To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Kristin Zagurski, Assistant Town Manager
Title
Update: 2020 Census Update
Body
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Executive Summary
Staff last provided Council an update regarding the 2020 Census in December 2018. With Census Day - April 1, 2020 - a little over six months away, staff wishes to provide another update on coordination efforts to date, as well as regarding future anticipated participation in this important initiative.
Discussion
The U.S. Constitution requires that the country’s population be counted every 10 years to determine the number of seats in Congress each state gets. The Census is also used for the redistricting of Colorado General Assembly seats, the allocation of Federal/State dollars and other purposes.
In preparation for the 2020 Census, Town staff has been working with the U.S. Census Bureau and Douglas County by providing information updates - such as supplying information on new homes in Town through the Bureau’s New Construction Program - and by coordinating communications efforts.
Staff recently researched the Census 2020 Outreach Grant program available through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and - like Douglas County’s staff - is not recommending making application to that program. The program aims to assist hard-to-count communities. In reviewing Census Bureau’s Response Outreach Area Mapper of hard-to-count areas, Castle Rock and Douglas County had very high self-response rates in the last two Census counts - ranking first and second in the metro area, per County staff. Therefore, it would be difficult to justify the need for grant funding when comparing data throughout the State.
Community Relations staff is engaged in a Countywide Complete County Committee to help ensure a complete, accurate count in the 2020 Census within Douglas County. The committee will coordinate communications efforts - the bulk of which will be launched after the first of the year. A Town-specific communications plan will be developed to share Census-related messaging across Town print and electronic media channels.
Responding to the Census will be easier than ever in 2020, as this Census marks the first time citizens will have the option to respond online, including from mobile devices. Responses will also be taken by phone and mail. Every home in the United States will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census by Census Day.
The Census Bureau is bound by federal law to keep information provided confidential, and to use it only for statistical purposes. Per Census Bureau data, the Town was the 14th-fastest-growing municipality with more than 50,000 residents between July 2017 and July 2018. Staff estimates the Town’s population is now over 70,000. The 2020 Census will provide a complete, accurate count of Castle Rock residents, and it’s important that the community fully participate in it.