AGENDA TITLE:
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Adopt a Resolution Approving a Side-Letter Agreement with Lodi Police Dispatchers Association to Expand Bilingual Testing to Include Additional Languages (HR)
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MEETING DATE:
October 2, 2024
PREPARED BY:
Andrew Keys, Assistant City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution approving a side-letter agreement with Lodi Police Dispatchers Association (LPDA) to expand bilingual testing to include additional languages.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Lodi Police Department manages a 911 Dispatch Center where Dispatcher/Jailers respond to emergency calls and dispatch personnel to assist with emergency situations. The Dispatcher/Jailers must communicate clearly with members of the public during highly stressful situations.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the City and LPDA provides for bilingual stipend of $150 a month for employees who are proficient in Spanish. Employees must pass a proficiency examination scheduled through the Human Resources office to be eligible for the stipend. The City currently contracts with Alta Language Services (Alta) to administer the bilingual examinations. Alta provided professional interpretation, translation and language testing (in over 100 languages) to multiple organizations for over 40 years. The City used Alta since February 2018.
The City utilizes Language Line Solutions to provide translation services for communication with members of the public when City staff who are bilingual are not available, or if an employee who speaks the language of the member of the public is unavailable. Utilizing Language Line Solutions to assist with translation requires a three-way conference call between City staff, the caller, and a translator from Language Line Solutions. This process may delay emergency services dispatched by the Dispatcher/Jailer.
For Fiscal Year 2023/24 a total of 869 minutes were spent on the language line for a total cost to the City of $8...
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