Automatic vehicle location database (North East King County Regional Public Safety Communications Agency)
| Submitted | July 11, 2013 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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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:
Full and complete database of automatic vehicle location (AVL) data in its native electronic format, with related metadata, including database schema.
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: Public Records Officer
Good Morning Mr. Mocek,
NORCOM is in receipt of the below noted public records request for a " Full and complete database of automatic vehicle location (AVL) data in its native electronic format, with related metadata, including database schema".
Presently, NORCOM utilizes two separate databases for AVL; New World Systems and Tritech Software Systems. The New World System AVL database is available as a backup, in its native electronic format, with related metadata. This data would be provided on a series of CDs. The Tritech Software Systems database would require filtering to pinpoint AVL specific data, (there is not a separate AVL database) and therefore is available as a .csv file. This data would also be provided on a series of CDs. You would need to contact New World Systems and Tritech Software Systems, respectively, for any database schema.
Due to the magnitude of available data, the total projected CDs required to fulfill this request would be 32. The fees are broken down by $20.00 for the first CD, and $3.00 per each additional CD. Postage is included in this cost. The estimated fee for fulfilling this request would be $113.00. NORCOM would require a 10% deposit to begin fulfilling this request, with the remainder of the fee being paid prior to releasing the responsive records.
From receipt of your confirmation that you wish to move forward, NORCOM anticipates it would take approximately 30 days to fulfill this request.
I look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Respectfully,
Heather Lehman
Quality Assurance and Public Records Specialist
Monday- Tuesday - 0700-1200
Wednesday - Friday 0700-1700
NORCOM•PO Box 50911•Bellevue• WA• 98015
425.577.5678 direct •425.577.5700 main• 425.577.5701 fax
hlehman@norcom.org • www.norcom.org
From: Phil Mocek
RE: my public records request of July 11, 2013
Dear Sir or Madam:
On July 16, 2013, Heather Lehman of NORCOM wrote via e-mail, "The New World System AVL database is available as a backup, in its native electronic format, with related metadata." Excellent.
Ms. Lehman also wrote, "The Tritech Software Systems database would require filtering to pinpoint AVL specific data, (there is not a separate AVL database) and therefore is available as a .csv file." I believe we would reduce the burden on you and increase utility to the public if you provided me with the entire backup of your Tritech database.
Ms. Lehman continued, "Due to the magnitude of available data, the total projected CDs required to fulfill this request would be 32." That comes to approximately 20 GB of data (32 x 650 MB), which would fit on five single-sided DVD-Rs (5 x 4.7 GB). Blank media costs less than $1/disc today (a quick search of a major office supply retailer shows 50-disc spindles offered for $15-20), and five discs would easily fit in one of the USPS flat-rate boxes that ship for less than $6, bringing the total for media and shipping to no more than $10. I am willing to pay that.
Alternatively, I am willing to deliver to you a 32 GB USB flash drive or SD card onto which the data could be saved, along with a self-addressed and stamped envelope for return shipment. This would have the advantage of removing the need for you to split the records across multiple storage devices.
Please let me know how you would like to proceed.
Cordially,
Phil Mocek
From: Lehman, Heather
Dear Mr. Mocek,
Please note that all future correspondence may be directed to me personally.
Our fee schedule is non-negotiable. However, we welcome the receipt of your flash drive. As you stated below, not only is it more economical, it affords a more presentable environment for the responsive records. Should you not already have it, you can send the flash drive to my attention at:
NORCOM
PO Box 50911
Bellevue, WA 98015
While I appreciate your effort to lessen the burden, unfortunately, I am unable to provide you with a backup of our entire Tritech database. The Tritech database houses all information on every Fire and Medical incident responded to. It is not as simple as merely providing a backup of the database. Each and every incident would have to be thoroughly scrutinized prior to dissemination to assure that no HIPPA violations were made or exemptions were necessary. Additionally, per RCW 42.56.540, third party notifications would have to be mailed to all persons named or listed in the aforementioned incidents to advise them that their information was being requested and by whom. A request of this nature would be deemed too broad and further clarification would be necessary.
I apologize that we are unable to provide the responsive records from the Tritech database in their native format. NORCOM is still more than happy to provide you a .csv file of the AVL table within the Tritech database.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would welcome a telephone conversation to assure your needs are being met.
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 July 11, 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: Lehman, Heather
Mr. Mocek,
As stated in previous communications, NORCOM is happy to place responsive records, in a technically feasible format for delivery, on a flash drive per your suggestion in your email of July 16, so that you can also avoid paying the original invoice amount of $113.00. If you have since decided against supplying a flash drive, and are still interested in receiving the requested records, please feel free to forward the 10% deposit of $11.30 in the form of cash or check to the following address:
Heather Lehman
NORCOM
PO Box 50911
Bellevue, WA 98015
We will wait to hear from you as to whether you would like copies of the records. As always, I invite you to give me a call if you have further questions. In the meantime, we will keep this request open for you through August 23.
From: Phil Mocek
RE: my public records request of July 11, 2013
Dear Ms. Lehman:
I apologize for the superfluous request for status update e-mailed to you on August 3, 2013. It was automatically generated by MuckRock's system despite the fact that the holdup in this matter is me, not you. I'm managing several similar requests and do intend to mail to you a storage device along with return postage. Thank you for your assistance and patience.
Cordially,
Phil Mocek
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 July 11, 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: 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 July 11, 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: 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 July 11, 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: Lehman, Heather
Good Morning Mr. Mocek,
Can you please confirm that the below messages remain auto-generated? As we are still awaiting your flash drive, that is my assumption, however I wanted to assure I was correct. Also, I should mention that NORCOM typically deems a request abandoned if we have not received payment (in this case, the flash drive) within 30 days of invoice. Please advise whether you still hold an interest in this request. If so, do you have an idea of when you intend to mail the flash drive?
Files
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