“A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps, both.”
— President James Madison, Aug. 4, 1822
“Press releases tell us when federal agencies do something right, but the Freedom of Information Act lets us know when they do not.”
— Sen. Patrick Leahy, 1996
The federal Freedom of Information Act went into effect in 1967 after President Lyndon B. Johnson, begrudgingly, signed it.
The federal act, as well as myriad state sunshine laws, protect the right of access to government records.
The law, much-touted by journalists, is actually utilized 95 percent of the time by the public, for whom it is intended.
“The more transparent and open government activities are, the more confidence people have in their government,” said Ed Otte, executive director of the Colorado Press Association. “This is a public issue, not a press issue.”
The city of Loveland’s 28 official requests for information in 2007 — many requests are handled without formal paperwork — included just two from reporters.
Governments, law offices, organizations doing studies and citizens all made formal requests to the city over the course of the year.
The media can, however, bring issues to light in a way private citizens often do not.
A survey of stories originating with Freedom of Information Act requests from 2004 to 2007 included: a Minneapolis Star-Tribune story on high salmonella levels at a turkey-processing plant in Minnesota; a Ventura County Star report of at least a dozen women’s deaths related to the use of a birth control patch; a Washington Post story of noncompliance with Medicare at many hospitals; and the list goes on.
Last year, in the name of accessibility, the Colorado Press Association partnered with the Associated Press to urge the lowering of costs associated with making copies of governmental records in Colorado.
Costs had risen as high as $1.25 per copy, but 2007 state legislation lowered that cost to 25 cents per copy, Otte said.
“I think part of our job as the press association is to make it easier for people ... to have access to those records,” he said. “And also it’s affordable to them.”
This year press associations are focusing on asking political candidates about their stances on open records laws and open government.
“The perception by some government officials is it’s the press being nosy,” Otte said.
“When the fact is that when most reporters ask for records ... you are representing the public, that’s just part of your job description.”
FOIA letters:
Several Web sites provide templates or programs to help write Freedom of Information Act request letters. Here are a couple:
•www.coloradopressassociation.com/FOIA
•www.rcfp.org/foi_letter/generate.php
Many organizations do not require requests this formal, or have their own forms to fill out. Contact the individual organization to find out.
Loveland city government:
Number of public information requests in 2007: 28 through formal letters/e-mails
Common requests: City ordinances, information about city-owned property, meeting minutes, city agreements like the Master Financing Agreement with McWhinney
Fees: 15 cents a copy
Whom to contact: The Loveland City Clerk’s office, 962-2322
Online: Many documents are available on the city of Loveland’s Web site at www.cityofloveland.org [1]
Thompson School District:
Number of public information requests in 2007: Fewer than five formal inquires
Common requests: Salaries, construction information, school board meetings
Fees: Paper copy fees, CD copy fees
Whom to contact: Wes Fothergill, director of communications and community relations, 613-6086
Online: Some documents are available on the Thompson School District Web site at www.thompsonschools.org [2].
Town of Berthoud:
Number of public information requests in 2007: Nine Common requests: Maps of sewer lines and salaries of public officials.
Fees: The fee for records is 20 cents per page for photocopies and $5 per DVD of a meeting. Postage is extra for mailed items.
Whom to contact: Town Clerk Mary Cowdin at 532-2643.
Online: Various documents and a public information request form are available on the Web at www.berthoud.org [3].
Coroner’s Office
Number of public information requests in 2007: About 8,000 in phone requests.
Written requests are usually after a phone call to the office.
Common requests: Autopsy reports, manner and cause of death and missing person requests.
Fees: Charges to everyone for except for family, flat fee of $5.
Whom to contact: Debbie Reisdorff at 679-4517.
Online: Statistical data is available on the Web at www.larimer.org/coroner [4].
County offices
Assessor’s Office
Number of public information requests in 2007: 36.
Common requests: Lists of property owners in taxing authorities, types of properties in the county and their owners, property values.
Fees: $25 per file for taxing authorities using the documents for election purposes, otherwise $65 per file.
Whom to contact: Lisa Ford at 498-7068 for basic requests or Paula Maxwell at 498-7062 for all data on all systems.
Online: Several documents can be accessed on the Web at www.larimer.org/assessor [5].
Clerk and Recorder’s Office
Number of public information requests in 2007: At least 295,911.
Common requests: Copies of property records and marriage licenses, voters request certificate of registration, voter registration lists, local campaign finance information.
Fees: Various fees apply depending on the documents.
Whom to contact: Call the Elections Department at 498-7820, the Recording Department at 498-7860 or the Motor Vehicle Department at 498-7878.
Online: Several documents can be accessed on the Web at www.larimer.org/clerk [6].
Treasurer’s Office
Number of public information requests in 2007: Zero official requests, but the office receives up to 300 calls each day for public information requests.
Common requests: Past and current property payments.
Fees: Various fees apply depending on the documents.
Whom to contact: Call the Treasurer’s Office at 498-7020.
Online: Several documents can be accessed on the Web at www.larimer.org/treasurer [7].
Board of County Commissioners and all associated departments:
Number of public information requests in 2007: 20
Common requests: copies of county policies, financial information and complaints against public officials.
Fees: Copies are 25 cents per page.
Whom to contact: County Manager Frank Lancaster at
498-7004 or the individual department.
Online: Various documents can be found on the Web at www.larimer.org/bocc [8]. To access any other department Web site, visit www.larimer.org [9] and click on the Departments tab.
Other helpful links:
•www.sunshineweek.org
• www.coloradopressassociation.com [10], click the “Sunshine week” logo on the right
•www.rcfp.org/foia