Blaine CityConnect - May/June 2020 by City of Blaine

BlaineMN.gov

CityConnect May/June 2020

What’s Inside

Conducting City Business During COVID-19 Pandemic.......................... 4-5

Please note that all COVID-19 pandemic related information is accurate as of April 29, 2020, and is subject to change.

Introducing Rec at Home.....................................6

Blaine’s Emergency Operations Center

How to Help Others During COVID-19 Pandemic...............................8

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blaine opened the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on March 13. The EOC has been up and running continuously since then. The city’s EOC is designed to coordinate the city’s emergency response to situations such as tornadoes, major chemical spills, or other large-scale events that can threaten the health and safety of the community. In the past, the EOC has been activated for tornado response in Blaine.

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Blaine is home to many large events throughout the year such as the 3M Open, Target USA Cup, Blaine Emergency Operations Center and a number of concerts at the National Sports Center. Given the scale of these events, the city made the position of Emergency Management Director a full time position instead of a part-time position in 2019. The Blaine City Council invested in upgrading the stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) and technology needed to respond to major events, building on preparation work that had been done before.

City of Blaine 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine MN 55449

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The city also invested in increasing the number of staff trained for emergency response at all levels in order to provide for more redundancy and backup. City staff can set up the EOC in a matter of minutes to be fully functional and ready to go. In 2017, the city implemented CivicReady, an emergency notification system for residents and staff. The city can now immediately notify staff to activate the EOC and provide instant messages to residents who are signed up for CivicReady notifications. While a tornado can be a couple week operation, the COVID-19 pandemic will be an operation that stretches into months. The city is now in a continuity of operations plan phase where constant monitoring of the local and regional situation will guide the decision making process to ensure that essential services are being delivered to residents. These include: • • • • • •

Police service Fire service Access to clean water Building inspections Public works maintenance operations Public access to public meetings

One of the things EOC staff are working on is how to stage a re-implementation of normal operations and what phases will be involved. Over the years, the Blaine City Council has invested in the city’s EOC operation making Blaine very well prepared to handle the current situation. According to Emergency Management Director Captain Dan Pelkey, “We are getting a lot of support from our residents and we really appreciate that. We especially want to thank all of our staff for rising to the challenge of working under difficult conditions to ensure that we can still deliver city services with as little disruption as possible.” For more information on the city’s response to COVID-19, visit BlaineMN.gov/COVID19

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BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect

Upcoming Meetings

Recycling Calendar May s

Blaine City Hall 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-784-6700 Communications@BlaineMN.gov

City Council

July s

WARD 1 Wes Hovland 8650 Van Buren Street NE Blaine, MN 55434 763-228-1117 WHovland@BlaineMN.gov Dick Swanson 926 - 97th Lane NE Blaine, MN 55434 763-370-2557 DSwanson@BlaineMN.gov

WARD 2 Julie Jeppson 3062 Aspen Lake Drive NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-354-4709 JJeppson@BlaineMN.gov Jess Robertson 4175 - 114th Lane NE Blaine, MN 55449 612-964-0503 JRobertson@BlaineMN.gov

WARD 3 Andrew Garvais 12744 Petersburg Street NE Blaine, MN 55449 612-229-8890 AGarvais@BlaineMN.gov Richard Paul 1560 - 123rd Lane NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-290-3000 RPaul@BlaineMN.gov

CITY MANAGER Michelle Wolfe 763-785-6120 MWolfe@BlaineMN.gov

Holiday

Zone A

June

MAYOR Tom Ryan 12147 Radisson Road NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-757-3390 TRyan@BlaineMN.gov

City Council* May 4 | May 18 June 1 | June 15 7:30PM | Virtual Meeting

Zone B

Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office Hours Canceled until the reopening of Blaine City Hall Natural Resources Conservation Board* May 19 | June 16 7PM | Virtual Meeting Park Board* May 26 | June 23 7PM | Virtual Meeting Planning Commission* May 12 | June 9 7PM | Virtual Meeting Traffic Commission* June 2 6:30PM | Virtual Meeting *Meetings can be seen live on cable channel 16 and 799. For links to virtual meetings, visit BlaineMN.gov/CityMeetings.

For more information, visit WaltersRecycling.com or call 763-780-8464.

City Directory

Stay Connected

Police & Fire................................................. 911 Police (non-emergency) ..........763-785-6168 Fire (non-emergency)...............763-786-4436 Public Works After Hours.........763-427-1212 City Hall......................................763-784-6700 Mary Ann Young Center...........763-786-9375 Public Works..............................763-785-6165 Building Inspections.................763-785-6170 City Cable Channel 16 .............763-785-6192 City Clerk ...................................763-785-6122 City Manager.............................763-785-6120 Communications.......................763-785-6181 Community Standards.............763-785-6187 Community Outreach...............763-785-6113 Economic Development...........763-785-6180 Engineering................................763-785-6172 Finance.......................................763-717-2677 Fire Inspections ........................763-785-6187 Forestry .....................................763-717-2660 Housing Services ......................763-785-6146 Human Resources ....................763-785-6109 Newsletter.................................763-785-6192 North Metro TV.........................763-780-8241 Parks & Recreation ..................763-785-6164 Planning & Zoning ....................763-785-6180 Recycling & Solid Waste ..........763-785-6192 Sewer Backup............................763-785-6165 Streets .......................................763-785-6165 Stormwater................................763-785-6188 Utility Billing ..............................763-785-6141 Water & Sewer System ............763-785-6165 Web.............................................763-717-2638

Receive Emergency Communications BlaineMN.gov/CivicReady

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BlaineMN.gov/CommunityConnect CityConnect is published bimonthly by the City of Blaine and distributed to all residents and businesses. Past copies of the city newsletter are available at BlaineMN.gov/Newsletter

May/June 2020

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Stormwater Pond Rules Stormwater ponds are manmade bodies of water designed for the purpose of treating stormwater runoff. All bodies of water you see in the City of Blaine are stormwater ponds with the exception of Laddie Lake and Sunrise Lake. Sunrise Lake is a manmade body of water, with Laddie Lake being the only natural lake in Blaine. Ponds are a popular method of managing stormwater runoff. A properly designed pond can hold excess water for up to three weeks, allowing pollutants to settle to the bottom. As water is cleaned by this process, it is slowly released from the pond. This process helps to improve water quality. Given the purpose of the ponds, their small size and the amount of pollutants handled, these bodies of water will never function like the lakes home buyers might envision. Alterations to shorelines or vegetation around stormwater ponds is not permitted unless authorized by the city. Fountains or other circulating devices and chemical treatment of stormwater ponds is also not allowed unless authorized by the city. Structures including but not limited to docks, piers, retaining walls, diving platforms, and bridges are not allowed to be within a stormwater pond or protective buffer zone. Dumping of yard waste materials in, on, or around any stormwater pond is also prohibited.

Permitted Stormwater Buffer

Prohibited Buffer Modification

Recreational activities such as boating, swimming, fishing and skating are discouraged on all stormwater ponds. Stormwater ponds generally have large drop offs and hold large amounts of pollutants making them unsuited/unsafe for recreation.

Social Distance While Walking

For additional information go to BlaineMN.gov/StormwaterPonds. If you have any questions contact Rebecca Haug, Blaine Water Resource Manager at 763-785-6188 or email RHaug@BlaineMN.gov.

Lawn Sprinkling Reminder A reminder that the city’s sprinkling restrictions are as follows: •

Year-round, odd-even sprinkling days. Residents with an even numbered address can water on even number days. Residents with an odd numbered address can water on odd number days.

•

From May 15 until September 15, no sprinkling is allowed between 10AM and 6PM. This is the hottest part of the day and most water is lost to evaporation.

When walking on streets and trails please follow these important social distance and safety tips: •

When walking on a street without a sidewalk available, please walk against traffic so you can see oncoming cars and make sure they see you. If you are with a group, please walk single file as traffic approaches you.

•

When walking on a sidewalk or trail, please move as far to the right as possible when someone is coming toward you. Try to make a distance of at least six feet between you even if you need to move off the sidewalk/ trail for a little bit. If you are in a group, please walk single file as you approach an oncoming person or group of people.

•

If you are overtaking someone, please announce yourself by letting them know that you are coming up on their left side. Pass them by going as far to the left of them as possible. If you are in a group, please pass them in single file.

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If someone is overtaking you and has announced they are coming up on your left, please move as far to the right as possible to let them pass. If you are in a group, please walk single file until they are passed.

For more information, visit BlaineMN.gov/LawnSprinkling

2019 Blaine Drinking Water Report Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Report By law, all community water systems are required to distribute their drinking water report to customers before July 1 of each year. This annual report, known as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), includes results of water monitoring conducted on the city’s drinking water from the previous year, in this case 2019. A paper copy of this report is available upon request. To view the report online, visit BlaineMN.gov/DrinkingWater For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 763-785-6165 or visit BlaineMN.gov/PublicWorks

For more social distance tips and other ways to live during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit BlaineMN.gov/COVID19

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BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect

City Operations City Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic The City of Blaine has closed all public buildings until further notice for in person business. This step is being taken to help slow the spread of COVID-19. City staff are still working and conducting city business. Please see the following information for information on the best way to contact and do business with each department. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this unprecedented time. Please note that this information is accurate as of April 28, 2020, and is subject to change.

New Options to Communicate with the City The City of Blaine has new options available to communicate with the city. On the city website BlaineMN.gov, look for the new chat feature in the bottom right hand corner. Another new option, residents can text the city with COVID-19 related questions at 763-292-4569. City staff is available 8AM to 4:30PM to answer questions and guide visitors to the correct information. Both options allow for after hours contact, just leave your message and city staff will respond between 8AM and 4:30PM.

Building Inspections Building inspections of interior privately occupied homes are currently being completed by a virtual inspection. You will need access to FaceTime on an iPhone or a Skype like app for other types of phones. When you schedule your inspection, the scheduler will give you a half hour window during which the inspector will call you for your virtual inspection. Commercial and new construction inspections will continue as normal. Scheduling inspections 612-422-3285 | 612-422-3291 | 612-206-6883 | 612-240-9611 Plan Submittal All plans should be submitted electronically via Dropbox. For residential new home packets and large commercial plans and applications, email AAnderson@BlaineMN.gov or TSiemsen@BlaineMN.gov for a link. For all other residential projects including mechanical and plumbing, small commercial building projects and commercial mechanical and plumbing, please email the application and plans to Plans@BlaineMN.gov. If you are unable to submit plans digitally, plans can be mailed to: Blaine City Hall, 10801 Town Square Drive NE, Blaine MN 55449. Or drop plans off in the entryway of Blaine City Hall. Keep in mind this way will include a longer processing time. For more information, contact Tammy Siemsen at 763-276-0789 or email TSiemsen@BlaineMN.gov, or visit BlaineMN.gov/BuildingInspections.

City Clerk Business Licensing - Business license applications are being processed as normal and can be accessed at BlaineMN.gov/CityClerk or email BlaineBusinessLicensing@BlaineMN.gov.

Community Development Planning Applications - Please email all planning applications, general inquiries, and questions to PRobinson@BlaineMN.gov. Sign Applications - Please email sign permit applications and questions to EShowalter@BlaineMN.gov.

Community Standards Community Standards includes fire inspections, housing/rental inspections, and neighborhood services also known as code enforcement. All annual and routine fire, housing, and neighborhood services inspections will be suspended until the public health emergency is over. Permit inspections will be conducted on a limited basis. Inspections that are required for new construction projects needing to obtain a certificate of occupancy will be scheduled based on staff availability. Staff will be able to respond to phone messages and emails as necessary during this time. Complaints, whether fire, housing, or code related will be documented. Only complaints regarding exterior issues or which pose a life safety hazard will be followed up on during this time. All other complaints will be recorded and followed up on after the public health emergency is over. For more information, please contact Linda Archer at 763-785-6187 or email LArcher@BlaineMN.gov.

Virtual Meetings The Blaine City Council will continue to meet. However, the meetings will not be held at Blaine City Hall. All meetings will be held virtually until further notice. There are multiple ways for the public to still participate in the meetings before and during the actual meeting. Public Comment Before a Meeting City staff has developed a public comment process for virtual meetings. A public comment email address, PublicComment@BlaineMN.gov, and phone number, 763-717-2782, allow individuals to submit comments prior to a meeting. Those comment boxes are available until noon on the day of the meeting. The comments will be compiled and delivered to the Blaine City Council or the appropriate commission or advisory board.

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During COVID-19 Pandemic Engineering Department During the closure of city hall the engineering department will continue to move forward on projects. Anyone with questions is asked to contact Lucy Gray at 763-785-6172 or LGray@BlaineMN.gov.

Human Resources The City of Blaine has instituted a hiring freeze for almost all positions. For more information on potential future openings, visit BlaineMN.gov/Jobs or call 763-717-2653.

Mary Ann Young Center The Mary Ann Young Center is closed until further notice. The Mary Ann Young Center staff will continue to serve the senior population through wellness phone calls and by meeting critical needs. Staff can be contacted at 763-786-9375.

Parks and Recreation The Blaine Parks and Recreation Department has started the Rec at Home program offering virtual recreation programs and contests for the community. Learn more at BlaineParks.com or by following BlaineParksMN on social media. City staff along with the Blaine City Council are currently reviewing options for summer park programs and facility use. To see the latest information on programs and facilities visit, BlaineMN.gov/ParkRecStatus. For more information, contact Recreation@BlaineMN.gov or call 763-785-6164.

Police Department The police department is continuing to respond to calls for service. In an emergency always call 911. If you need to speak with an officer in a non-emergency situation call 763-427-1212. If your needs are administrative in nature such as gun permits or data requests, call 763-785-6168 or email BPDRec@BlaineMN.gov.

Public Works Public Works will continue the majority of operations at a scaled back level. The Public Works facility and office are closed to the general public. Only prearranged visitors will be allowed entry into the Public Works facility. Meters will be issued by pre-arranged appointment only. Equipment and parts delivery and scheduled contractors will be allowed limited access to perform maintenance. Crews will work in small teams and practice social distancing as much as possible. For more information, please call 763-785-6165 or email PW@BlaineMN.gov.

Utility Billing At this point there are no interruptions in utility billing service; bills will continue to be produced and delivered as normally scheduled. For all customers: payment deadlines will be relaxed; if customers are experiencing difficulty in making timely payments on their utility bills, please leave a voicemail for a utility billing representative at 763-785-6141 or email UtilityRequests@BlaineMN.gov. A utility billing staff member will get back to you as soon as possible. Customers signed up for automatic payment who are experiencing financial hardship should contact utility billing to stop automatic payments and discuss other options. At this time, the city is not accepting in person utility bill payments. There are several other ways to pay your utility bill. • • • • •

Make an online payments at BlaineMN.gov/PayMyBill Drop payment off in the outside drop box at Blaine City Hall Mail payment in the provided envelope sent with a mailed utility bill Signup for city bank drafting (will take 1 bill cycle to setup) Signup for a bill payment service with account holder’s bank

Public Comment During a Meeting During the meeting, members of the public who wish to comment during public comment periods will be asked to join the meeting on the Zoom webinar platform. Meeting attendees will be able to click the raise hand button, this will alert city staff that an individual wishes to comment. When it is time for comments, individuals will be recognized and their microphones will be enabled allowing them to comment. Zoom meeting information can be found in the calendar notification and on the agenda for each meeting. For more information and to view the council calendar, visit BlaineMN.gov/CityCouncil. Ways to Watch a Meeting If you do not wish to comment on an item but still want to watch the meeting you are asked to watch through all the normal methods the city provides. You can watch on North Metro TV which is available on Comcast (channel 799 and 16) or through a free app on Apple TV or Roku. You can also watch a live stream at BlaineMN.gov/Video. Any questions regarding Blaine City Council meetings, please contact City Clerk Cathy Sorensen at 763-785-6124 or CSorensen@BlaineMN.gov.

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BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect

RecConnect Summer 2020

Summer Park Update The City of Blaine will soon need to make tough decisions about summer park and recreation programming. Due to the current economic uncertainty, the city has put several cost containment measures in place. These measures include not hiring seasonal staff, meaning many traditional programs cannot be held. The city also uses seasonal staff for the beach, splash pad, and boathouse at Lakeside Commons Park and to prepare athletic fields for play. At this point, plans for the beach, organized athletic field use, and shelter rentals are still in development. As of April 28, park buildings, restrooms, and playgrounds remain closed until further notice. The city will continue to reevaluate the situation as the economic picture becomes clearer and public health recommendations are modified.

BlaineParks.com presents Rec at Home With many in-person spring programs canceled, the Blaine Park and Rec staff quickly moved to develop a new program for the community. Rec at Home is a new way to deliver park and recreation content. Rec at Home is a series of videos and contests that deliver fun for all ages. You will find some of your favorite park and recreation classes in a new virtual format as well as park tours, coloring contests, and much more. New content is being added every week; make sure to check back often. Follow BlaineParksMN on social media or go to BlaineParks.com/RecAtHome to see program offerings.

More information on the status of Blaine park programs and facilities is available at BlaineMN.gov/ParkRecStatus City staff are working with the providers of several class offerings to determine where virtual programs can continue. Watch for more updates on how to register for virtual programs at BlaineParks.com The Blaine Festival Committee recently announced the cancellation of the 2020 Blaine Festival. More information on the festival is available at BlaineFestival.org

Stay Connected BlaineParks.com More information about Parks and Recreation is available at 763-785-6164 or in the current Recreation Connection online.

Celebrate American Wetlands Since 1991, each May is recognized as American Wetlands Month. It is a time to celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the nation’s ecological, economic, and social health. Wetlands help improve water quality and supply, reduce flooding, and provide critical habitat. There are eight types of wetlands. Some wetlands are dry for much of the year and others are covered by several feet of water. It is estimated that Minnesota has lost about 50 percent of its original wetland acreage. The city has committed to restoring a 500 acre open space known as the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. Things you can do: • Learn about the importance of wetlands through information online at BlaineMN.gov/Wetland Sanctuary. • Visit the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary and look for birds, wildlife, and pollinators. • Educate a friend or family member about wetlands and why they matter. • Find out if there is an opportunity to volunteer to help restore a wetland. • Document nature by taking pictures at the various picture post locations along the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary trail, then share them online at BlaineMN.gov/PicturePosts. • Check out an Open Space Passport from the city’s website. Do not drain, fill, or excavate any low areas on your property without finding out if the area is wetland

BlaineEvents.com

To download the Open Space Passport, visit BlaineMN.gov/OpenSpacePassport For more information about the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary, visit BlaineParks.com/WetlandSanctuary

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Election Judges Needed Serving as an election judge is an excellent way to get involved in your community. Judges will learn election procedures and help ensure that elections are administered in a fair manner. Election judges are paid an hourly wage and are essential to our democracy. Interested in learning more? Visit the city’s website at BlaineMN.gov/Elections or contact the Blaine Elections Office at BlaineElections@BlaineMN.gov or 763-717-2737.

Filing for Office

Absentee Voting Eligible voters may vote early by absentee ballot 46 days prior to each election. Absentee voting for the August primary election will begin June 26 and start again September 18 for the November general election. The online absentee ballot application will be available May 13 at MNVotes.org for voters to request their ballot be mailed. Paper applications can be requested by contacting the Blaine Elections Office at BlaineElections@BlaineMN.gov or 763-717-2737.

Filing for office is the process by which a candidate’s name gets placed on the ballot. All city office candidates: •

Must be an eligible voter in Blaine.

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Must have not filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election.

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Must be 21 years of age or more upon assuming office.

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Must have maintained residence in their ward for at least 30 days before the general election, unless filing for an at-large seat.

A filing fee of $50 or petition in place of the filing fee is required. City offices for the 2020 general election includes one seat in each of the three Council wards as well as Mayor. Filing begins May 19 and ends at 5PM on June 2.

Are a U.S. citizen Will be at least 18 years old on Election Day Are a resident of Minnesota for 20 days Are finished with all parts of any felony sentence You can vote while under guardianship unless a judge specifically has revoked your right to vote. For more information about voter registration, visit MNVotes.org or the Blaine Elections Office at BlaineElections@BlaineMN.gov or 763-717-2737.

For more information, visit the city’s website at BlaineMN.gov/Elections or contact the Blaine Elections Office at BlaineElections@BlaineMN.gov or 763-717-2737.

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BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect

How to Help Others During COVID-19 Pandemic With so many people now at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are looking for ways to help out others during this unprecedented time in our history. There are many things we can do to help other people around us. Some examples are: • Check in on your neighbors, especially the elderly or people who may have recently lost a job or have been furloughed. Maintaining human contact during times of increased isolation is very important, especially of elderly friends, neighbors, or family who may be even more isolated. A friendly phone call can go a long way in lifting someone’s spirits during these trying times. • Start a mutual-aid network with friends, neighbors, and family to make grocery/pharmacy runs for each other if need. • Check to see if you can do some shopping for older neighbors or those with underlying health conditions. Many older people and people with some health conditions may be very uncomfortable going to the store these days. You can leave their groceries on their doorstep in order to maintain social distancing. You can also prepare meals for someone unable to do so, etc. • Donate to food shelves. With the high number of layoffs and furloughs there is increasing pressure on our local food shelves. If you are able, please consider donating to a local food shelf to help the community at large. • Give blood. The Red Cross has seen participation in blood drives decrease due to COVID-19, however the need for donated blood has not changed. More information on donating blood to the Red Cross can be found at RedCross.org. • Volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels has need for on-call delivery drivers. For information on how to volunteer go to Meals-on-Wheels.com. • Ask about writing letters to seniors. Contact a local senior care facility where seniors are isolated with no visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Order take out, curbside pick-up, or delivery from your favorite local restaurants to continue to support them. • Support local small businesses by purchasing gift cards for future use. • Check with local churches to find out if they have volunteer needs that you can help with. For more information on ways to help during COVID-19, visit BlaineMN.gov/COVID

How to Help Local Businesses Many Blaine businesses are being heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While some businesses may be closed to the public, they are not closed. Many are offering a number of options for you to still get their products and to continue to support them. These options include: • • • • • •

Curbside pick up Take out Drive thru Delivery Local shipping Local pick up and delivery back to you

To find how you can support your favorite local businesses, check out their websites or social media pages to find out the latest about what they are doing. For a list of restaurants providing service in Blaine, visit BlaineMN.gov/COVID19Business

Census Update The 2020 Census is well underway at this point and Blaine already has a great showing with a 74 percent selfresponse rate as of April 26. However, there is a long way to go to get a complete count. If 26 percent of the community is not counted, Blaine is at risk of being underrepresented at state and national levels. Fill out that census form today before a census worker has to make an in-person visit. With social distancing guidelines, it is more important than ever to fill out the census on your own instead of waiting for a census worker to visit your household. For more information, visit My2020Census.gov

Emergency Notifications