TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution approving a comprehensive Language Access Policy. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On November 1, 2011, the City Council requested the City Manager work with the City Attorney and with community partners that have expertise in the area of language access, including Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition, Housing Long Beach, Centro Community Hispanic Association (Centro CHA), and United Cambodian Community (UCC), to draft a citywide Language Access Policy (LAP).
During phase one of LAP development, staff cataloged the current language access services available in the City. The City currently provides an array of services to assist residents who speak a language other than English as detailed in Exhibit A. Services currently provided include: bilingual City employees in public contact positions available to assist residents; translated City documents; translation provided at meetings and City Council meetings by request; and 911 public safety dispatch translation assistance available in all languages. As part of this effort, staff also prepared a list of potential implementation strategies.
During phase two of LAP development, staff researched data on City population by language spoken and calculated budget costs for current expenditures that provide language access assistance to residents. Through this research, it was determined that City departments spend approximately $900,000 on these services. Staff engaged stakeholders as requested by the City Council and requested written input to consider in creating the policy.
Staff met with the aforementioned stakeholders on March 1, 2012. Several of the stakeholder groups created the Language Access Coalition (Coalition) along with additional partners. The Coalition chose to host their own community meeting on June 27, 2012, in an effort to include additional input from the public. At staff’s request, the stakeholders submitted writt...
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