Committee accepts ITA update on DOJ web‑accessibility rules; departments to report progress

City staff from the Department on Disability and the Information Technology Agency (ITA) briefed the committee about the city’s plan to comply with Department of Justice web- and mobile-app accessibility requirements and technical guidance under WCAG 2.1.

Steven Chainmann (Department lead) and Eli Everett (director referenced) explained that the DOJ final rule sets concrete technical success criteria (examples cited: color-contrast checks, keyboard navigation, alt text for images, and captions for video) and that departments are responsible for remediating noncompliant content on their sites and mobile apps. "The plan provides guidance and materials for departments to improve compliance," staff said. (Paraphrase of Spanish-language presentation.)

Staff noted a city reporting schedule: each department must report progress to the Department on Disability by March 23, 2026, with a follow-up review period concluding April 24, 2026, and said the report before the committee did not include a request for city funds but that smaller departments may need to hire vendors or use existing ITA-preferred contractors to remediate complex items.

Council members asked whether there are additional requirements tied to the upcoming Olympics (staff: no); whether council offices must follow the same process for their communications (staff provided examples for routine council-office postings and recommended accessible templates); and whether the city had identified consultants (staff: there are preferred-contractor lists and departments may contract as needed).

The committee voted to accept and file the informational report. Vote recorded: Concejal Soto Martínez, Concejal Nazarian, Concejal Jurado yes; Concejal Rodríguez and Concejal Padilla absent (3–0). The item was accepted and filed for the record.