pages: CityCouncil/2020-02-18.pdf, 9
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CityCouncil | 2020-02-18 | 9 | Ms. Berlanga responded in the affirmative; stated there will be more touches; Centro Legal thinks the impact will be greater. Vice Mayor Knox White stated that he agrees about the language issue and wants to know how it will be handled and clarified; questioned if there is enough money for outreach and if the amount should be increased to reach other communities; he would like on site meetings in Alameda. Councilmember Vella stated there should be a way to partner with surrounding organizations, which are based in Oakland and active in Alameda, such as Filipino Advocates for Justice and Asian Health Services; perhaps a know your rights event could be co-sponsored with said groups with breakouts in various languages; resources should be pooled to be more effective; she would also love to see events cosponsored with the Alameda Renters Coalition; resources should be pooled amongst non-profits; she would like to see a such a plan. The Community Development Director stated Supervisor Wilma Chan's office wants to do a know your rights event; she referred them to Centro Legal to combine forces; the Housing Authority is also working with Centro Legal on a forum; said events are being done as outreach under the enhanced outreach budget; summarized the key points raised tonight regarding interpreters and not paying extra for the language line; stated Cento Legal currently meets with tenants in person with a translator on the phone; the Council would like to see a model with an interpreter physically present at the in person appointment. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she has softened on an interpreter; an interpreter should be found if a tenant requests someone in person; she cannot agree to add to the budget to provide more services, outreach and translation; the budget has all that is needed; less legal representation and more education is being done, which is non- attorney time; the contract is plenty rich in terms of compensation, especially for touching fewer clients. The Community Development Director stated additional compensation is not being requested; the recommendation is a revised work scope using the existing budget. In response to Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry, the Community Development Director stated the point that was being made in the Annual Report was less about translation and more about the cultural competency; Centro Legal doing a deeper dive around cultural competency would require additional funding, but additional funding was not requested; cultural competency differs from translation services; more robust outreach will involve reaching out to Alice Lai-Bitker and other connections in the community, but will not require additional funding. *** (20-090) Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft requested a maximum of three additional minutes. Regular Meeting Alameda City Council February 18, 2020 7 | CityCouncil/2020-02-18.pdf |