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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />JANUARY 21, 2020 <br />TITLE: <br />DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO <br />STAFF REGARDING AMERICAN SIGN <br />LANGUAGE SERVICES FOR CITY COUNCIL <br />MEETINGS <br />{STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 5, 11 <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />_••10 e <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on 11' Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />/s/Kristine Ridge FILE NUMBER <br />CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Discuss and provide direction to staff regarding American Sign Language Translation Services at <br />City Council meetings. <br />DISCUSSION <br />At the November 5, 2019 City Council meeting, citing experiences with the Santa Ana Unified <br />School District Board, Councilmember Iglesias requested that staff prepare an informational <br />report on the option for City Council to consider providing American Sign Language (ASL) <br />translation services at all City Council meetings. Councilmember Sarmiento concurred. <br />Since 2005, the City has had an agreement with Cesar Vargas and Associates for Spanish <br />language translation services at City Council meetings and other official meetings. The consultant <br />agreement's current rate is approximately $40,000 annually, as rates and requests for services <br />have increased. In 2019, the Santa Ana City Council held 27 meetings for an average of four <br />hours. <br />The Clerk of the Council has reached out to Santa Ana Unified School District Board (SAUSD) <br />staff for information and the following was determined: ASL services were demanded by the <br />parents and students specifically for agenda items directly affecting ASL services at Taft <br />Elementary; ASL interpretation for other items were not requested. Due to the demand, SAUSD <br />has procured Dayle McIntosh Center (DMC) to provide ASL services paying approximately <br />$40,000 annually for 17 regularly scheduled board meetings in 2019 for an average of two and <br />half hours. <br />Over the last 15 years of searchable records, the City of Santa Ana has not received any requests <br />or complaints regarding ASL translation services at a City Council meeting. However, all City <br />Council meeting agendas contain language that brings awareness to the possibility of making <br />arrangements for a sign language interpreter, hearing assistance, or other assistance by <br />contacting the Clerk of the Council Office at least 72 hours in advance of a meeting (Government <br />Code Section 54954.2). <br />65C-1 <br />