Commission discusses translated contract references for ACME grants; legal says city contracts only in English

Commissioners discussed a draft recommendation urging translated contracts for ACME grants and broader language access during the Dec. 15 meeting. Chair Houston introduced the draft and Commissioner Garza said translated contracts are important so non-English applicants see key legal terms in the language they used to apply.

ACME acting division manager Laura Odegard told the commission that the city of Austin "only does contracts in English," and that legal does not have budgetary authority to produce translated, legally binding contracts for every language. Morgan Messick, assistant director for ACME, and staff said they are working with the Long Center and other partners to provide translated reference copies and to include resources in future contract amendments. "One of the things that we're in discussions about right now is even though the signed copy needs to be in English, if there can be a translated copy as a reference for other folks," Odegard said.

Bobby, a Long Center staff member, said the Long Center will "do whatever is asked of us, if we can figure it out" and that front-end translated reference documents and extra contract-support services could be included in future contract amendments. Commissioners asked staff to return in January with edited recommendation language that focuses on template translations and resource documents rather than attempting to change the city's legal contracting language.

What's next: Chair Houston said she would edit the recommendation language to emphasize solutions (template/reference translations and baked-in translation resources), and the topic will return for discussion and action at the January meeting.