Somerville bike lane ordinance

Dear Mr. Schneeloch,

I write in response to your email request dated August 8, 2023 and received by us on August 9, 2023. We have no record of receiving a request email on August 4, 2023.

Pursuant 950 CMR 32.06(2)(g) I write to suggest a reasonable modification of the scope of your request as doing so would enable the City of Somerville to respond and produce any record more efficiently and cost effectively. A search of all email communications to and from the employees and officials of the City of Somerville involving bike lanes including the word “ordinance” will likely return a voluminous number of communications. I suggest that you please provide a list of City employees and officials that you want a search to be conducted. I further suggest we search specifically for the words “bike lanes” and “ordinance” together and “bicycle lanes” and “ordinance” together to better filter the results.

The City will send a cost estimate for production of the records upon receipt of your response and reserves the right to seek permission from the Supervisor of Public Records to charge an amount which exceeds the amount otherwise permitted by law to be charged, pursuant to 950 CMR 32.06(4), depending on the scope of work. Once modification is received, we will be able provide a fee estimate.

Have a great afternoon,

Bonnie

________________________________
Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
PRL Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143

August 8, 2023

This is a follow up to a previous request:

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

Emails, Microsoft Teams chat messages, and any other communications involving bike lanes including the word "ordinance" between June 1 2023 and Aug 4 2023.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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,

George Schneeloch

View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/

If prompted for a passcode, please enter:
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Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 150207
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115

PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.

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On Aug. 4, 2023:
Subject: Massachusetts Public Records Law Request: Somerville bike lane ordinance
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

Emails, Microsoft Teams chat messages, and any other communications involving bike lanes including the word "ordinance" between June 1 2023 and Aug 4 2023.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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,

George Schneeloch

View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/

If prompted for a passcode, please enter:
••••••••

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 150207
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115

PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
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City of Somerville Public Records Notice

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Good afternoon Mr. Schneeloch,

Due to the magnitude of your request and the resources required to provide a complete response, the city will provide you with a supplemental response and provide you with the public records sought within 25 business days from the date of the receipt of your request.

The city has identified records and intends to produce same, and may redact or withhold records if any exemptions are identified under the Massachusetts Public Records Law or any other statutes. Any exemptions will be set out in the City’s supplemental response to you.

Thank you for your cooperation in this regard.

Sincerely,

Bonnie

Good afternoon,

On behalf of the Records Access Officer and Record Custodian(s), please find attached public records responsive to your request. The responsive records have been be redacted in accordance with exemption (d) of the Massachusetts Public Records Law, as they relate to policy discussions and positions still under development.

I hope this information is helpful.

Contact information for the Records Access Officer is: Cindy Amara, City Solicitor, City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143, Phone: (617) 625-6600 x4400. Email: publicrecords@somervillema.gov<mailto:publicrecords@somervillema.gov>. You have the right to seek an administrative appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records under 950 CMR 32.08(1) and the right to seek judicial review by commencing a civil action in the superior court.

Please contact our office with any questions regarding this response.
Best,

Bonnie