City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

Home
Title 18
Chapter 18.11
Section 18.11.050
 

Title 18 Human Rights

Chapter 18.11 Language Access in Municipal Proceedings

Section 18.11.050 Scope, Implementation and Milestones
  1. Except where earlier timelines are specified in this section or unless expressly exempted by SMC 18.11.070, all City departments shall have an implemented Language Access Program in place no later than January 1, 2026.
    1. As soon as practical after the effective date of this ordinance, the City Council and Planning Department shall henceforth incorporate language access into any adopted departmental operating procedures.
    1. No later than July 1, 2024, each affected city department shall identify those Vital Documents and Public Communication Materials it intends to include within the scope of its departmental LAP.
    1. Commencing with the 2025 Annual Budget of the City, all affected departments shall include LAP planning as a line-item appropriation within any proposed departmental budget, which planning shall be consistent with the scope of its Vital Documents and Public Communication Materials identified pursuant to subsection 2 above.
    1. Commencing with the 2026 Annual Budget of the City, all affected departments shall incorporate Language Access implementation as a line-item appropriation within any proposed departmental budget.
    1. Commencing January 1, 2026, all departmental operating procedures shall be compliant with this Chapter.
  1. Subject to allocated funding, the following milestones shall apply to specific operations and functions within the City of Spokane:
    1. As soon as practical after the effective date of this ordinance, the City Council shall have drafted and implemented a Language Access Plan that assumes (a) translation of council-generated Public Communication Materials, which may include council ordinances, resolutions, proclamations, salutations, and further which may also include standing committee and subcommittee meeting agendas and materials; and (b) translation and/or interpretation services for council legislative sessions, briefing sessions, and standing committee meetings.
    1. As soon as practical after the effective date of this ordinance, the Division of Information Technology shall have drafted and implemented a limited Language Access Plan that assumes translation of digital Public Communication Materials, including but not limited to the City’s official website and social media.
    1. The timelines in sections A and B above may be adjusted as necessary to comply with the procurement requirements and procedures in SMC 07.06.
  1. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent a department from developing and implementing a multi-year, phased LAP, so long as meaningful implementation begins no later than January 1, 2026.

Date Passed: Monday, October 16, 2023

Effective Date: Thursday, November 23, 2023

ORD C36449 Section 1