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Administration to draft language access ordinance; committee marks item work complete pending draft
Summary
The administration told the legislative matters committee it is researching models and will draft a language access ordinance (24-1603) to codify timely, meaningful and culturally competent language services; the committee marked the item work complete to allow the administration to return with a draft.
The committee on Jan. 28 discussed an administration request to develop a language access ordinance, item 24-1603, intended to codify constituents' right to timely, meaningful and culturally competent language access services.
Deputy Director Gamble and Director Nagel told committee members the administration is researching existing municipal models (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle) to identify implementation tools, mandatory service descriptions, and compliance mechanisms. They said the city is prioritizing timely service provision now while drafting ordinance language and a language access plan.
Councilors who spoke said they support robust, practical language access that does not create undue liability or administrative burden; several asked the administration to consider service standards, cost, potential staffing and whether the ordinance should create enforcement mechanisms or rely primarily on implementation and monitoring. Director Nagel said the administration welcomes council input and will return with draft language for committee review.
Chair Lance Davis said the committee's preference was to mark the item work completed at this stage to allow the administration to develop the draft and to invite councilors to contribute before the ordinance is formally filed.
No ordinance was filed or adopted; the administration will return with proposed ordinance text and implementation details for further committee consideration.
