DEPARTMENT: Government and Public Affairs
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: Open Records Process
SUMMARY: A briefing of the review of the City's Open Records Requests process and recommendation for improvements.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Today, the City of San Antonio receives more than 40,000 Open Record Requests (ORR) annually and endeavors to fulfill each request as timely as possible in compliance with the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). The Government and Public Affairs (GPA) Department manages the City's ORR process, in coordination with the City Attorney's Office (CAO) and City departments.
The Texas Public Information Act states: All governmental bodies responding to information requests have the responsibility to -
* Treat all requestors equally
* Complete open records training as required by law
* Be informed of open records laws and educate employees on the requirements of those laws
* Inform the requestor of cost estimates and any changes in the estimates
* Confirm the requestor agrees to pay the costs before incurring the costs
* Provide requested information promptly
* Inform the requestor if the information will not be provided within ten business days and give an estimated date on which it will be provided
* Cooperate with the requestor to schedule reasonable times for inspecting or copying information
* Follow attorney general rules on charges; do not overcharge on any items; do not bill for items that must be provided without charge
* Inform third parties if their proprietary information is being requested from the governmental body
* Inform the requestor when the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has been asked to rule on whether information may or must be withheld
* Copy the requestor on written comments submitted to the OAG stating the reasons why the stated exceptions apply
* Comply with any OAG ruling on whether an exception applies or file suit against the OAG within 30 days
* R...
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