Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some questions regarding LUCA. If you do not see your question here, please email (LUCA@flcensus.gov) or call us (850.487.0033) and we will be glad to assist you.
Q: How can we prepare for LUCA now?
Q: What is Title 13?
Q: How and when do I sign up for LUCA?
Q: Why should I sign up early for LUCA?
Q: Why should I start preparing now for LUCA?
Q: What does it mean to geocode your data for LUCA?
Q. Where can I find Census 2000 block and tract maps for Florida?
Q: If an area is under development or will be under development, should I include those addresses in LUCA?
Q: If the addresses for my jurisdiction will be changing, should I include the new or old addresses in the LUCA list?
Q: How is the Census Bureau Master Address File (MAF) updated throughout the decade?
Q: Should houseboats be included in the LUCA address list?
Q. Should military base housing be included in the LUCA address list?
Q. Does Florida have a public records exemption for the US Census Bureau's LUCA program?
Q. Where can I find postal addressing standards for
my LUCA address list?
Q. How do I convert the files that I receive from
the Census Bureau (pipe-delimited) into Excel and/or Access and
back again?
Q. What do we do if our local government can not
locate the LUCA packet that contained the LUCA registration form?
Q. What are some tips for filling out the
registration forms for LUCA?
Q. What are the procedures for submitting domestic
violence shelters to the Census Bureau?
Q. What are the LUCA action codes?
GRANTS:
Q: How can we prepare for LUCA now?
A: Organize Local Records:
Building permits for new construction
and conversion
Housing inspection records
Occupancy permits
Planning or zoning records
School enrollment records
Tax assessment rolls
Update and Verify State/County Records:
Voter registration
E-911
Q: What is Title 13?
A: Title 13 is the law under which the Census Bureau
operates. The law guarantees the confidentiality of census
information, and establishes penalties for disclosing this
information. The chapter and section that addresses LUCA is
Chapter 1, Subchapter 1, Section 16.
Q: How and when do I sign up for LUCA?
A: Invitation letters will be sent to all local governments
in August 2007. Local governments will have the ability to sign
up for LUCA then and select one of the three Options. The earlier you sign up, the earlier you will
get your materials from the Census Bureau and be able to participate
fully in LUCA. The last day to sign up with a guaranteed 120
days to participate in LUCA is November 19, 2007. The last day
to sign up at all is December 31, 2007.
Q: Why should I sign up early for LUCA?
A: By signing up by October 31, 2007, local governments can complete
the Census Bureau's Boundary Annexation Survey (BAS) 2008 in
conjunction with LUCA.
Q: Why should I start preparing now for LUCA?
A: Preparing address lists early will ensure that your local
government has enough time to full participate in LUCA. Once
you receive your materials, you have only 120 days to complete your
LUCA review.
Q: What does it mean to geocode your data for LUCA?
A: All address records must have Census Bureau geocoding in
order to be added to LUCA. Geocoding for this purpose means a
state, county, census tract, and census block code.
Q. Where can I find Census 2000 block and tract maps for
Florida?
A. The Census Bureau website has 8 1/2 x 11 pdf maps for
Florida by:
tracts within counties --
http://ftp2.census.gov/plmap/pl_trt/st12_Florida/
blocks within counties --
http://ftp2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st12_Florida/County/
blocks within county subdivisions --
http://ftp2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st12_Florida/CountySubdivision/
blocks within places --
http://ftp2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st12_Florida/Place/
Q: If an area is under development or
will be under development, should I include those addresses in LUCA?
A: You should include all addresses that should be completed
(door, roof, certificate of completion) by April 1, 2010 in the
address list.
Q: If the addresses
for my jurisdiction will be changing, should I include the new or
old addresses in the LUCA list?
A: Include the addresses that will be in effect on April 1,
2010 in the address list.
Q: How is the Census Bureau Master
Address File (MAF) updated throughout the decade?
A: The MAF is updated with information from the United States
Postal Service, building permits, and Census Bureau canvassing.
Q: Should houseboats
be included in the LUCA address list?
A: Yes, include houseboat addresses in the list that
you furnish to the Census Bureau as apart of LUCA review.
Q. Should military base housing be included in the LUCA
address list?
A: The Census Bureau will obtain information for military
personnel that live on base, however you should include all
addresses of military-related housing that is off base.
Q. Does Florida have a public records exemption for the US Census Bureau's LUCA program?
A: Yes, Florida has a public records exemption for the US Census Bureau's LUCA program as a result of the 2007 Legislative session. House Bill 7193 was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor.
Q. Where can I find
postal addressing standards for my LUCA address list?
A: The US Postal Service
Publication 28, dated July 2006, details postal addressing
standards. This may be a source to use for this purpose.
Q. How do I convert
the files that I receive from the Census Bureau (pipe-delimited)
into Excel and/or Access and back again?
A: The following handouts detail these procedures:
Converting Pipe-Delimited ASCII Text Files into Microsoft Excel 2002
Converting Pipe-Delimited ASCII Text Files into Microsoft Access 2002
Converting Microsoft Excel 2002 into Pipe-Delimited ASCII Text Files
Converting Microsoft Access 2002 into Pipe-Delimited ASCII Text Files
Q. What do we do if our local government can not locate the LUCA
packet that contained the LUCA registration form?
A: There were 2 versions of the LUCA packet mailed in August 2007.
One went to the Highest Elected Official (HEO) and the other to CCs.
The HEO packet had a cover letter, brochure, 2 CDs,
4 forms, and a return envelope.
The CC packet had a cover letter, brochure, and 2 CDs.
Check with your HEO for the LUCA packet with the forms are needed to sign up for LUCA. If you can not find this packet and/or these forms, you can contact the Atlanta Regional Office at: atlanta.geography@census.gov or call them at: 1-866-511-LUCA and request that new forms be mailed.
Q. What are some tips for filling out the
registration forms for LUCA?
A: Click here for tips
for registering with the Census Bureau for LUCA.
Q. What are the procedures for submitting domestic violence shelters to the Census Bureau?
A: The addresses for these shelters are considered sensitive
information and should not be included in your LUCA submission.
If you would like to submit information on these facilities, please
call Geography at the Census Bureau in Atlanta (Wes Flack or William
Curry at 1-866-511-5822).
Q. What are the LUCA action codes?
A: The LUCA action codes are:
A = Added
C = Changed or Corrected
D = Deleted
J = Out of Jurisdiction
N = Nonresidential or Commercial
Please note that C = Changed or Corrected. The paper LUCA version indicates that C=Correct; which does NOT mean that the record is Correct, but that you made a Correction.
If all the fields for a MAF record are correct, no action is needed, and the action code should be left blank.
Q. State Technical Assistance Grants
have maximum award levels for cities and counties, but our costs
might exceed that limit. Should we include the full cost in the
application anyway?
A: Grant requests should be based on the individual or consolidated
jurisdiction’s maximum award level as shown in the
maximum award level document.
