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iiCITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> to do that for them. We have on street disability parking spaces and have several hundred of them
<br /> within the neighborhoods. Under Title Six (VI), again, we have English proficiency assistance.
<br /> Interestingly enough, we had about 760,000 on our 311 line from the time it was implemented
<br /> until fall 2018. Of those, only 2,300 were Spanish speakers. I was surprised because the Hispanic
<br /> population in South Bend is roughly thirteen percent (13%).
<br /> Councilmember Jake Teshka arrived at the meeting at 4:01 p.m.
<br /> Ms. DeRose continued, So, to have that low number was interesting, but we have translators
<br /> available during the working hours. We are using, now, `I Speak' cards in every City department
<br /> so that anybody who is not an English speaker and can't be understood will be identified by their
<br /> native language. We've recommended to every department an online service they can use to
<br /> translate into English or another language. Most of our departments where there is heavy
<br /> concentration on public use have someone on board the department who is a Spanish speaker.
<br /> Kudos to the Clerk's Office for having a Spanish speaker on hand and doing the Spanish Agenda
<br /> translation.
<br /> She went on, The Environmental Justice Program is also a required component of a Title Six (VI)
<br /> Plan and that means that environmental concerns will not adversely impact those who are part of
<br /> the protection and those are persons of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation,
<br /> gender identity and here, most importantly would be income status. Two (2) things we've done
<br /> with that policy include adding a well to the area affected by new energy. It brought the water table
<br /> up in that area, so we added a well in order to reduce that effect of basement flooding in that
<br /> particular area. We've also implemented the lead-based testing program.The Charles Black Center
<br /> remediation would fall under this as well. This (referencing a slide in the presentation) is also part
<br /> of one (1) of the things we are required to do, and this is something that the Council will have to
<br /> use as well as others. This form will have to be available at public meetings and it is titled a
<br /> Voluntary Title Six(VI)Public Involvement Survey. It has to be available and is totally voluntary,
<br /> but it will help identify those who are of different national origin, race, color, etcetera, and it will
<br /> identify those who are elderly. It will also identify those of low income if people chose to fill it
<br /> out. We've not had success, frankly, and I don't think many other cities have either, but it is a
<br /> requirement.
<br /> Committee Chair Broden interjected, How is that to be utilized? In lieu of our sign ins, or what?
<br /> Ms. DeRose replied, It should be available at the place of sign-in. I'm thinking of having a little
<br /> announcement at each meeting that it is there, and we encourage people to, but it's not required,
<br /> fill out. But as I said, we haven't had much response,but any response is a good response.
<br /> Councilmember Sharon L. McBride arrived at the meeting at 4:05 p.m.
<br /> Ms. DeRose went on, In terms of the grievance process, if there is a grievance, based on the Title
<br /> Six(VI)and ADA Plan,we are required to have a grievance policy,which we do.This(referencing
<br /> the presentation) explains the policy that there is a form that needs to be filled out within a certain
<br /> period of time, sent back to the City, there is a time in which the City reviews it and tries to
<br /> accommodate or work out the problem. I can tell you in the six(6)years since I've been the ADA
<br /> Coordinator, we've had an average of three (3) grievances a year, all of which were worked out
<br /> informally except for one (1) and it was an unusual situation. But, all have been worked out. I am
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
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