Item number: 11a_attach_1
Meeting Date: March 12, 2024

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ORDER 2023-05
AN ORDER OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
… To develop a language access policy and plan that ensures
inclusion of non or limited English speakers, including those
who are hard of hearing or deaf, in the use of Port services and
facilities; and the portwide implementation of a plan directing
divisions with publicly facing public services to offer language
assistance services including translation and/or interpretation.
PROPOSED
APRIL 11, 2023
TEXT OF THE ORDER
The Port Commission hereby directs the Executive to develop a Portwide policy on language access. At a
minimum, this language access policy shall include an assessment of current practices (including a
review of publicly facing documents, resources, signage, websites, social media sites, and forms);
development of a guidance manual for divisions to create language access plans; and a proposal for
budgeting resources necessary to implement this policy. The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
(OEDI) and External Relations (ER) shall deliver a report to the Commission and Executive Director by
February 29, 2024 on the findings of any language access assessments and the development and
implementation of language access policy across the Port. The findings of this report may then be used
to inform additional Executive Director and/or Commission action.
The following shall be considered a guide to the implementation of this order:
1.

OEDI shall conduct an assessment of every department, except External Relations, across the
organization to determine the following: the most critical materials that need translation, the
need for interpreters, and the level of training and implementation necessary to meet Safe
Harbor guidance by the U.S. Department of Justice and/or the Four Factor LEP Analysis
framework from Federal agencies as part of the Title VI plans for the Port of Seattle and SEA.
These assessments will be conducted with support from the Change Team and shall be
completed by February 29th, 2024.

2.

External Relations shall conduct a prioritized assessment of its most critical internal and external
facing communications and determine the level of resources needed to implement language
access in the department’s materials and programming. External Relations shall share these
findings with OEDI by September 2023 and propose a multi-year, prioritized language access
implementation plan for ER starting in the 2024 budget. External Relations shall also collaborate
with OEDI in assessing the Aviation Division.

3.

By September 2023, OEDI and ER shall start to collaborate to develop a Language Access
guidance manual. This Language Access guidance manual must include, but is not limited to,
guidance for when targeted, culturally and linguistically responsive public communications must
be translated, how to establish and meet interpretation requests as they relate to services

Order 2023-05 – Language Access Policy

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offered by the Port of Seattle, how to select quality, certified translators and interpreters when
needed, when to consider alternative forms of language access when translation or
interpretation may not be the most effective methods, and post-translation and interpretation
quality assurance review. This guidance manual shall be completed and available for
department and division use by February 29th, 2024.
4.

Based on the assessments in Sections 1 and 2, by February 29th, 2024 the Office of Equity,
Diversity, and Inclusion and External Relations shall begin to provide departments and divisions
technical assistance for establishing and/or updating annual language access plans.
Departments prioritized for support will be departments and divisions with external facing
and/or customer facing operations. This technical support shall include budget planning for
departments to resource language access strategies and implementation.

5.

Departments and divisions shall establish and/or update their language access plans on an
annual basis starting no later than 2025.

6.

Any language access assessments or annual language access plans shall consider the needs of
people who communicate using American Sign Language.

7.

Per the 2022 Salary and Benefits Resolution, Human Resources shall propose a policy and
compensation model for Port employees who are tasked with translation services outside of
their regular job duties prior to the 2025 budget development process.

8.

OEDI shall collaborate with King County to access King County’s data related to first, second, and
third tier languages and make this data available through the equity index and by sharing with
other departments throughout the organization.

9.

The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is designated co-lead to provide technical support,
oversight, and program management duties in fulfillment of this order.

10. External Relations is designated co-lead to provide technical support for departments to execute

language access plan strategies related to the Port's external facing operations and outreach
activities in fulfillment of this order.

11. By February 29, 2024, OEDI and External Relations shall provide a report to the Executive

Director and the Commission on lessons learned and future considerations related to this order
to establish language access plans and tools across the Port.

Order 2023-05 – Language Access Policy

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STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDER
The Port of Seattle strives to be inclusive in providing access to services and to provide a welcoming
environment for customers, employees and the general public. We welcome citizens, neighbors, and
visitors from throughout the world regardless of race, color or national origin and strive to exceed the
values expressed in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires recipients of Federal financial
assistance to take reasonable steps to make their programs, services, and activities accessible by eligible
persons with limited English proficiency. The Port is committed to access to services, especially
historically and currently overburdened communities and populations, including those with limited
English proficiency, to promote the general health, safety, and economic prosperity of our region.

Order 2023-05 – Language Access Policy

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