Laserfiche WebLink
Mounds View City Council January 28, 2002 <br />Regular Meeting Page 29 <br />• <br />Council Member Marty said that it seems to him that a Council Member should be able to look <br />into something if he feels it is necessary. <br />City Attorney Riggs indicated that the Minnesota Data Practices Act does not treat a Council <br />Member any differently than any other resident in the community. He commented that Council <br />Members gain no authority and are to be treated no differently than any other individual unless it <br />is official authorized Council business. He further commented that Council lacks the authority to <br />do anything differently because that would be creating a perk that the average citizen does not <br />have in this community. <br />Council Member Marty indicated there is a cost of 25 cents per page but said he had never seen it <br />written anywhere an hourly wage rate for anyone that is billed for a data practices request. He <br />then asked how much Mr. Coughlin paid for this. <br />City Administrator Miller indicated that Mr. Coughlin's request had not been fulfilled. <br />Council Member Marty indicated that Mr. Coughlin had asked for copies. <br />City Attorney Riggs clarified that Mr. Coughlin had made a second request to be allowed to view <br />the information rather than have copies made. He then indicated the statute allows the City to <br />• recover the costs associated with making copies of the information. He further commented that <br />this is what is allowed by City policy and City policy is compliant with the state statute. <br />City Attorney Riggs then commented that Council Member Marty wants to be treated differently <br />than what state statute allows and he cannot tell him that he can be. He further explained he had <br />discussed the matter with a number of colleagues, had contacted the League of Minnesota Cities, <br />and the Department of Administration as well as checking the statutes and the authority being <br />requested does not exist. <br />City Administrator Miller indicated that Mr. Coughlin had asked for the same copies Council <br />Member Marty but, when told he would be charged for the information, had decided to make the <br />request to view the information instead. <br />Mayor Sonterre encouraged Council Member Marty and City Administrator Miller to sit down <br />and discuss the City's policy for clarification. <br />Council Member Stigney clarified that any resident could come in and view information that is <br />public data but would be charged for any copies requested. <br />City Attorney Riggs indicated that under the statute a resident has the ability to review <br />• information but, if a request for copies is made and fulfilled, residents will be charged for those <br />costs, <br />