For City Council Meeting [February 25, 2020]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Rod Foster, City Manager
FROM: Barbara A. McGee, City Clerk, CMC
Title
Request City Council to approve the contract between the County of San Bernardino and the City of Rialto to receive funding in the amount $45,000 for the Complete Count Census 2020 to provide services and outreach activities.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Constitution requires the federal government to count all people residing in the United States through a national census every ten (10) years to ensure equal representation and fair allocation of government resources. The next National Census Day is April 1, 2020. The results of the census serve to assist in important community decisions like where to build homes, parks schools and roads and where to offer health, childcare, and transportation services.
California has historically been the hardest-to-count state in the nation. In 2016, about 75% of all Californians belonged to one or more groups that tend to be undercounted. The County of San Bernardino is home to many of these hard-to-count groups.
The 2010 Census undercounted 95,000 (or 0.26%) of California residents. Obtaining an accurate and complete count poses challenges due to several factors. The housing affordability crisis has forced more Californians to move into hard-to-count unconventional housing and overcrowded dwellings or to become homeless.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The 2020 Census is important because it advocates more resources for community members. The Census helps plan new communities and schools and creates jobs for the community. It is about redistricting, fair representation and fair shares of funding.
Large portions of the County of San Bernardino have historically been hard to count. In order to ensure a thorough count of all residents in 2020, the county strives to work with community partners to educate motivate and activate residents in participating in the census.
The County is offering funding opportunities to cities to inform the general public of the importance of completing the census questionnaire. The City of Rialto Complete Count Committee will collaborate with the County and local and community-based organizations to inform the general public of the importance of completing the census questionnaire. Our Complete Census Committee consist of the Human Relations Commission and community volunteers. The Rialto City Clerk’s Office is the main point of contact. The county’s vision is to ensure that (HTC), Hard-to-Count communities and populations in the county are accurately counted in the 2020 Census.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The request is not a Project as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Pursuant to Section 15378 (b)(5) a project does not include organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The request is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A of the Rialto General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
San Bernardino County Administrative Office has been allocated funds by California Complete Count Census 2020 to provide services and outreach activities for cities. City of Rialto allotment will be $45,000. Contractor’s payment will be paid in five (5) installments:
1. One initial start-up payment of (Sixty percent (60%) of total contract amount) will be paid once Contract is finalized and a complete invoice is received and approved by the CEO’s County Census Representative; and
2. Four (4) installments of (Ten percent (10%) each of the remaining contract amount), not to exceed the overall contract amount will be paid upon receipt and approval of the Monthly Report (Attachment A).
3. The Monthly Report shall be submitted to the CEO’s County Census Representative within five (5) County business days of the end of each month.
4. The Monthly Report shall outline the completion of deliverables which meet project benchmarks as determined and approved by the County Census Representative.
The City of Rialto will be allocated one-time funding from the County of San Bernardino in the amount of $45,000. The City Council approved an increase in revenue in Account No. 010-400-3250-7560 and an appropriation of $45,000 in Account No. 010-500-3250-2021 for expenditures for Census Community Outreach Activities as part of the Mid-Year Budget Report.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council to approve the contract between the County of San Bernardino and the City of Rialto and to receive funding in the amount $45,000 for the Complete Count Census 2020 to provide services and outreach activities and authorizes City Manager to sign the contract with the County of San Bernardino.