01-10-11, Unsatisfactory Response by Glendale City Attorney's Office to 01-03-2011 CPRA Request

 

From: halweber@earthlink.net

To: Varpetian Lucy

Cc: Howard, Scott; Starbird, Jim; Scheer- Peter; Francke - Terry; Drayman - John; Friedman - Laura; Najarian Ara; Quintero, Frank; Weaver, Dave; webmail@da.lacounty.gov

Sent: 1/10/2011 8:28:09 PM

Subject: Unsatisfactory Response by Glendale City Attorney's Office to 01-03-2011 CPRA Request

 

Lucy Varpetian:

 

My 01-03-2011 CPRA Request was for a document that exists on the City of Glendale’s computer system to be sent to me in electronic format as an e-mail attachment, NOT for a copy to be made available for inspection in the office of the City Clerk.

 

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COMPUTER-STORED RECORDS; INFORMATION IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT

 

It is becoming more common for records to be electronically stored rather than reduced to “paper.” Public records stored in a computer remain public records subject to disclosure unless exempt under the CPRA. Cal. Gov't Code § 6254.9.

 

A. Making Computer Records Available In Electronic Format

 

If a public agency keeps records in electronic format, it must make the record available in any electronic format in which it holds the information when requested, unless (a) the record is otherwise exempt from disclosure, (b) the release would jeopardize or compromise the security or integrity of the record, or (c) the release would jeopardize or compromise the security or integrity of any proprietary software in which the record is maintained. The public agency is required to provide a copy of an electronic record in the format requested if it is the format that has been used by the agency to create copies for its own use or for other agencies.

 

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1.  Are you following an official policy of the City of Glendale by refusing to provide the document that I requested in the electronic format in which it exists on the city computer system?

 

2.  If this request had been made by Peter Scheer of the First Amendment Coalition (http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/about/) or Terry Franke of Californians Aware (http://www.calaware.org/home.php), would you still have refused to provide the information as an e-mail attachment and required them to commute all the way from central California to the City Clerk’s office in Glendale in order to “inspect” the document?

 

Hal Weber

 

 

----- Original Message #1 -----

From: Varpetian, Lucy

To: halweber@earthlink.net

Cc: Kassakhian, Ardashes; Buchanan, Rita

Sent: 1/10/2011 1:25:06 PM

Subject: CPRA Request - April 2008 Mike Fortney Letter

 

Mr. Weber:

Your request below was forwarded to this office for response.  Please be advised that responsive records are available for inspection in the office of the City Clerk.

Lucy Varpetian

Senior Assistant City Attorney

Office of the Glendale City Attorney

613 East Broadway, Suite 220

Glendale, CA  91206

Tel: 818-548-2080

Fax: 818-547-3402

 

From: halweber@earthlink.net [mailto:halweber@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 6:48 AM
To: Kassakhian, Ardashes
Subject: CPRA Request - April 2008 Mike Fortney Letter

Ardy:

 Please send me as an e-mail attachment a copy of the April 2008 Mike Fortney letter regarding the Vassar City Lights project referred to in Reference 1. below.

 Thank you,

 Hal Weber

halweber@earthlink.net

 Reference:

 1.  "Glendale's housing manager was blunt with his concerns about giving a prominent developer $12.2 million to build low-income housing near the city's downtown.  "I strongly recommend … not funding this project at anywhere near the level currently being requested," Mike Fortney wrote in an April 2008 letter to his boss."