CivicCultural Highlights 2009 1022

Home

Mr. Francis also donated to the City a framed collection of calendar plates and other commemorative plates. The Mayor accepted the donation and thanked him. 2. Discussion Regarding Census 2010 Activities Kathy Ornelas gave a report on efforts to date to promote Census 2010 in the Community. A "Complete Count Committee" meeting was held in January, inviting representatives from many of the City's community groups to participate (e.g. HOA's, schools, the Adult School, Project Literacy, and Davis Street Family Resource Center). Mayor Santos has also met with representatives of the Faith Community. Mail-in response in San Leandro was higher than the county or state average in Census 2000. However, the challenge continues to be reaching the hard-to-count members of the community (i.e. new immigrants, people for whom English is a second language, people living in "crowded housing", and homeless individuals). The City will be looking to the Complete Count Committee members to help identify trusted messengers for these groups to help spread the message that Census 2010 is important, confidential and easy. More efforts along these lines will be mounted at the beginning of the year and as Census Day 2010, which is April 1, gets closer. Ms. Ornelas also showed two advertising projects that have been funded by the US Census Bureau. One is a banner that will be hung over E. 14th Street in March, with the message "Be Counted - 2010" in English, Spanish and Chinese. The other is reusable shopping bags that have been ordered in collaboration with other Cities in the County. The messages on the bags say "Be Counted. It's Safe, It's Easy, It's Important" "United States Census 2010" in English, Spanish, Farsi, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Lao. The bags will be distributed to agencies that serve hard-to-count individuals and families. In San Leandro, agencies include the Davis Street Family Resource Center, the April Showers program, and food kitchens. 3. Discussion Regarding Consolidation of the Civic and Cultural Committee with the Rules and Communications Committee The Mayor reviewed the history of the Civic and Cultural Committee and how it has evolved from a committee spearheaded by Mayor Karp into a committee more inclusive of the City Council. Mayor Santos and Councilmember Gregory both felt it needs to remain a stand- alone committee, particularly since it meets so infrequently. 4. Public Comments None 5. Committee Member Comments Mayor Santos mentioned that the Portuguese Ambassador to the United States has agreed to visit San Leandro; the date has yet to be determined. He will bring back to the Committee a recommendation for a program and expenses anticipated with this official visit. 6. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.