San Francisco Rules Committee Meeting - May 6, 2024: Language Access Amendments and Appointments
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San Francisco Rules Committee Meeting - May 6, 2024
The Rules Committee, chaired by Supervisor Hillary Ronan, met on May 6, 2024, to consider appointments and proposed amendments to the Language Access Ordinance (LAO). The committee heard a presentation on the 2024 Language Access Compliance Summary Report, received extensive public testimony, and voted on several items.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Over 20 members of the public testified, largely in support of strengthening the LAO. Speakers included representatives from the Language Access Network of San Francisco (LAN SF), Chinese for Affirmative Action, Filipino Community Center, South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN), African Advocacy Network, Arab Resource Organizing Center, and the Immigrant Rights Commission.
- Many speakers shared personal stories of language barriers when accessing city services, including healthcare, housing, and emergency response. Several noted that Filipino language access remains unevenly implemented despite being a threshold language since 2014.
- Recommendations included: increasing bilingual staffing, lowering the LEP threshold from 10,000 to 6,000, adding Vietnamese as a required language, improving complaint processes, and adequately funding the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) to implement amendments.
- One speaker noted that 22% of spot-check respondents experienced wait times of 10–20 minutes for language services, and nearly a third were never connected to a bilingual employee or interpreter.
- A speaker from the Office of Racial Equity noted that the 5% threshold for emergency response translations (based on state law) would mean only Spanish and Chinese qualify citywide, potentially excluding other languages.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – Appointment to Sanitation and Streets Commission: Thomas Richard Harrison, the sole applicant, was reappointed. He has 28 years of experience as a city gardener and previously served on the Breckin Park Commission. The committee voted unanimously to send the appointment to the full board with a positive recommendation.
- Items 3 and 4 – Language Access Ordinance Amendments and Compliance Hearing: Supervisor Walton introduced amendments to the LAO, developed in partnership with OCEIA, the Immigrant Rights Commission, and community organizations. Key amendments include: clarifying interpretation vs. translation, adding language access for health emergencies and digital services, codifying the three required languages (Chinese, Spanish, Filipino), requiring departments to translate signage, establishing a streamlined complaint process, lowering the LEP threshold for new languages from 10,000 to 6,000 residents, and adding Vietnamese as a required language effective two years after passage.
- OCEIA Director Jorge Rivas and Policy Officer Chloe Noonan presented the 2024 compliance report, showing encouraging trends in LEP interactions and translated materials, but decreases in telephonic interpretations, bilingual staffing (citywide), and language services budgets (from $20M to $15M). OCEIA requested additional resources: upgrading two positions and adding a training officer and a language specialist (e.g., for Vietnamese).
- Supervisor Walton also mentioned a forthcoming resolution to further strengthen implementation.
- Item 1 – Appointment to Local Agency Formation Commission: Supervisor Hillary Ronan was appointed to a term ending February 4, 2027. She was excused from voting; the motion passed without objection.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to accept amendments to item 3 (LAO ordinance): Approved unanimously (Chair Ronan, Vice Chair Walton, Supervisor Safai all aye).
- Motion to continue item 3 to May 13, 2024 as amended: Approved unanimously.
- Motion to file item 4 (hearing on compliance): Approved unanimously.
- Motion to recommend item 2 (Harrison appointment) to full board with positive recommendation: Approved with Walton aye, Safai absent, Ronan aye (2 ayes, 1 absent).
- Motion to recommend item 1 (Ronan appointment) as committee report: Approved with Walton and Safai aye, Ronan excused.
Meeting Transcript
The meeting will come to order. This is the May 6, 2024 rules committee meeting. I'm Supervisor Hillary Ronin, Chair of the Committee. I'm joined by Committee Vice Chair Shaman Walton. And I understand that committee member supervisor Asha Safayi will be approximately 15 minutes late. Our clerk is Victor Young, and I would like to thank uh James Kawana from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes. Public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please line up to speak on your right. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to myself, the rules committee clerk at VIC TOR.yo UNG at SFgov.org. If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and also included as part of the file. You may also send your written comments via U.S. mail to our office in City Hall 1. Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices. Documents to be included as part of the file should be submitted to the clerk. Items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on May 14th, 2024, unless otherwise stated. In regards to item number three and four, uh, the office of the clerk of the board will be providing language accommodation today in Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino. Simultaneous interpretation of the proceedings on item three and four will be provided in language to those in the board chambers, and consecutive interpretation will be provided to the public commenters who approach the podium. That completes my initial announcements. Thank you so much. And uh we'll have to skip item one until Supervisor Safay joins us. So if we can, if you can call item number two, please. Yes. Item number two is a hearing concern to appointing one member term ending July 1st, 2028 to the Sanitation and Streets Commission. We have one applicant and one seat. Thank you so much. And I believe Thomas Richard Harrison is here. Hello, good morning. Do you have any remarks you'd like to share with us? Please go right ahead. Of course. Of course, I don't have a lot to say except to say I think we're doing pretty well what we are assigned to do. Uh so I really would like to get reappointed. Well, well, we've we've heard very good things about you and that you're doing an excellent job. So thank you so much for the work that you've done and your willingness to continue that work. Appreciate it very much. Thank you. Okay, we'll open this item up for public comment. Yes, members of the public who wishes to speak on this item should line speak at this time. Each speaker will be allowed two minutes. There will be a soft chime when you have 30 seconds left and a louder chime when your time has expired. Is there anybody who would like to make public comment on this matter? There are no speakers. Seeing none, uh public comment is now closed.
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