Title
Resolution to Approve the Ann Arbor Housing Commission’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Policy and Fees
Memorandum
The Ann Arbor Housing Commission is a public body that must comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The state legislature amended the act in 2015. The City of Ann Arbor has 2 FOIA coordinators that coordinate all FOIA requests to the City, including FOIA requests to the Ann Arbor Housing Commission. The City amended its FOIA policy and related forms to comply with changes to FOIA.
The City attorney office indicated that the AAHC must adopt its own fee policy if it wants to charge a fee for FOIA requests, as a separate public entity from the City. Attached please see the City’s policy as well as a written public summary of the policy, as required by the act, and a fee schedule.
I recommend that the AAHC adopt the same policies and procedures as the City of Ann Arbor to streamline the process and decrease confusion. The attached FOIA policy does apply to the AAHC as a City Administrative Policy that applies to all employees. The attached public summary and fee schedule must be adopted by the board and published on the AAHC website to ensure compliance with FOIA.
...Staff
Prepared and Approved by: Jennifer Hall, Executive Director
Body
WHEREAS, the Commission is a public body that must comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); and
WHEREAS, FOIA was amended by the state legislature and requires public bodies to publish a summary of the act and local policy as well as a fee schedule; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ann Arbor adopted a FOIA policy that covers all employees, including Ann Arbor Housing Commission employees, however, the AAHC must publish its own summary of these policies and a fee schedule as a separate public body from the City; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ann Arbor Housing Commission Board approves the FOIA policy summary and fees attached hereto.