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Spokane adopts language‑access ordinance to recruit bilingual and multilingual city staff
Summary
The City Council approved an ordinance to strengthen language access and to recruit bilingual and multilingual applicants for city positions, following extensive public testimony and a pilot of translation technology.
Spokane City Council passed an ordinance amending municipal code to expand language access and to encourage recruitment of bilingual and multilingual applicants for city jobs.
Council and staff described the ordinance as a step to improve access to city services for residents who are not proficient in English. Council highlighted past difficulties during pandemic relief distribution and permitting processes when language barriers arose, and cited a technology pilot the city is testing to provide live translation to the public.
Supporters urged the council to act to reduce barriers for residents and to…
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