DATE: August 4, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer
Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Opt-In Letter and Amendment No. 2 to the Census 2020 Standard Agreement with the California Complete Count - Census 2020 Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Opt-In Letter to the California Complete Count - Census 2020 Office for an additional allocation of $100,000 for county outreach activities to promote participation in the 2020 Census; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment No. 2 to the Census 2020 Standard Agreement No. 19-111 with California Complete Count - Census 2020 Office for county outreach activities to promote participation in the 2020 Census, effective upon execution through December 31, 2020 ($1,345,793).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will allow the County to receive an additional $100,000 from the California Complete Count - Census 2020 Office (CCC Office) to conduct and support outreach activities to promote participation in the 2020 decennial census. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to approve the recommended actions, resulting in the declining of additional funding that would be used to bolster outreach efforts in hardest to count census tracts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Upon execution of the Opt-In Letter and Amendment No. 2 by the CCC Office, the total County funding for the 2020 Census will increase by $100,000 to $1,345,793. The funds received will be deposited in the Department’s California Census 2020 Special Revenue Fund Org 1134.
DISCUSSION:
On November 9, 2018, the County received a letter from the CCC Office regarding the availability of funding for local 2020 U.S. Census related activities and the necessary procedures to “opt-in” and receive the allocation. On January 8, 2019, the Board adopted Resolution No. 19-003 authorizing the County to enter into the 2020 Census County-Optional Outreach Agreement and approved the execution of a County Opt-In letter.
On March 12, 2019, the Board approved the Census 2020 Standard Agreement which was then executed by the CCC Office on March 25, 2019. The Department was subsequently identified to administer the agreement and funds.
Consistent with the CCC Office’s requirements, the Department developed a Strategic Plan detailing a multi-faceted campaign to provide outreach to geographic areas and demographic groups identified as Hard to Count (HTC). The Strategic Plan was provided to your Board via a July 16, 2019 Briefing Report. Following CCC Office approval of the Strategic Plan, the Department developed an Implementation Plan that includes funding fifteen (15) community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide outreach activities in HTC areas. In addition, eleven local ethnic media outlets have been funded to complement CBO activities and assist with messaging through local radio, television and newspapers. Funded CBOs are supporting the individuals in HTC areas with access and assistance in the completion of the Census questionnaire through a wide infrastructure of Census Questionnaire Assistance Centers and Kiosks, and telephonic support for County residents with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
On February 25, 2020, your Board approved Amendment No. 1 to the Census 2020 Standard Agreement that provided an additional funding allocation of $157,350. These additional funds were budgeted for printed materials and a contingency fund to support funded CBOs in targeted areas where additional resources were needed to increase the response rate prior to the US Census Bureau’s original July 31, 2020 deadline for questionnaire completion.
Due to Federal and subsequent State Shelter-In-Place requirements in response to COVID-19, the US Census Bureau has extended the deadline for questionnaire completion to October 31, 2020. The CCC Office has recognized the need for an additional allocation to support the extended 2020 Census process, particularly in HTC areas of the County where the self-response rate to date remains extremely low.
The recommended Amendment was prepared by the CCC Office and differs from the County’s standard contract model. The Opt-In Letter indicates a July 30, 2020 deadline for submission; however, the CCC Office is not enforcing this deadline and has agreed to accept an August 4, 2020 signature date.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #13, February 25, 2020
BBR dated July 16, 2019
BAI #26.1, March 12, 2019
BAI #32, January 8, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Opt-In Letter to the CCC Office
On file with Clerk - Amendment No. 2 to Census 2020 Standard Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander