Title
Resolution to Disclose Council Electronic Communications without Charge to the Public
Body
Whereas, On September 8, 2009, City Council amended its rules to place limitations on electronic communications during Council meetings, and the routine disclosure of such communications in the future will help the public monitor compliance with the amended rules;
Whereas, It is in the public interest to disclose all electronic communications to and/or from Council members during Council meetings for;
Whereas, Many members of the community want to view these electronic communications and rapid disclosure of all the electronic communications will help restore public confidence in City Government;
Whereas, The disclosure of such communications should be done in an orderly way so as to minimize staff time and costs; and
Whereas, It is more cost-effective that the disclosure of such communications be done systematically, rather than in response to Freedom of Information Act requests that may be made by the public in the future;
RESOLVED, That, going forward and beginning with the Council meeting of September 21, 2009, the City Clerk shall append copies of all electronic communications defined as public records under the Freedom of Information Act sent to and/or from members of Council during a City Council meeting, with deletions authorized by that Act, to the official minutes of that meeting when published on the City's website; and
RESOLVED, That City Council directs the City Administrator to provide an explanation of the basis under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act or other statute for the determination that the electronic communication or a portion thereof, is exempt from disclosure, including the statutory provision authorizing the withholding information from the public. If the City Administrator determines that the contents of an electronic communication, in whole or in part, is subject to a disclosure exemption under the Act, the email, including the header information, will be included in the materials disclosed with the exempt portions redacted.
Sponsored by: Councilmember Michael Daniel Anglin, Ward 5 and Councilmember Sabra Briere, Ward 1, City of Ann Arbor
As amended by Ann Arbor City Council on September 21, 2009