Amazon HQ2 Bid - Finalist (Montgomery County)

Adanya Lustig filed this request with the Montgomery County Council of Montgomery County, MD.

It is a clone of this request.

Submitted Nov. 10, 2017
Est. Completion None
Status
Partially Completed

Communications

From: Adanya Lustig

Subject: Public Information Act Request: Amazon HQ2 Bid

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to Maryland's Public Information Act ("PIA"), I hereby request the following records:

A copy of the bid submitted in response to Amazon's request for proposals for the site of its second headquarters, any contracts with third-party providers for services rendered regarding the Amazon HQ2 bid, and any marketing budgets regarding Amazon-related expenditures from September 1, 2017 to the date this request is received.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, 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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Adanya Lustig

From:

Subject: Re: Public Information Act Request: Amazon HQ2 Bid

Email

MONTGOMERYCOUNTYCOUNCIL MONTGOMERYCOUNTYCOUNCIL ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND
DearMs. Lustig, ThisofficereceivedyourNovember10requestforpublicrecordsundertheMarylandPublicInformationAct(Md.Code,GeneralProvisionsSections4-101to4-601).Specifically,yourequestedcertaininformationrelatedtoMontgomeryCounty'sbidsubmittedinresponsetoAmazon'srequestforproposalsforitssecondheadquarters.TheCouncildoesnothaveanyrecordsthatareresponsivetoyourrequest.TheOfficeoftheCountyExecutivemayhaveresponsiverecords.TheMPIAliaisonforthatOfficeisSonettaNeufville.Ms.Neufvillecanbereachedatsonetta.neufville@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Sincerely,
Amanda Mihill LegislativeAttorney
STELLAB.WERNERCOUNCILOFFICEBUILDING • 100MARYLANDAVENUE • ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND 20850 240/777-7900 •  MDRELAY-DIAL711 • FAX240/777-7989
COUNTY.COUNCIL@MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV • (mailto:COUNTY.COUNCIL@MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV) WWW.MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV (https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=FSL_MCCC&crop=14332.5148934.5065297.7036426&report_id=&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV&redir_log=005980768825209)

From: Montgomery County Council

Subject: Council Reply

Email

MONTGOMERYCOUNTYCOUNCIL MONTGOMERYCOUNTYCOUNCIL ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND
DearMs. Lustig, IamwritingconcerningtherequestyousubmittedtotheCountyCouncil undertheMarylandPublicInformationAct(Md.Code,GeneralProvisionsArticle,Sections4-101to4-601).Specifically,yourequestedcertaininformationrelatedtoMontgomeryCounty'sbidsubmittedinresponsetoAmazon'srequestforproposalsforitssecondheadquarters. InaresponsedatedNovember13,IinformedyouthattheCouncildidnothaveanyrecordsthatwereresponsivetoyourrequest.SubsequenttomyNovember13e-mailmessage,IlearnedthattheCouncildoesinfacthaverecordsthatareresponsivetoyourrequest.However,asrequiredbySection4-203(b)(2)oftheGeneralProvisionsArticle oftheMd.Code,Iamalsonotifyingyouthatbaseduponthenatureofyourrequestandthetimethatitwilltaketoreviewtherequestedrecords,itwilltakemorethan10workingdaystoproducetherecordsforinspectiontoyou.WewillrespondtoyourrequestwithinthetimeframerequiredbythePublicInformationAct.
Sincerely,
Amanda Mihill LegislativeAttorney
STELLAB.WERNERCOUNCILOFFICEBUILDING • 100MARYLANDAVENUE • ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND 20850 240/777-7900 •  MDRELAY-DIAL711 • FAX240/777-7989
COUNTY.COUNCIL@MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV • (mailto:COUNTY.COUNCIL@MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV) WWW.MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV (https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=FSL_MCCC&crop=14239.5149166.5065525.7036426&report_id=&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV&redir_log=005980768825209)

From: Montgomery County Council

Subject: Re: RE: Public Information Act Request: Amazon HQ2 Bid

Email

MONTGOMERYCOUNTYCOUNCIL MONTGOMERYCOUNTYCOUNCIL ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND
DearMs. Lustig, TheOfficeoftheCountyAttorneyistakingtheleadonrespondingtoyourrequestsubmittedundertheMarylandPublicInformationAct(MPIA)fordocumentsrelatingtotheCounty'sbidsubmittedinresponsetoAmazon'srequestforproposalsforitssecondheadquarters.IunderstandthatMr.EdwardLattnersentyouane-mailonNovember30withanupdatetoyourMPIArequest.Ifyouhavefurtherquestions,feelfreetocontactMr.Lattneratedward.lattner@montgomerycountymd.govor(240)777-6735.
Sincerely,
Amanda Mihill LegislativeAttorney
STELLAB.WERNERCOUNCILOFFICEBUILDING • 100MARYLANDAVENUE • ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND 20850 240/777-7900 •  MDRELAY-DIAL711 • FAX240/777-7989
COUNTY.COUNCIL@MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV • (mailto:COUNTY.COUNCIL@MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV) WWW.MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV (https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=FSL_MCCC&crop=14275.5150133.5065965.7036426&report_id=&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV&redir_log=005980768825209)

From: Montgomery County Council

Subject: Re: RE: Public Information Act Request: Amazon HQ2 Bid

Email

MONTGOMERYCOUNTYCOUNCIL MONTGOMERYCOUNTYCOUNCIL ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND
DearMs. Lustig, TheOfficeoftheCountyAttorneyistakingtheleadonrespondingtoyourrequestsubmittedundertheMarylandPublicInformationAct(MPIA)fordocumentsrelatingtotheCounty'sbidsubmittedinresponsetoAmazon'srequestforproposalsforitssecondheadquarters.IunderstandthatMr.EdwardLattnersentyouane-mailonNovember30withanupdatetoyourMPIArequest.Ifyouhavefurtherquestions,feelfreetocontactMr.Lattneratedward.lattner@montgomerycountymd.govor(240)777-6735.
Sincerely,
Amanda Mihill LegislativeAttorney
STELLAB.WERNERCOUNCILOFFICEBUILDING • 100MARYLANDAVENUE • ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND 20850 240/777-7900 •  MDRELAY-DIAL711 • FAX240/777-7989
COUNTY.COUNCIL@MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV • (mailto:COUNTY.COUNCIL@MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV) WWW.MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV (https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=FSL_MCCC&crop=14275.5150133.5065965.7036426&report_id=&redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV&redir_log=005980768825209)

From: Montgomery County Council

Subject: RE: Public Information Act Request: Amazon HQ2 Bid

Email

The County Attorney's Office will be responding on behalf of the County Executive and the County Council.

Edward B. Lattner | Chief
Division of Government Operations
Montgomery County Attorney's Office
101 Monroe Street, Third Floor | Rockville, Maryland 20850

From: Montgomery County Council

Subject: RE: Public Information Act Request: Amazon HQ2 Bid

Email

I anticipate the response will be ready early next week.

Edward B. Lattner | Chief
Division of Government Operations
Montgomery County Attorney's Office
101 Monroe Street, Third Floor | Rockville, Maryland 20850

From: Montgomery County Council

Subject: Amazon HQ2 MPIA Response - MuckRock

Email

I am writing on behalf of the custodian of the records for which you have made application under the Maryland Public Information Act, Md. Code Ann., Gen. Prov. (GP) §§ 4-101 to 4-601. Your request is granted in part, and denied in part. The Proposal submitted by the County to Amazon includes site-specific information regarding proposed locations for Amazon's second headquarters, including information related to zoning, density and development potential, transportation, connectivity, and infrastructure investment. The Proposal also includes information regarding County incentives to attract Amazon to the County. Therefore, your request is denied to the extent it reveals (1) confidential commercial or confidential financial information obtained from other persons under GP § 4-335 or (2) information protected under GP § 4-344 ("interagency or intra-agency letters or memoranda") or executive privilege.

As to the first exemption, the Proposal includes confidential commercial and confidential financial information obtained from other persons that they would not customarily release to the public. The MPIA precludes the County from releasing this information.

As to the second exemption, release of the details of the County's Proposal before plans for Amazon's second headquarters are finalized would hamper the County's ability to successfully compete with other jurisdictions. This includes incentives the County is offering to attract Amazon to the County. Redactions reflecting confidential commercial/financial information the County has generated are made under the authority recognized in Stromberg Metal Works, Inc. v. Univ. of Md., 382 Md. 151, 167-70 (2004). Those County redactions are time sensitive, meaning that the County must reveal that information once plans for Amazon's second headquarters are finalized.

You may be able to file a complaint with the State Public Information Act Compliance Board under GP § 4-1A-05 if you have been charged a fee of over $350 for records and you believe that fee is unreasonable. You may seek the assistance of the Public Access Ombudsman to resolve certain disputes relating to an MPIA request as listed in GP § 4-1B-04. Finally, you may be able to file a complaint with the circuit court under GP § 4-362 if you have been denied inspection of a public record.

Edward B. Lattner | Chief
Division of Government Operations
Montgomery County Attorney's Office
101 Monroe Street, Third Floor | Rockville, Maryland 20850

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