Subject:
Title
Presentation on the Interpretation Services Pilot Program
Body
Presented By: Amy Snider, assistant to the city manager
Recommendation and Review
The City of Harrisonburg is richly diverse, with dozens of languages spoken by our residents. The City of Harrisonburg recognizes and embraces its diversity. We are committed to improving our connection and communication with all residents, regardless of the language they speak. City staff recommends the creation of a one-year pilot program to provide simultaneous and consecutive interpretation service upon advance request for both City Council and City Planning Commission meetings. The initial pilot aims to provide interpretation services in Spanish, Arabic, and Kurdish, with the intent to explore addition of other language groups at the end of the pilot. By providing interpreters upon request for City Council and Planning Commission meetings the City hopes to enable residents with limited English proficiency to further engage with our City and to more easily share their perspectives with City leadership.
No action by City Council is necessary.