CR 2000-019 Presentation, US Census
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Presentation, US Census
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve support for the Year
2000 U. S. Census, to encouraqe all Hopkins residents to cooperate with the census effort
and to assist the Census Bureau in enumeratina hard-to-reach qroups of people in Hopkins.
Overview
Becky Fredrick from the Census Office in Edina will present information about Census 2000
to the Hopkins City Council.
The Year 2000 US Census will be the largest peace-time mobilization in US history. The
Census Bureau will hire nearly 3,000 workers in Hennepin County alone to help with the
effort. Census 2000 will be a crucial information resource for decades to come. Millions of
dollars in federal, state and local funds will be allocated based on the information gathered
through the census. Important decisions about education, health care, job training, business
and transportation are all dependent on accurate information from the census.
Hopkins residents will receive census letters in early March. Census forms will be delivered
in mid-March and should be completed and returned as soon as possible. After April 1 ,
. census workers will visit households that have not responded.
All information gathered by the Census Bureau is kept anonymous. By law, the Census
Bureau can not share information about residents by name with the IRS, the FBI, the INS,
welfare agencies or any other government agency. Agencies can not investigate, prosecute
or deport residents using census data. No court of law can find out an individual's answers.
The Hennepin County Census 2000 web site is at www.co.hennepin.mn.us.
Census 2000 is Hopkins' chance to make sure that public decisions are based on a complete
and accurate picture of the community.
Primary Issues to Consider
. What can the City of Hopkins do to help with the Census 2000 effort?
Supportina Information
None.
Financial Impact $ 0 Budgeted: Y/N - Source:
. Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.):
Notes: No expenditures planned.
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. Council Report 2000-19
Page 2
Primary Issues to Consider
. What can the City of Hopkins do to help with the Census 2000 effort?
The City can assist the Census Bureau and the Hennepin County Census
Advisory Committee by doing the following:
. Distribute census information via city publications and utility bills;
. Help identify hard-to-reach areas and populations in the city;
. Provide contacts with multi-family housing managers and other key
individuals in the community.
No City expenditures are planned for these activities other than staff time.
Alternatives
. The Council has the following alternatives regarding this matter:
1. Approve the item as recommended by staff.
2. Modify and the approve the item.
3. Continue the item for additional information.
4. Deny the item.
.