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.

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Title 18
Chapter 18.11
Section 18.11.060
 

Title 18 Human Rights

Chapter 18.11 Language Access in Municipal Proceedings

Section 18.11.060 Responsible Personnel / Language Access Coordinator
  1. No later than July 1, 2024, the Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion shall designate a “Language Access Coordinator,” who shall have responsibility for city- wide oversight of the City’s Language Access Program. The Language Access Coordinator shall report to, and take direction from, the Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion.
  1. Commencing January 1, 2026, each affected Department shall maintain data relative to the use of the language access tools, and no later than April 1 of each year transmit said data to the all individual councilmembers, and the Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion, which shall include the data and usage analysis in the City’s Title VI reports, in its regular report to the City Council and the Spokane Human Rights Commission, and for other budgeting and administrative needs.
  1. Annually, the Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion shall update the list of primary and established languages based on the best available data, including the American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.
  1. The Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion shall be responsible for the following Language Access Program oversight duties:
    1. Work with departments to finalize Language Access Plans and related procedures before they are transmitted to the Mayor for approval.
    1. Provide technical assistance for language services to all departments, including training department staff.
    1. Provide strategic guidance about working with LEP residents to departments, the City Council, and the Mayor's Office.
    1. Oversee, update, and maintain a web portal that includes a directory of qualified language service providers, sample interpretation service contracts, a repository of each department s' translated documents, and a Language Access Toolkit.
    1. Collect ongoing input from any and all community stakeholders including the Spokane Human Rights Commission to improve processes, increase efficiency, and reduce budgetary impacts.
    1. Provide departments with model Language Access Plans.
    1. Biannually present to City Council with updates, data relevant to the program, including geographical use, and recommendations relating to the Language Access Program.

Date Passed: Monday, October 16, 2023

Effective Date: Thursday, November 23, 2023

ORD C36449 Section 1