beth Rickert Marlin Fenn Tim 0' Connor Debra Kurz James Snider Remembers Lorraine Jeffery Susan Parastar Randy Gilchrist Herman Berges Ada Bowen Vickie Abshire Joeena Davis Jeanne Zemanek Father Tom Rafferty Steve Jacks Kathy Alberts Tom Rawls Dr. Wayne Spears ~'~is is ®ur future Don't leave it blank i MEETING NOTICE CENSUS 2000 COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE: JANUARY 18, 2000 TIME: 6:00 p.m. PLACE: CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 604 WEST FAIRMONT PARKWAY LA PORTE, TEXAS 77571 RSVP: CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE - 281-471-5020 EXT. 233 VILLAGE SUBS SHRIMP POOR BOYS, CHIPS, SOFT DRINKS, AND COOKIES WILL BE PROVIDED. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING SO WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH FOOD. • ,`NT OF~ • ~F ~ ~m UNITED STAI rS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of the Census s~ Regional Census Center ~L~ ~ Park Stemmons 8700 North Stemmons Freeway, Suite 300 Dallas, TX 75247-3724 January 20, 2000 Dear Texas Complete Count Committee Member: It is with great pleasure that I send you this message from George W. Bush, Governor of Texas, announcing that Secretary of State Elton Bomer will serve as the Census 2000 Ambassador for Texas. The Governor and Secretary of State, representing the highest level of Texas State Government, recognize the nnportance of the work you are doing to achieve the most complete and accurate count ever in the communities you serve. A decennial census is a major undertaking in a large and diverse state such as ours. Only by working together will it be possible for us to achieve our goal of the best possible count for each and every community. Even though the census is national in scope, it is local people and local institutions that make a census successful or not. At the local level, we clearly recognize the importance and benefits of a complete and accurate census count for the issues and needs they are addressing within our communities. We, at the Census Bureau, want to join with Governor Bush and Secretary of State Bomer in applauding you for participating in a Complete Count Committee for your area. Working together we can make Census 2000 the best census ever and ensure that all persons in your community and the State of Texas will be counted. Our sincerest thanks for all your work and contributions. Sincerely, ~f . i~~. f so E. Mirabal Re 'onal Director ~~' ' ~'" ~~~ ~~~ STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR GEORGE W. BUSH GOVERNOR January 8, 2000 Dear Texas Complete Count Committee Member: I am pleased to announce that Secretary of State Elton Bomer will serve as the Census 2000 Ambassador for Texas. .Secretary Bomer will promote the importance of a complete Texas census count, work to instill trust that the census questionnaire is confidential and bridge efforts when necessary between local, state and federal initiatives. As you may know, we now have more than 450 Complete Count Committees in Texas. These committees are among our state's most valuable tools in obtaining a complete count for the 2000 Census. With a complete count of everyone living in Texas, we will receive our fair share of federal tax dollars to which we are entitled based on our growing population, as well as fair representation at the local, state and federal levels. On behalf of all Texans, I applaud you for participating in a Complete Count Committee in your area and appreciate that this is a voluntary role for you and other Committee members. I am confident that your Complete Count Committee will contribute greatly to ensuring the best results in the upcoming census and that all persons in Texas will be counted. Sincerel f -~ GEOR W.BUSH GWB:vbm Posr OFFICE Box 12428 Ausnrt, Texas 78711 (512) 463-2000 (Voice)/(512) 4753165 (TDD) KENNETH E. BENTSEN, JR. 25TH DISTRICT, TEXAS 328 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515325 (2021225-7508 (202) 225-2947 FAX email: ken.bentsen@mail.house.gov httpJ/www.house.govlbentsen/welcome.htm I COMMITTEES: BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTRUTIONS AND CONSUMER CREDIT SUBCOMMITTEE ON CAPITAL MARKETS. SECURITIES AND GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTERPRISES Mr. Masood 1V~a~i~CT Planner City Of La Porte 604 West Fairmont Parkway LaPorte, Texas 77571 Dear Friend: January 26, 2000 DISTRICT OFFICES: 6575 WEST LOOP SOUTH SUITE 498 BELLAIRE,TX 77401 (7131667-3554 (713) 687-4833 FAX 1001 E. SOUTHMORE SUITE 810 PASADENA, TX 77502 (7131473-4334 (713) 475-8867 FAX 1300 ROLLINGBROOK DRIVE SUITE 517 BAYTOWN, TX 77521 (2811837-8225 I want to take this opportunity to share some important facts about Census 2000 and the 25th Congressional District. Full participation in Census 2000 results in obtaining an accurate and complete count which serves the community's best interests in many ways. Census data will be used over the next ten years to distribute government funding and guide investments and planning decisions made by both the public and private sectors nationwide. The results of the census will be used for many things including allocation of funds received in our state. According to the Census Bureau, in 1990 it was estimated that they missed more than 66,000 people in Houston. Of those missed, more than 28,000 were children. Every person not counted results in a significant loss of resources that would otherwise help to pay for roads and busses, hospitals and community health centers, schools and teachers. Knowing of your commitment to community service, I wanted to inform you of opportunities available to work for the Census Bureau. Taking a census requires the Census Bureau to fill many positions, but the largest number of positions that need to be filled are census takers or enumerators. These positions require checking addresses and conducting interviews with residents. There are minimum qualifications and a required basic skill test that will check an applicant's ability to perform a variety of Census jobs. While they do not guarantee employment, the Census is committed to giving every application careful consideration. There are a variety of employment opportunities available to noncitizens and citizens who are bilingual. By becoming a Census employee, an individual earns competitive pay, helps the community, and serves in a nationwide process. Interested persons should call to schedule to take a test and apply for a job at (713) 209-4825 or 1-(888)-325-7733. If you have any questions regarding Census 2000, please feel free to contact Vicki Johnson of my staff at (713) 667- 3554. With kindest personal regards, KEB:vaj ~Co~.gre~g of t~je ~r~iteb ~tate~ ~ou~e of ~e~regetttatibe~ ~a~fjington, ~~C 20515-4325 Sincerel , enne ents n, Member of Congress PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER