Council secures language‑access funding commitment, asks administration to implement ordinance

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero asked the committee to memorialize and enforce previously approved language‑access funding and the city’s language‑access ordinance, seeking staff and contractual resources to deliver interpretation and translation services across departments.

Santiago Romero noted the budget already includes recurring and one‑time allocations that together total about $250,000 for language‑access services and called for closing‑resolution language to make sure the money results in hiring and services. “We have approved an additional 72,000, and that brings our total language access, to 250,” she said, asking that the administration and council ensure hires are made and that contracted language‑line services remain available.

Administration representatives clarified that $200,000 was a recurring appropriation added last year and that $250,000 is reflected in the FY27 proposed budget for contractual language access; they said in‑person interpretation is available via a local contractor and that telephonic/video services exist through a language line for ad‑hoc needs. Budget staff and the administration committed to adding closing‑resolution language to secure implementation and to coordinate follow‑up with CREO and other offices.

Members emphasized the need for programmatic staff who can manage translation requests, collect data and ensure day‑to‑day compliance with the ordinance, and asked that the mayor’s office and CREO follow through on hiring and contracting as part of the closing resolution.