Meeting Type: BCC Regular Meeting
Meeting Date: 5/18/2021
Item Status: Addendum
From: Wayne Dyess, County Administrator; Sherry-Lea Botop, Community, Engagement Manager/Public Information Officer
Submitted by: Miranda McKinnon, Administrative Support Specialist IV
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ITEM TITLE
Title
Proposed Changes to the Urban Area Designation Criteria by the U.S. Census Bureau - Letter of Opposition
Body
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize the Chairman to execute a letter of opposition to the Office of Management and Budget, The White House, on behalf of the Baldwin County Commission.
End
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Previous Commission action/date: April 6, 2021 - Adopted Resolution #2021-066, which opposed the proposed changes to the Urban Area Designation Criteria by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Background: The U.S. Census Bureau defines urban areas based on certain criteria that is reviewed with each decennial Census. For the 2020 Census, the Bureau is proposing changes to the Urban Area Designation Criteria that could potentially impact the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in a negative way.
The proposed changes listed below raise serious concerns with significantly reducing or possibly eliminating the Eastern Shore as an urbanized area; therefore the Baldwin County Commission hereby strongly opposes the proposed Urban Area Designation Criteria and urges the U.S. Census Bureau to reject the proposal.
Potential impacts to the Eastern Shore MPO:
• Housing unit density equal to 1,000 persons/square mile threshold
• Qualify urban areas based on a minimum threshold of 4,000 housing units or 10,000 persons instead of a minimum threshold of 2,500 persons
• Maximum distances of jumps
• No longer distinguishing between types of urban areas
• No longer include the low density hop or jump "corridor" in the urban area
• No longer include low-density territory located within indentations formed during the urban area delineation process
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total cost of recommendation: N/A
Budget line item(s) to be used: N/A
If this is not a budgeted expenditure, does the recommendation create a need for funding? N/A
LEGAL IMPACT
Is legal review necessary for this staff recommendation and related documents?
N/A
Reviewed/approved by: N/A
Additional comments: N/A
ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS
Is advertising required for this recommendation? N/A
If the proof of publication affidavit is not attached, list the reason: N/A
FOLLOW UP IMPLEMENTATION
For time-sensitive follow up, select deadline date for follow up: N/A
Individual(s) responsible for follow up: Administration.
Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed):
Administration Staff have letter executed by Chairman and submit to:
Ms. Shalanda Young
Acting Director
Office of Management & Budget
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
cc:
Senator Arthur Orr
District 3
Alabama State Senate
Alabama State House
Post Office Box 305
Decatur, Alabama 35602
Wayne Dyess, Sherry-Lea Botop, Joey Nunnally, Sarah Hart Sislak, Lisa Sangster
Additional instructions/notes: N/A