The Lewisville City Council decided Monday night not to pursue a resolution declaring English the city's official language.

Emotions ran high during the packed meeting, during which council members also decided not to move forward on a policy specifying which official documents to translate into Spanish.

After lengthy discussion, the council voted, 4-1, not to consider the resolution establishing an official language.

Lathan Watts, who put the resolution on the meeting's agenda, was the only member to vote to consider it. The council had discussed translating documents in August but decided to postpone a decision until this month.

Residents who spoke during the meeting were sharply divided on the language proposals.

Mercedes Bustos, who opposed the resolution, warned that it would be divisive.

"When somebody has their house that is burned to the ground or lost everything in a flood, they don't need to speak the same language to understand what their needs are," said Ms. Bustos, an American Red Cross volunteer. "Humanity is our common language, not the English language."

But John Gorena was among residents who supported the resolution.

"This is not about only speaking English in Lewisville," he said. "Speak whatever language you want, but please learn English. We want to make it official so we can all communicate."

State law requires the city to translate some documents into Spanish, but the city staff also translates other types of documents and signs related to public safety and health.

The document translation cost the city about $475 during fiscal 2007-08.

"We're talking about a minuscule amount for documents that are sent out," council member Dean Ueckert said. "We're only minimizing our costs and informing our citizens, so that's in the best interest for all the citizens of Lewisville."

Most residents who spoke out during the public hearing about the issue were opposed to translating documents that weren't required by law.

"I know that we're required by law to translate certain documents specifically in Spanish," Mr. Gorena said. "But I would rather not translate any other documents unless required. ... That just empowers those people who do not know English to not learn English."

Oak Point Mayor Duane Olson, whose city adopted a resolution making English its official language, spoke at the meeting to discourage Lewisville from passing a similar ordinance.

"It did not change the way the city is run," he said "We did not save any money, and we did not become more efficient with this resolution. The only thing it did for the city of Oak Point was to pit neighbor against neighbor."