Lewisville (Texas ): City Council may set translation policy

[Harold Schiffman]

City Council may set translation policy


BY DAN EAKIN, Staff Writer
(Created: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 3:50 PM CDT)


The Lewisville City Council Monday night discussed at length the
possibility of adopting a resolution setting guidelines for the city
staff as to what materials may or may not be translated into Spanish
or other foreign languages. The council may take formal action on the
proposal at a regular meeting Oct. 6. Councilman Lathan Watts had
requested that an item be placed on the agenda calling for "a
discussion of policy related to translations of city publications and
communications."

Watts suggested that "the council should set a policy so staff will
have direction" as to which documents should or should not be offered
in Spanish or other translations. Councilman Rudy Durham called the
proposal "ridiculous" and "racist." Durham said Tuesday morning, "If I
appeared to be making a personal attack against Councilman Watts, I
did not mean to, and I apologize to him."  Councilman Dean Ueckert
said, "Times have changed over the years. I have no problem with the
way that we are doing it now except that it puts a burden on the city
manager to make those decisions." Councilman David Thornhill's initial
reaction was, "I am OK with they way it is now if we are not going to
have a resolution."

Councilman Greg Tierney said he would be in support of developing a
policy setting guidelines for city staff as to what materials could be
translated.
City Manager Claude King said some guidance from the council on the
subject would be welcome. "Right now, we're trying to keep a hand on
it strictly in regards to cost," he said. He later said if the matter
gets totally out of hand, even ordinances one day may have to be
translated into Spanish or other languages. Watts said, "It may not be
a major issue right now, but I can see it becoming one." Two people
with Spanish surnames n John Gorena and Susan Davis-Duarte n came from
the audience to the podium to speak in favor of documents being
printed only in English.

"I know the law requires that some documents be printed in both
English and Spanish, and I am against that," Gorena said. However, he
later said he understands why some materials need to be in both
languages because of life-threatening situations which occur. Gorena
said he is a former paramedic who often interpreted for victims at
accident scenes. Both Gorena and Davis-Duarte spoke in favor of the
council approving English as the official language of the city. Both
pointed out that legal immigrants must be able to read English at
least at a third-grade level.

Watts noted, "All we're talking about is translation of documents.
Anyone (city employee) who is bilingual could be free to assist anyone
who comes in in Spanish or anther language." City Secretary Julie
Heinze estimated that about half of the people who come into her
office requesting birth certificate applications do not speak English.
While the council members stopped short of saying they were in favor
of adopting English as the official language of the city of
Lewisville, City Communications Manager James Kunke said it is
possible that the city may adopt guidelines similar to those in nearby
cities. He said both the cities of Farmers Branch in Dallas County and
Oak Point in Denton County have adopted resolutions designating
English as the official language of their cities. He said a city in
South Texas has adopted a resolution designating Spanish as its
official language. At present, federal laws require cities to produce
a total of 14 different documents in both English and Spanish.

They include materials on sexual harassment, Fair Labor Standards Act,
Family Medical Leave Act, Equal Employment Opportunity poster,
Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act,
Occupational Safety Hazards Act, Employee Polygraph Protection Act,
Workers Compensation notices, unemployment rights, payday notices and
Public Information Act posters, election materials, concealed handguns
prohibited signs and a consumer confidence report.

At present, the city of Lewisville voluntarily prints and distributes
materials in Spanish about the Food Handlers Test, West Nile Virus
information, Retail Food Protection manuals, customer service
applications and waiver forms, letters to school children about open
house and smoke detector batteries, "After the Fire" booklet, some
employment advertising, Emergency Protection Orders (from the
Municipal Court), Interlock warning, No Contest docket option, options
through the automatic phone system, Lake Park receipts and park rules
(given at the park entry gate), glass container prohibition signs,
Lake Park swimming safety signs, DWI paperwork, Miranda warning,
magistrates warning, inmate request for an assigned attorney,
Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) officer business cards, NET
neighborhood flyers, birth certificate application form and death
certificate application form.

Also, the city distributes some materials in Spanish which have been
printed and paid for by a third party. Those materials include petting
zoo signs, public education brochures, "Know What to Do" materials,
nationwide information packet (employees only), Violent Crime Victims
brochure, Preventing Domestic Violence brochure, Denton County Crime
Stoppers information, car seat safety brochure and marijuana
information brochure.

http://www.lewisvilleleader.com/articles/2008/08/20/lewisville_leader/news/1.txt
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