Request for Public Records

Public Information Request Policy - Public Records Request Form - 

Pay for Records Request (must have invoice number from Town Clerk)

Purpose

Transparency and full disclosure are important to the Town of Eagle. The purpose of this policy is to define the policy and procedures for providing accurate records to the public in a reasonable time frame.

Definition of Public Record

“Public Records” means and includes all writings made, maintained, or kept by the state, any agency, institution, a nonprofit corporation incorporated pursuant to section 23-5-121(2), C.R.S., or political subdivision of the state, or that are described in section 29-1-902, C.R.S., and held by any local-government-financed entity for use in the exercise of functions required or authorized by law or administrative rule or involving the receipt or expenditure of public funds. “Public Records” includes the correspondence of elected officials, except to the extent that such correspondence is:

•    Work product:

•    Without demonstrable connection to the exercise of functions required or authorized by law or administrative rule or does not involve the receipt or expenditure of public funds;

•    A communication from a constituent to an elected official that clearly implies by its nature or content that the constituent expects that it is confidential or a communication from the elected official in response to such a communication from a constituent: or

•    Subject to nondisclosure as required in section 24-72-204(1).

Exempt Public Records

If disclosure is prohibited by court order or is contrary to state or federal law or regulation. Examples: Medical, psychological, sociological, scholastic achievement data; personnel files and letters of reference; privileged or confidential information, such as communications with attorney- client privilege or proprietary information like computer source codes; deliberative process privileged materials; sexual harassment investigation records; some election, library and museum records; records on users of public utilities and facilities; materials submitted by certain applicants for executive positions. The Town Records Custodian may deny inspection to specific records if disclosure is “contrary to the public interest.”

Access

The Town Clerk’s Office will permit inspection and examination of non-exempt public records during regular business hours in the Town Clerk’s Office, at Eagle Town Hall, 200 Broadway, Eagle, Colorado or other locations the custodian may designate. Copies of non-exempt public records maintained in electronic form shall be furnished, if available, in the form requested and according to the procedures described in this policy. Records not available in the form requested shall be made available in the form in which they are maintained.

Removal

At no time shall an original record of the Town of Eagle be removed from the place at which the record is regularly maintained, except upon authorization of the Town Clerk. 

On-Site Review

If a request to review original records is made, the Town Clerk’s Office shall permit such a review provided the Town Clerk or his/her designee is present at any time during which original records are reviewed. Any attempt to alter, remove, or destroy any original records being reviewed will immediately terminate such person’s review, and may subject that person to prosecution.

Records Requests

Requests for review and/or duplication of public records are handled according to the State of Colorado Open Records Act (C.R.S. 24-72-203). Requests for public information should be delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office on the Town of Eagle Public Information Request form. Per C.R.S. 24-72-203, the requested records will be made available within three (3) working days.

In the case of large or voluminous requests, the Town is permitted an extension of seven (7) working days to compile the requested information. If such extension is required, notification will be sent to the requestor within the initial three (3) working day time frame.

The Town is not obligated to create a new public record in response to a request. Data and/or records need to be provided only in the format in which they currently exist. Requests in advance for “future” records i.e. requests for information on a subsequent continuing or periodic basis are not allowed. A separate request must be made each time existing data and/or records are requested. Data will not be manipulated and provided in custom formats. A modification of an initial request is considered a new request.

The Town is authorized by law to charge the requestor for the research, retrieval, and redaction costs actually incurred by the Town in processing Public Information Requests. The law further authorizes the Town to provide requested public records only after such costs are fully paid (C.R.S. § 24-72-205).  It is therefore the Town’s policy, in the context of requests for a large quantity of records, to require a deposit of 50% of the cost estimate as an affirmation of the party’s willingness to proceed with the records request and pay the costs thereof.

The Town will not proceed with a new Open Records Request from any party unless full payment has been received for all previous Open Records Requests filed by such party. The Town will require and collect one hundred percent (100%) advance deposit from any party who has made a previous request and did not come in to view the requested information after being notified of a date and time when the records were available for inspection.

Fees

Fees for copying, research, retrieval, and redaction involved in Public Information Requests are assessed per C.R.S. 24-72-203.

•    Copies                        $.25 each after the first 10 copies

•    Certified copies           $2.00 each

•    Research & Retrieval    $30/hour after the first hour (15-minute increments)

•    Information transfer to Computer Media        $30.00 each

•    Video DVD or Audio CD  $30.00 each

•    Postage & Packaging for Mailing     Actual Cost

Fees for other types of information requests will be assessed based on the Town’s cost to copy or reproduce the requested item.