Staff Report

MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Proclamation P-4-10 Census Awareness Month and Census Awareness Day

DATE: March 2, 2010

The City has agreed to partner with the US Census Bureau in promoting the 2010 Census by signing a commitment form. In addition, Councilman Dennis Brady is a member of the Prince George’s County Complete Count Committee, which was established to conduct outreach activities.

The City’s Community Outreach Committee organized an awareness event held at City Hall on February 20, 2010. The event was targeted to businesses, civic groups and community leaders to enlist their assistance in getting the word out about the 2010 Census, which is expected to be mailed out in early March. Staff has also engaged in a public information campaign using City communications such as the newsletter, website, and cable TV channel. Additional outreach efforts in the media are planned for the coming weeks. Various City facilities, including City Hall, the Gymnasium and Senior Center, as well as all three of the M-NCPPC Community Centers, are designated as Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) which will be staffed by Census employees during the Census. Census Day is April 1, 2010.

The attached Proclamation identifies the month of March as Census Awareness Month and March 20, 2010 as Census Awareness Day in Bowie. The purpose of the Proclamation is to inform residents of the City’s role in promoting the Census and to increase community awareness about the Census.

Recommendation

It is recommended that Council approve P-4-10.

Attachments