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Committee discusses adding language-access notice and interpretation assistance to city agendas and website
Summary
Committee members and staff discussed adding a clear language-access notice to all city agendas, creating a landing page with translated contact information, and coordinating with the multicultural center and ADA coordinator to arrange interpretation or accommodations when requested.
The advisory committee discussed adding a language-access and interpretation assistance notice to city agendas and creating a linked landing page with translated instructions for requesting services.
Councilor Michael Beck and city staff described a Chapel Hill example that lists common languages and a contact number on agendas so speakers know to request translation in advance. Staff said Bangor has an accommodation-request page on the city website and an ADA coordinator (Grace) who handles requests; the committee and staff agreed that making the availability of services more visible on agendas and on a dedicated web landing page would lower practical barriers to participation.
Committee members proposed practical steps: consult the multicultural center and other community organizations to identify the most commonly needed non-English languages, add an "as soon as possible" timeline for requests (to allow staff to arrange interpreters or equipment), and provide links on the agenda that jump to translated instructions or contact information. Staff confirmed the chambers already provide hearing-assistance devices and that ASL interpreters could be arranged with notice.
Staff said they would contact the multicultural center to request language recommendations and then return to the committee with proposed translated text and a proposed landing page for the city website. The committee asked staff to consider signage in the top local non-English languages and to note that advance notice helps staff arrange services for the meeting.
