Police contracts - Richfield, Minnesota
| Submitted | Dec. 19, 2014 |
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Communications
From: Tony Webster
Dear Data Practices Act Responsible Authority:
I write to you to request to inspect data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by the City of Richfield and Richfield Police Department, and any of its departments, employees, and contractors, regardless of its physical form, storage media, or conditions of use, pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13.
I would like to inspect any responsive data in its original form. In the case of responsive data stored or maintained electronically or in a computer storage medium, I would like to inspect such data in its original electronic form. The charging of fees for inspection of data is prohibited by Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(a).
This request is made for the purposes of news gathering and research, and is not made for commercial purposes. As such, I would appreciate “full convenience and comprehensive accessibility” as provided by Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 2(b).
I wish to inspect data since January 1, 2010 as follows:
(1) Any and all contractual agreements, along with any addenda, exhibits, and related invoices, between any individuals, corporations, organizations, or third-parties, and the Richfield Police Department;
(2) Any and all contractual agreements, along with any addenda, exhibits, and related invoices, between any individuals, corporations, organizations, or third-parties, and the City of Richfield, relating to law enforcement, the Richfield Police Department, criminal justice, surveillance and monitoring, and criminal prosecution.
STANDING REQUEST: Please consider this a standing request, and notify me when new responsive data is collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated, and when it is available for inspection. Standing requests must be honored (See e.g. Minnesota Department of Administration Advisory Opinions 04-007, 96-047).
REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATION: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3(f), if the responsible authority or designee determines that any portion of the requested data is classified so as to deny me access, I request certification in writing that the request has been denied, along with a citation of the specific statutory section, temporary classification, or specific provision of federal law upon which the denial was based, for each element of redacted or withheld data.
REQUEST FOR PRESERVATION AND RETENTION: Please indefinitely preserve and maintain any and all data likely to be responsive to this request until the data has been inspected, including any data which does not yet exist but would become responsive to the standing request.
Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated, and I thank you for your time. If you have any questions, please do let me know.
Warmest regards,
Tony Webster
From: Elizabeth VanHoose
Tony Webster,
We have reviewed your request and we were unable to determine the information you are seeking. Specifically are you wanting contracts for just Police Department or Public Safety as a whole?
Please provide further clarification so we can assess your request.
Respectfully,
[Description: Description: City of Richfield]<http://www.cityofrichfield.org/>
Elizabeth VanHoose | City Clerk
City of Richfield
Tel: (612) 861-9738 | Fax: (612) 861-9749
evanhoose@cityofrichfield.org<mailto:evanhoose@cityofrichfield.org>
[Description: Description: WebsiteGB]<http://www.cityofrichfield.org/> [Description: Description: Facebook button] <http://www.facebook.com/CityofRichfield> [Description: Description: Twitter button] <http://twitter.com/CityofRichfield>
From: Tony Webster
Elizabeth,
I am looking to inspect all Police Department contracts, as well as all general city contracts with a law enforcement or public safety purpose.
Thanks,
Tony
From: Tietjen, Mary D.
January 2, 2015
Dear Mr. Webster:
I am the city attorney for the City of Richfield, MN. I am writing regarding your email data request to the City dated December 19, 2014. Your request is very broad and somewhat vague. Therefore, we are seeking to clarify your request so that we understand which contracts in particular you would like to inspect. When you responded to Ms. VanHoose's email on Dec. 22 seeking clarification, you responded that you wanted "all police department contracts, as well as all general city contracts with a law enforcement or public safety purpose." While we appreciate the response, the City has numerous contracts that arguably have a "public safety purpose". This could include contracts relating to police, fire, public health, building inspections, public works, and likely many others. Even within the police department itself, there are many types of agreements. To provide all of these, along with "all related invoices" (as stated in your original request) could involve many days and possibly weeks to compile and thus, we want to be sure that the City is providing information that you actually wish to inspect. As an example, the police department may have a contract relating to towing services - are you interested in seeing four years of invoices relating to towing activities within the City?
If you are unable to identify the data you are seeking with more specificity, I would offer the following as one possible approach. The City could initially compile the contracts to which the Richfield Police Department is a party and make those available for your inspection. If you are interested in reviewing additional data, such as "related invoices" or other "public safety" related contracts, after reviewing the police department contracts, we can address your subsequent requests at that time. Please let me know how you would like to proceed.
Regards,
Mary D. Tietjen| Kennedy & Graven, Chartered | 200 South 6th Street | Suite 470 | Minneapolis, MN 55402
direct: 612.337.9277 | fax: 612.337.9310 | email: mtietjen@kennedy-graven.com
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE IS CONFIDENTIAL AND MAY ALSO BE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED. THE INFORMATION IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED. IF YOU ARE NOT THE INTENDED RECIPIENT, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT ANY USE, DISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTION OR COPYING OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE IN ERROR, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY US BY REPLY EMAIL, AND DELETE THE ORIGINAL.
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 Dec. 19, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Tietjen, Mary D.
Mr. Webster:
I am responding to the email that you sent to Ms. VanHoose on January 7. Since you did not clarify your request as outlined in my email to you on January 2 (see below), the City will respond to your request by compiling the Richfield police department contracts and have them available for your inspection at the Richfield City Hall on January 16, 2015.
Mary D. Tietjen| Kennedy & Graven, Chartered | 200 South 6th Street | Suite 470 | Minneapolis, MN 55402
direct: 612.337.9277 | fax: 612.337.9310 | email: mtietjen@kennedy-graven.com
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE IS CONFIDENTIAL AND MAY ALSO BE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED. THE INFORMATION IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED. IF YOU ARE NOT THE INTENDED RECIPIENT, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT ANY USE, DISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTION OR COPYING OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE IN ERROR, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY US BY REPLY EMAIL, AND DELETE THE ORIGINAL.
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