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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Mayor's Office
Finance Department
IT - GIS Division
DATE: June 28, 2024
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing the city to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Census Bureau to conduct a Special Census in Aurora.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this item is to obtain City Council approval, through an MOA with the Census Bureau, to conduct a Special Census for the City of Aurora in early 2025.
BACKGROUND:
In August of 2021, the city received the results of the Decennial Census, which reported a shocking loss of approximately 17,000 residents. This reported loss followed an American Community Survey (ACS) population estimate of 197,757 provided in July of 2019, and a self-response rate of 73.8% during the 2020 Census, a 2% increase over our 2010 rate. In the time following the reported results, staff have been actively engaged in a review process as well as planning for the future.
A summary and timeline of actions taken by staff is attached as Exhibit B.
DISCUSSION:
The attached MOA (Exhibit A) and payment are both due to the Census Bureau by August 14, 2024, in order for the City to proceed with a Special Census in early 2025. The submission of this document for City Council approval represents significant due diligence of staff, including representatives from the Mayor's Office, the GIS Division, Finance, our Census Consultant and our Federal Lobbyist. The map (Exhibit C) of the area underwent several revisions prior to the agreement of both parties (the City and the Census Bureau). Several revisions were required due to a new requirement for Special Census' - contiguity. The map requires complete census tracts located in the jurisdiction and each area to be counted must be contiguous and connected.
Early in the process, staff indicated to the City Council a plan to conduct two Special Census', one to "recapture" our missing residents in the central part of the city and one to capture new development. The new contiguity requirement combined with the State Law that a Census Tract may only be counted once every ten years eliminated the two-phase plan and our GIS team shifted focus and began working towards a new map to identify and incorporate high priority areas.
We will need a budget amendment to fund the entire $1,005,968 direct charge from the US Census Bureaus and future Census expenses in account 101-1302-419.32-20.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Approval of the MOA will allow the City to formalize the date for the Special Census.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff respectfully request approval of the MOA and payment authorization.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the City of Aurora to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Census Bureau to conduct a Special Census for $1,005,968.00.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora believes the 2020 Census results represent a significant undercount of our community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has significant new residential development; and
WHERAS, the City of Aurora has determined it is in our best interest to conduct a Special Census; and
WHEREAS, the attached Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is a requirement in order to schedule a Special Census in Aurora.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the Mayor is authorized and directed to execute the agreement in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A.