Records disclosure policy & guidelines, calculation of copy/scan fees
| Submitted | Feb. 14, 2013 |
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Communications
From: Phil Mocek
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to RCW Ch. 42.56 (Public Records Act), I hereby request the following records:
1) Policies and guidelines for disclosure of public records by executive branch issued since November 1, 2009, 2) documentation of the calculation of actual cost of digitizing paper records (i.e., "scanning" them), 3) documentation of calculation of the actual cost of producing photocopies of paper records, and 4) documentation of calculation of the actual cost of saving digitized records to a CDROM, along with any associated metadata. This should include but not be limited to the "Public Disclosure Policies & Guidelines for Executive Branch" memo signed November 2, 2009, by Mayor Gregory J. Nickels.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Phil Mocek
From: EXECPDR
Dear Mr. Mocek,
Please see attached.
From: EXECPDR
Naomi Hillyard
From: Craver, Nancy
Dear Mr. Mocek,
Thank you for your request and questions regarding city policies and the public disclosure process as well as charges for copies of records. We have already sent you a copy of the 2009 Executive Public Rule.
You have also requested any documentation of the calculation of costs related to scanning, photocopying and saving records to a CD. Per RCW 42.56.120 the City does not charge in excess of fifteen cents per page and therefore we do have not taken any steps to document or justify a higher charge. Here is the relevant statute if you are interested.
42.56.120
Charges for copying.
No fee shall be charged for the inspection of public records. No fee shall be charged for locating public documents and making them available for copying. A reasonable charge may be imposed for providing copies of public records and for the use by any person of agency equipment or equipment of the office of the secretary of the senate or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives to copy public records, which charges shall not exceed the amount necessary to reimburse the agency, the office of the secretary of the senate, or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives for its actual costs directly incident to such copying. Agency charges for photocopies shall be imposed in accordance with the actual per page cost or other costs established and published by the agency. In no event may an agency charge a per page cost greater than the actual per page cost as established and published by the agency. To the extent the agency has not determined the actual per page cost for photocopies of public records, the agency may not charge in excess of fifteen cents per page. An agency may require a deposit in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the estimated cost of providing copies for a request. If an agency makes a request available on a partial or installment basis, the agency may charge for each part of the request as it is provided. If an installment of a records request is not claimed or reviewed, the agency is not obligated to fulfill the balance of the request.
This office considers your request closed.
If you have any further questions, you are welcome to call Nancy Craver at (206)684-7029 any time.
Thanks.
Naomi Hillyard
Office of Mayor Mike McGinn
City of Seattle
PO Box 94749
Seattle, WA 98124-4749
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 14, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Craver, Nancy
Per the following email - attached is the response we sent on March 1st.
-----Original Message-----
From: Hillyard, Naomi On Behalf Of EXECPDR
Sent: Friday, March 01, 2013 11:35 AM
To: 'requests@muckrock.com'
Cc: Craver, Nancy
Subject: RE: Follow up to Freedom of Information Request: Applications for Seattle Community Police Commission
Dear Mr. Mocek,
Thank you for your request and questions regarding city policies and the public disclosure process as well as charges for copies of records. We have already sent you a copy of the 2009 Executive Public Rule.
You have also requested any documentation of the calculation of costs related to scanning, photocopying and saving records to a CD. Per RCW 42.56.120 the City does not charge in excess of fifteen cents per page and therefore we do have not taken any steps to document or justify a higher charge. Here is the relevant statute if you are interested.
42.56.120
Charges for copying.
No fee shall be charged for the inspection of public records. No fee shall be charged for locating public documents and making them available for copying. A reasonable charge may be imposed for providing copies of public records and for the use by any person of agency equipment or equipment of the office of the secretary of the senate or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives to copy public records, which charges shall not exceed the amount necessary to reimburse the agency, the office of the secretary of the senate, or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives for its actual costs directly incident to such copying. Agency charges for photocopies shall be imposed in accordance with the actual per page cost or other costs established and published by the agency. In no event may an agency charge a per page cost greater than the actual per page cost as established and published by the agency. To the extent the agency has not determined the actual per page cost for photocopies of public records, the agency may not charge in excess of fifteen cents per page. An agency may require a deposit in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the estimated cost of providing copies for a request. If an agency makes a request available on a partial or installment basis, the agency may charge for each part of the request as it is provided. If an installment of a records request is not claimed or reviewed, the agency is not obligated to fulfill the balance of the request.
This office considers your request closed.
If you have any further questions, you are welcome to call Nancy Craver at (206)684-7029 any time.
Thanks.
Naomi Hillyard
Office of Mayor Mike McGinn
City of Seattle
PO Box 94749
Seattle, WA 98124-4749
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