HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2021-001Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2020-598
File ID: AB2020-598 Version: 1 Status: Approved
File Created: 12/08/2020 Entered by: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Resolution
Assigned to: Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Final Action: 01/12/2021
Agenda Date: 01/12/2021 Enactment#: RES 2021-001
Primary Contact Email: RBrowne@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution reflecting the diversity of the County's population by improving written accessibility
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Resolution reflecting the diversity of the County's population by improving written accessibility
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
12/08/2020 Council
INTRODUCED
Council Finance and
Administrative Services
Committee
Aye:
7
Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, Elenbaas, and Kershner
Nay:
0
Absent:
0
01/12/2021 Council Finance and Administrative
RECOMMENDED FOR
Services Committee
APPROVAL
Aye:
3
Browne, Byrd, and Kershner
Nay:
0
Absent:
0
01/12/2021 Council APPROVED
Aye: 6 Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Frazey, Kershner, and Donovan
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Whatcom County Page 1 Punted on 111312021
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2020-598)
Abstain: 1 Elenbaas
Attachments: Proposed Resolution
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 111312021
1 PROPOSED BY: BROWNE
2 INTRODUCTION DATE: DECEMBER 8, 2020
3
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5 RESOLUTION NO. 2021-001
6
7 REFLECTING THE DIVERSITY OF THE COUNTY'S POPULATION
8 BY IMPROVING WRITTEN ACCESSIBILITY OF PUBLIC SPACE SIGNAGE
9
10 WHEREAS, the County Council approved a Resolution November 24th 2020
11 Affirming Racism is a Public Health Crisis; and
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13 WHEREAS, the County has a responsibility to serve all county residents irrespective
14 of race, national origin, or disability; and
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16 WHEREAS, the exception county has traditionally published most public signage, as
17 well as printed and online materials, are limited to the English language; and
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WHEREAS, a lack of public signage and printed and online materials available in
other languages restricts equal access to public resources; and
WHEREAS, the use and accessibility of the original languages used in Whatcom
County by the original Native American inhabitants has been so severely impacted there is
an ever-present risk they could be permanently lost; and
WHEREAS, there are some low-cost methods to address many of these issues
immediately.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Whatcom County Council requests the
County Executive integrate "Google Translate" (which currently supports 108 languages) or
a similar product into County websites wherever possible; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Whatcom County Council requests the County
Executive replace all navigation and guidance signs on and in county buildings serving the
public with multilingual signs in the following written languages:
English
Spanish
Lummi
Brail
;and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that Whatcom County Council requests the County
Executive investigate options to provide multi -language kiosks be place in the lobby of
county buildiQgss� prying the public to provide a much more comprehensive list of written
languaR,s�, pIpsvatur��o `d�pess for those that lack sufficient literacy in any written language.
b
A 2tht January
1
i P #tOUEDApis , day of y , 20'202
`WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
ATT 5T:� "` r - VaBuch
NTY, ASHINGTON
y
Dan:. Brown1l�va�,heric of the Council a an,Council Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM:`
Approved by Karen Frakes via email
Civil Deputy Prosecutor