Okaloosa County BOCC — December 15, 2015 — Update of FTA Title VI Policy and LEP Plan — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: December 15, 2015 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Elliot Kampert SUBJECT: Update of FTA Title VI Policy and LEP Plan DEPARTMENT: Growth Management BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: In order to receive Federal financial assistance under the Federal Transit Act of 1964, the County must have a Title VI and Nondiscrimination Policy and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan to insure that no person on the basis of race, color, or national origin will be subjected to discrimination in the level and quality of transportation services and transit-related benefits. BACKGROUND: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance. Specifically, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, “protects any person in the United States on the ground of race, color, or national origin from being excluded from participation, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Transportation” (42 U.S.C. Section 2000d). On March 14, 2014, the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Title VI Policy and LEP Plan currently in effect. Since that time, however, staff has been notified by the Florida Department of Transportation that the County's Title VI Plan must be revised to specifically reference the "Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, as well as other applicable Federal statutes." Failure to include this reference could jeopardize receipt of future grants. This change has been made on the attached Title VI Plan. In addition, all references to "Okaloosa County Transit"" or "OCT" have been replaced with references to "Emerald coast Rider" and "Maruti" when appropriate to context. OPTIONS: The Board may approve or not approve the revised Title VI Plan. RECOMMENDATION: The Department of Growth Management requests that the Board approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the December 2015 Title VI and Nondiscrimination Policy and Limited English Proficiency Plan, and authorization for staff to enter it into the Federal Transit Administration's TEAM system. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator