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• <br />• <br />• <br />WS — Item 3 <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item 3 <br />Date: 7 June 2010 <br />To: City Council <br />From: Daniel Tesch, Director of Administration/Interim C.A. <br />Re: English as Official Language <br />Background <br />Council Member Roeser has asked staff to look into the possibility of establishing <br />English as the official language for the city. I have contacted the League of Minnesota <br />Cities and they have provided the information enclosed. According to the league, <br />governmental entities can and have adopted such policies, they have also been challenged <br />on many and varied grounds — there is no clear case law. <br />To my knowledge, we have not had a request for a translator or that materials be <br />translated into another language. I understand there are situations when the police <br />department has enlisted the services of a translator. <br />A couple of considerations: <br />• Cities are required to provide services and opportunities equally to everyone <br />regardless of culture, ethnicity or religion. <br />• Does the city have a large minority population? <br />• There is the possibility of a perception that a City is "not welcoming and <br />unfriendly ". <br />Requested Council Direction <br />Council prerogative. <br />1 <br />