§ 3.90.060. Response to requests for public records.

All municipal officers and employees shall, consistent with the orderly conduct of municipal business, make a good faith and diligent effort to provide a rapid and intelligible response to requests for inspection of records made pursuant to this chapter. To effect this policy, the following guidelines are adopted:

A.

Information pursuant to this chapter shall be furnished promptly to the requesting party unless the information requested is declared privileged or confidential pursuant to applicable federal, state or municipal law. If the officer or employee considers the information to be privileged, he shall prepare a slip setting forth the date, the item of information requested, the specific provision of applicable state, federal or municipal law exempting the requested information from disclosure, and the title and signature of the person withholding the information. A copy of this slip shall be provided to the party requesting the information. If an officer or employee of the municipality called upon to furnish information pursuant to this chapter is uncertain as to whether or not the material sought is privileged or otherwise exempt from disclosure, he shall indicate this on the slip, and shall further identify his supervisor so that the request for inspection of documents may be submitted to the officer or employee authorized to make a decision on the matter. A copy of this slip shall be given to the requesting party.

B.

Any denial of a request for information or inspection of public records shall be automatically appealed to the mayor, and a written reply will be given within seven working days either granting or denying the appeal. Any appeal from the municipal clerk's office or ombudsman's office concerning municipal government or municipally owned utilities shall go to the assembly. Any appeal from the school district or ombudsman's office concerning the school district shall go to the school board.

C.

All requests for records and information made pursuant to this chapter shall be responded to within a reasonable time period. If the records and information cannot be located in time to make a response within two working days of the request, the requesting party shall be promptly advised, and, if the requesting party still desires the information or records, a reasonable and diligent search shall be made for it.

(AO No. 77-50A; AO No. 92-15)

State law reference

Enforcement of public records act; injunctive relief, AS 9.25.125.