Agenda

Return

C. 31

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	November 7, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Participation in 2020 Census Local Update of Census Address (LUCA) Operation

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 11/07/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Kristine Solseng, (925) 674-7809

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: November 7, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute documents necessary to register the County for the 2020 Census Local Update for Census Addresses Operation (LUCA), and DESIGNATE the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) staff as the LUCA liaison.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The State of California has budgeted funds to help local government agencies offset the cost of participating in LUCA. Grants are anticipated to range between $7,500 - $125,000. While the specifics of the grant funding have not been released, it is anticipated the amount of funding available will be based on the housing activity since 2010. Staff costs of approximately $10,000 will be covered from the existing DCD budget.

BACKGROUND:

The Local Update of Census Addresses Operations (LUCA) is a voluntary decennial census operation. LUCA is the only opportunity prior to the 2020 Census for local governments to review and update the U.S. Census Bureau's residential address list for their jurisdictions. The Census Bureau relies on a complete and accurate address list to reach every living quarters and associated population for inclusion in the census.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The accuracy and completeness of the address list is critical to the accuracy and completeness of the decennial census. Participating in LUCA can help ensure an accurate census for Contra Costa County. The decennial census is used primarily to apportion seats in the U.S House of Representatives and also to distribute billions of federal dollars. Additionally, the data provides statistical support for grant applications that fund community and regional development, education, agriculture, and environmental programs. Census data is critical in planning community needs, economic development, siting businesses, and policy analysis.

The Census Address List is protected by Title 13, which requires the U.S. Census Bureau to maintain the confidentiality of the information it collects. The information provided by the U.S Census Bureau for LUCA may not be used for any other purpose, including code enforcement. The LUCA Liaison is responsible for protecting the confidential Census Bureau materials covered by Title 13. This includes ensuring that anyone with access to to Title 13 materials have signed the Confidentiality Agreement. The Confidentiality Agreement states "All LUCA liaisons, reviewers, and anyone with access to Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.) LUCA materials must agree to keep confidential the Title 13 materials to which they have access, including any maps that contain structure points showing the location of living quarters. They may use this information solely for suggesting improvements to the Census Bureau's address list and maps. A signature indicates recognition that the penalty for wrongful disclosure is a fine of not more than $250,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both. Although access to the data is temporary, this commitment is permanent."

The County may participate on behalf of some cities within the County in addition to the unincorporated County, if requested and authorized by a city. Four cities (Orinda, Pittsburg, Richmond, and Walnut Creek) have already registered for LUCA. Staff is in the process of reaching out to other cities to ensure all of Contra Costa County is included in the LUCA program. If any city in the County requests the County to assist with participating in LUCA to cover their jurisdiction, County staff will, through this Board authorization, provide that assistance.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Not participating in LUCA may result in an incomplete address list for the 2020 Census, resulting in an undercount in the 2020 decennial census. An undercount may impact the apportionment of the U.S. Housing of Representative districts and lead to a loss of funding for transportation, education, community development, affordable housing, and other federally funding programs.