LA HABRA

Council members discussed the development of an outreach group designed to increase the success of Census 2000. April 1 is the deadline for this decade’s census, and paperwork will be mailed to La Habra homes the week before, said Carlos Jaramillo, deputy director of community development for the city. The group would help the city reach residents who have gone uncounted in previous years, such as illegal immigrants, city officials said at a recent meeting. “We know that there’s a fear out there,” Jaramillo said. “We want people to know that the process is entirely confidential and has the sole purpose of counting people.” The results of this year’s census will be used to decide the number of seats the state will get in the House of Representatives. An undercount of the city’s population could result in lower funding for education, social services and city improvements, officials said.