1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: April 25, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Judie Wilke, Assistant City Manager
By: Viviana Garzon, MPA, Administrative Analyst II
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution in Support of the Inclusion of an Armenian Checkbox in the 2030 Census
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK SUPPORTING THE INCLUSION OF AN ARMENIAN CHECKBOX IN THE 2030 CENSUS.
BACKGROUND
At the April 11, 2023, City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Schultz requested a first step report for Council’s consideration of a resolution in support of the inclusion of an Armenian checkbox in the 2030 Census. Normally, staff presents the first step report and, if Council agrees, returns with the resolution for Council approval at a following meeting. However, since all comments on this matter need to be presented to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by April 30, 2023, staff has forgone the second step report and is presenting a proposed resolution for Council’s approval (Attachment 1).
DISCUSSION
The OMB is currently considering adding a new Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) category to the United States Census questionnaire. While the City of Burbank supports the MENA inclusion, the City Council believes it is imp ortant to include a subcategory checkbox for Armenians. Currently, the Armenian-American community lacks meaningful federal data as a group, while being one of the largest and most impacted groups in the MENA category. The City of Burbank is home to an estimated 16,000-17,000 Armenian- Americans1; being able to attain accurate and comprehensive data on the Armenian- American population would assist with addressing many of the challenges the community
1 Source: Armenian National Committee of America – Burbank Chapter CITY MANAGER’S
OFFICE
2 faces including housing, healthcare, and immigration services. Currently , the City of Burbank has limited access to resources and funding to meet the needs of this specific population.
Congressman Adam Schiff and Congressman Frank Pallone, co- chairs of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, as well as t he Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region and the Armenian American Action Network are advocating for the inclusion of the Armenian checkbox within the MENA category for the 2030 U.S.
Census. In addition, the City of Glendale and County of Los Angeles recently passed a resolution in support of this effort.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
CONCLUSION
The inclusion of the MENA category and a specific Armenian checkbox within the MENA category of the 2030 Census would provide Burbank with more accurate data on all its residents, which would ultimately bring more support for the Armenian-American community.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1 – Resolution