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• <br />• <br />WS — Item 10 <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item 10 <br />Date: 6 July 2010 <br />To: City Council <br />From: Dan Tesch, Director of Administration / Interim C.A. <br />Re: English as Official Language <br />Background <br />Several months ago, members of the council were asked to provide staff with their ideas <br />for potential cost saving measures. Council Member Roeser proposed the city adopt a <br />policy that English be the official language of the City. This policy would prevent the <br />city from printing materials and documents in multiple languages — thus saving in <br />printing and translation costs. <br />If the council would like to proceed with this initiative, the question becomes whether <br />this would be adopted in the form of a resolution or an ordinance. <br />A resolution would be a statement of policy outlining why English as the official <br />language has been adopted. This is a document that could be created by staff with a <br />quick review by our city attorney. <br />An ordinance would be amending the city code and would require that our attorney draft <br />the ordinance and that would be an expense not anticipated in the 2010 budget. <br />Our city attorney is on sabbatical until the end of July. The council should hear from your <br />attorney the pros and cons from a legal standpoint of adopting this policy — i.e. possible <br />future litigation and ramifications for federal grants. <br />Requested Council Direction <br />• If the council wishes to . proceed, would the policy be outlined in resolution form or <br />ordinance form. <br />