Requesting one cell phone bill (that means just one month’s bill) takes 12 months to produce from the City of Renton:
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: Blackberry messages Public Records Request
From: Bonnie Walton <Bwalton@Rentonwa.gov>
Date: Wed, August 01, 2012 9:16 pm
To: “‘jschwartz@insurexecs.com‘” <jschwartz@insurexecs.com>
Dear Mr. Schwartz:
I am in receipt of your records request asking for copy of the May 2012 billing for the Police department messaging devices. Number PRR-12-105 has been assigned to this request.
It is my understanding that the billing requested consists of approximately 300 pages and there are as many as 100 phone numbers per page. Each page and possibly each number will need to checked for possible exemption from disclosure.
Also, the billing is in paper copy only, so the cost of the copies at $.15 per page would be approximately $45.00, plus postage, when it is ready to mail. In order to begin this records request, we will need to receive a minimum of $5.00 from you as a deposit on the copy fee, with the balance due as produced.
We estimate it will take approximately twelve months to complete the process in its entirety. However, we can provide the records in increments with the first increment estimated to be available within approximately 90 days after receipt of the deposit on the copy fee. Your check should be made payable to the “City of Renton” and mailed to this office.
Thank you.
Bonnie Walton
City Clerk
City of Renton
1055 S. Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
So let’s see what happens now. I would hope that no police officer has been or will delete the public record text messages from their phone, or they stand to be accused of destruction of public records. That would be totally unexpected. No, wait a minute, this is the Renton Police Department, so I imagine they are deleting on a regular basis.
3 comments
Guest says:
August 2, 2012 at 1:21 pm (UTC -8 )
A whole year? Renton has got to have the most backwards, inefficient records and IT departments in the world. They are a laughingstock. Must be a great place to work—you don’t have to do anything but make excuses.
Some Renton Guy says:
August 3, 2012 at 10:44 am (UTC -8 )
As the messages are in electronic format, they should be able to give them to you in electronic format for free – not the $45.
anonymous says:
August 6, 2012 at 11:50 am (UTC -8 )
The city is fucking with you. They have plenty of people to work on public records. The IT department is incompetent too. The plan is to wear out anyone that requests records.