Discussion and possible action on any and all matters regarding Resolution No. 2323.  A resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of San Luis, Arizona approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of San Luis, Arizona and Yuma County for the purpose of providing a Court Interpreter Position and Services. (Danae T. Figueroa, Magistrate) 

The City of San Luis has previously entered into IGAs with the Yuma County Superior Court to provide essential services to the functioning of the San Luis Municipal Court. Pursuant to Arizona State Judiciary Administrative Order 2011-96, all courts must have developed a language access plan that documents how the court makes court proceedings and operations available to limited-English-proficient (LEP) parties and witnesses. The court is responsible for taking reasonable steps to ensure that LEP individuals have meaningful access to all court-ordered services and programs.  Court interpreters will be provided in all courtroom proceedings at no cost to all LEP witnesses, litigants, victims, parents, guardians, and family members of minor witnesses, victims, and/or litigants, as well as any other person whose presence or participation is necessary or appropriate as determined by the judicial officer. Pursuant to Arizona State Judiciary Administrative Order 2016-02, courts are required to have staff who provide interpreter services credentialed at Tier 3 or higher under the Arizona Court Interpreter Credentialing Program (ACICP) by June 30, 2019. This requirement applies to all regular staff who are classified as interpreters, as well as those staff who are not so classified but who may be engaged by the court to act as interpreters. This requirement does not apply to bilingual staff who may be able to carry out their non-interpreting duties in a language other than English (i.e., public counters, information kiosks, etc.). The Superior Court has a fully developed interpreter program and is the entity in the best position to administer the functions.  The benefits include, but are not limited to, effective recruitment and development of qualified staff; ongoing supervision and training of the same; scheduling and coverage for San Luis Municipal Court; consistent services provided to the end users throughout the county; and compliance with Arizona Supreme Court Rules, and certification requirements. The Municipal Court would like to enter into an IGA with the Yuma Superior Court to provide a Court Interpreter Position and Services. The IGA will be in effect for ten (10) years. The Court Interpreter position will be funded directly from the City Municipal Court budget, which is already a budgeted, vacant position. The Superior Court will approve one full-time equivalent employee to interpret for all hearings, trials, programs, and events held within the court in all languages, including American Sign Language. The Superior Court shall have the responsibility of scheduling staffed and freelance interpreters in the event that the assigned Municipal Court Interpreter is not available.