HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/2/2025 Item 6f, Hermann, Pennon, Fuchs, and Harnett - Adoption of Title VI Programs for SLO Transit and the Public Works DepartmentCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum
City of San Luis Obispo
Council Agenda Correspondence
DATE: September 2, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager
Prepared By: Matt Pennon. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, Alex Fuchs, Mobility
Services Manager, Natalie Hartnett, Policy and Project Manager
VIA: Whitney McDonald, City Manager
SUBJECT: ITEM # 6f - ADOPTION OF TITLE VI PROGRAMS FOR SLO TRANSIT
AND FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Staff received the following feedback regarding the agenda item and is providing
responses as reflected below:
1. On page 214 of the packet, “she or he has” is used instead of “they have.”
Consider revising the language to be more inclusive.
All instances of he/she will be updated prior to finalization of the plan.
2. On page 247 and 274, consider adding the Diversity Coalition and
UndocuSupport to community group outreach lists.
Diversity Coalition and UndocuSupport will be added to the list of community
partners for future outreach efforts.
3. On page 214 of the packet, it is noted all the locations where the Title VI notice
is posted. Consider posting these notices at all stops, in addition to the other
locations.
Staff have considered posting notices at all bus stops, but most locations do not
have an available schedule holder to securely post the notice. As part of the City’s
on-going bus stop improvements project, additional schedule holders can be
purchased and installed for the Title VI notices, but staff will need to evaluate
installation and ongoing maintenance costs.
Adoption of Title VI Programs for SLO Transit and for the Public Works Department Page 2
4. The report states that all our bus cards and rider info is in both Spanish and
English. Is the full Title VI report also in both languages on our website?
No, the Title VI report itself is not considered a vital written document that the U.S.
Department of Transportation requires to be translated. Vital written documents
include consent and complaint forms; intake and application forms for access to
transit programs and services; written notices of rights and service changes; etc. For
example, the Title VI complaint form and notice of a person’s rights under Title VI
are considered vital written documents and translated versions are available.
5. Has Transdev or the City ever considered offering a monetary differential to
Spanish speaking drivers?
Yes, staff have spoken with Transdev, SLO Transit’s current operations contractor,
about incentivizing employees that speak a second language. Such an incentive
would have to be negotiated between Transdev and the union as part of their
collective bargaining agreement. Currently, about 25 percent of drivers, dispatchers,
and road supervisors speak a second language which allows for oral translation of
information requested by riders and callers.
Staff is preparing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for transit operation and
maintenance services. The RFP, which is scheduled to come to Council for approval
this Fall, will require prospective bidders to provide information on worker incentives
including bilingual pay incentives.
6. Is it possible to complete the Complaint Forms electronically and send them in
via email? The instructions imply that the forms must be filled out, signed and
returned via regular mail, but this can be prohibitive to people who don’t have
access to a printer, which many people do not these days.
Yes, the current form has instructions for submitting digitally via email
to slotransit@slocity.org. Additionally, staff is currently digitizing all SLO Transit
forms including the Title VI Complaint Form which will allow for easier completion
and submission of transit-related forms.
7. The public engagement section did not show outreach to community
organizations and nonprofits that typically work with areas of diversity such
as Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Diversity Coalition, RACE Matters, Jewish
Community Center of SLO (JCC), etc. Was there outreach to these groups? Do
you have a list of the community partners that were contacted and connected
with for item 2 under public engagement?
Attachment D (packet page 247) of SLO Transit’s Title VI Program lists the
Community Partners that were contacted during the update process including RACE
Matters. Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Diversity Coalition, and Jewish Community
Center of SLO (JCC) were not contacted but will be included in future outreach
efforts.