Title
Public Hearing - Approval of a Resolution Adopting a Revised Version of the Fee Structure for Redacting Body Worn Camera Footage Requested Under the Public Records Act
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Hold the public hearing, and at its conclusion move to approve a Resolution adopting a revised version of the fee structure for redacting body worn camera footage requested under the Public Records Act.
Report Issue:
Whether to hold the public hearing, and at its conclusion move to approve a Resolution adopting a revised version of the fee structure for redacting body worn camera footage requested under the Public Records Act.
Staff Contact:
Sean Krier, City Clerk, 360.753.8110
Jeanelle Stull, Police Administrative Manager, 360.753.8067
Presenter(s):
Sean Krier, City Clerk, 360.753.8110
Background and Analysis:
In May 2024, the City of Olympia passed Resolution M-2525, which authorized a new fee schedule for redaction fees related to public records requests for body worn camera video. When a person requests body worn camera footage, staff must review the video and redact sensitive information before providing a copy to the requester. The City charges requesters for staff time spent on redacting the requested video. While state law exempts certain categories of requesters from paying redaction fees, the City also exempts non-profit organizations and their agents from these fees. This exemption was carried over from the original 2022 fee study.
During the public hearing held for resolution M-2525, several City Council members, as well as one member of the public, questioned the scope of this non-profit exemption. The City Council asked whether the exemption should be applied broadly to any non-profit (as it was worded in the fee study being presented), if it should be more narrowly construed, or if it should even be removed altogether. Although the City Council chose to pass resol...
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