DEPARTMENT: Government & Public Affairs
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Spanish Translation Services
SUMMARY:
A briefing on the City’s efforts to enhance Spanish translation services in City business services.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The FY 2017 Adopted Budget encompasses several measures to enhance the City of San Antonio’s current Spanish translation efforts to engage the Spanish-speaking community in all City business, policies and events.
The City currently offers several Spanish translation services including Spanish language interpreters at City Council A and B Sessions, the translation of the City’s website with the use of Google Translate, Spanish translation of essential documents such as the annual Budget Highlights and the Bond Information Guide. The City also provides a Spanish interpreter at all Development Services Boards and Commissions meetings and employs a full-time interpreter in Municipal Court. Additionally, more than 1,600 City employees who conduct face-to-face business with the public are fluent in Spanish and are able to assist non-English speaking customers.
The FY 2017 Budget included the development of a comprehensive strategy to expand the current level of Spanish translation and interpretation services provided by the City. Under this strategy, each department that interacts directly with the public will be required to establish a Spanish translation services plan based on the department’s specific needs and functions. The Adopted Budget also adds a full-time position who will oversee the City’s Spanish translation services strategy and manage on-site interpretation services at all City Council meetings. In addition, funding was included to translate all City Council A and B Session meeting agenda packets, as well as selected City news releases.
The Department is in the process of hiring a Public Engagement Officer (PEO) who will oversee development of the organization-wide comprehensive strategy focused on reaching a segment of the population that does not traditionally follow the daily business of the City. The Department of Government and Public Affairs believes that simply translating City-related information from English to Spanish is not sufficient enough for the organization to provide residents. A skilled professional employee with the City is needed whose sole area of focus will be engaging the Spanish-speaking community and building interest in the City’s day-to-day business. In addition, the new PEO will be responsible for managing all Spanish language interpreter services at City Council Sessions, and other significant City meetings. The new position will also oversee the contract with a vendor to translate all City Council meeting agendas and memos from English to Spanish.
Specifically, the new PEO’s responsibilities will include the following:
• Oversee the development of an English-Spanish translation and interpretation strategy for the City organization.
• Oversee the development of a Community Engagement Plan intended for the Spanish-speaking community.
• Manage the budget and contract for on-site interpretation services (English to Spanish) at City Council A and B Sessions, Ceremonials, Citizens to be Heard and other key public City meetings.
• Manage the budget and contract for a Spanish Translation Services vendor to translate essential documents to include City Council A and B Session agendas and accompanying memos, some City news releases, and other key City information available to the public.
• Conduct Spanish language news interviews and interacts with Spanish language social media users.
The Department is working toward hiring the new PEO in April. At this time, the City will continue to utilize the services of a Spanish language interpreter vendor at City Council A and B Sessions, Ceremonials and Citizens to be Heard. Until the position is filled, the Department will manage the Spanish translation of each City Council Agenda through the new Spanish Translations Services vendor.
A Request For Proposal (RFP) was released by the Department to hire a vendor to translate all City Council agendas and memos from English to Spanish. Twelve vendors responded to the RFP. The selected contract is targeted to go to City Council for consideration in March 2017.
ISSUE:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.
ALTERNATIVES:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This briefing is for informational purposes only.