pages: CityCouncil/2013-02-19.pdf, 9
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CityCouncil | 2013-02-19 | 9 | components of the program: 1) retention: keeping records safe, and 2) archiving: use and access to information instantly; the City Attorney's office has begun collecting all City leases in a database. Councilmember Chen stated at the last Open Government Commission meeting, the issue of translation services for non-English speaking languages was brought up; inquired whether translation services would be incorporated into the proposed program. The Assistant City Manager responded in the negative; stated providing translation services for documents is another policy level. Councilmember Tam noted that both the City Manager and Assistant City Manager came from the City of Oakland where there was an Equal Access Ordinance passed to address a population that needed access to public documents; inquired how the parameters of said ordinance were set. The Assistant City Manager responded the main component of the Equal Access Ordinance in Oakland was to provide for any community interaction positions to have staff that could speak one of the four major languages spoken in the City; there was an Equal Access office where certain documents could be translated; with the technology available today, translation should be easier; unfortunately, the Oakland program was not implemented. Councilmember Tam inquired how such a program would work best in the City of Alameda. The City Manager responded the focus should be on documentation and front line service; stated records have to be properly archived and categorized first; staff could evaluate having an on call translator. The City Clerk noted that $20,000 for translation services at public meetings is addressed in the City's Sunshine Ordinance. Councilmember Tam noted that she receives a lot of inquiries from Chinese-speaking residents regarding building matters and rent control issues and has to refer the inquiries to employees with better Cantonese or Mandarin ability; stated there is talent in the City and provisions in Sunshine Ordinance that we should have translation ability. The Assistant City Manager noted that there is a list of identified City employees that speak different language; discerning between basic general translation and legal translation is important. The City Attorney concurred with the Assistant City Manager; stated caution must be exercised when translating documents. Commended staff for advocating the Sunshine Ordinance; stated the Open Government Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 9 February 19, 2013 | CityCouncil/2013-02-19.pdf |