City Offers Translation Services for Comments to City Council

The City of Lake Forest now offers translation services for Spanish- or Mandarin-speaking residents who want to address the City Council at a meeting.

According to the 2021, U.S. Census survey 14.1 percent of Lake Forest residents predominantly speak Spanish in the home and 12.7 percent predominantly speak one of the languages included in the Asian Pacific Islander category.

The City currently provides the translation of public information using a variety of methods. Staff is expanding those methods to include in-person translation of public comments during City Council meetings for those speakers who are not proficient in English. Removing the English proficiency barrier will advance the City’s goal of ensuring the community is engaged and informed.

Interpreters are available by request for members of the public who prefer to make their public comments in Spanish or Chinese. Requests for a translator need to be received by 8:00 a.m. the Monday before the scheduled City Council meeting. Such requests must be received via email at translationrequest@lakeforestca.gov