Fiscal Note
This ordinance change does not require an appropriation. The fee schedule to be developed for record requests could have a slight impact on revenues in the various agencies.
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AMENDED SUBSTITUTE - Repealing and recreating Section 3.70 of the Madison General Ordinances to modify portions of the City's policy regarding public records.
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DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS: This ordinance is designed to “fill in the gaps” in current public records laws as those laws apply to rapidly developing and recently emerging technologies. The Wisconsin Public Records laws have not been updated since their enactment in a manner that addresses their application to these developing and emerging technologies. This ordinance also adopts the state public records laws by reference eliminating the unnecessary duplication of those laws and conserving paper. The ordinance would also eliminate the current and outdated retention schedule and replace that system with a retention schedule established by APM. This would allow the retention schedule to be annually updated as new records or records systems are developed. The Director of Information Technology in consultation with the City Attorney would be responsible for developing the new retention schedule. By statute, this retention schedule would need the approval of the State Public Records Board. The ordinance also updates the fee charges for routine public records formats (such as printed copies) and also allows for waiver of fess for non-profit organizations. The ordinance also permits delivery of records in alternative formats such as the emailing of records.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
Section 3.70 entitled “Public Records” of the Madison General Ordinances is repealed and recreated to read as follows:
“3.70 PUBLIC RECORDS.
(1) Declaration of Policy. A representative government is dependen...
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