Agenda

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C. 62

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Date:	March 26, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Referral to the Internal Operations Committee to create a policy on language interpretation services at the Board of Supervisors meetings

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/26/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

ABSENT:

Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor

Contact:	Jami Napier, 335-1908
cc:	IOC Staff

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 26, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

REFER to the Internal Operations Committee to create a policy on language interpretation services at the Board of Supervisors meetings.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Fiscal impact with be dependent with the policy and process for interpretation services.

BACKGROUND:

To better serve the residents of Contra Costa County and encourage public participation in Board meetings, the Chair of the Board of Supervisors requests a study and report on language accommodations for Board of Supervisors meetings in the other Bay Area Counties. Currently, there is no formal process for providing interpretation services at the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meetings. If a member of the public speaks at public comment and they are more comfortable speaking a language other than English, they historically have brought a language interpreter with them for assistance. Upon approaching the podium to address the Board of Supervisors, the Clerk doubles the speaker’s time (Government Code section 54954.3(b)(2)) in order to allow both the speaker, in their preferred language, and the English interpreter to address the Board of Supervisors.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Should the referral not be authorized, the County would not be able to create a policy on language interpretation services.