Agenda Packets - 2002/03/05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council March 11, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 23 Council Member Quick asked whether the City has received any funds to reimburse the city for time spent to develop the data practice requests of Council Member Marty. City Administrator Miller indicated that the way that the policy works is that once the data practices request is compiled a letter is sent out to the requestor and the individual is not responsible for that dollar figure until the materials are picked up. She then said no. Council Member Quick commented that Council Member Marty is in the same boat as any other citizen who makes a data privacy request and does not follow through with it and now Council Member Stigney is interested in that information. City Administrator Miller indicated that Council Member Stigney’s request is a new request and it is a request to view the information and that is different than asking for copies. Council Member Quick commented that the City spent the Staff time to compile the information. City Administrator Miller indicated this is a separate data practices request. City Attorney Riggs indicated the City Administrator was correct and said it is unfortunate but the way the statute is written the City can only charge for Staff time if copies are made. Council Member Quick asked whether someone could come in and make a request and say they do not want the information and then another person can come in and ask to look at it. City Attorney Riggs indicated that the requested data becomes personal to the one making the request and the City has to produce that data again as a separate data request. City Administrator Miller indicated she would not be making copies as Council Member Stigney had asked to view the originals. Council Member Quick said he feels it is a scam situation and he feels it is rotten that the City can be abused the way it has been because there have been numerous requests that are compiled and left sitting at City Hall. City Administrator Miller indicated she had asked the Finance Director to provide her with a memo discussing his concerns with the data practices requests and the undue burden placed on his department. She further commented that in the Finance Director’s opinion a great deal of time and effort has been spent compiling these data requests and, as a result, some of what he needs to do has fallen through the cracks and the City may need to incur costs to have the auditor’s office take care of some of those tasks to ready the City for the audit. She indicated that it could cost between $650.00 and $1,000 for the auditor’s office to help catch up on those tasks. Council Member Quick indicated the costs multiply and cost the City money and he questions whether the intentions are in the best interest of the City.