Placentia : Records Research Fee Passed Unanimously

A public record research fee, criticized by opponents as a measure to discourage the public from seeking information, received unanimous approval last week.

The $15 hourly fee will be charged in increments of 15 minutes, with the first 15 minutes free. The fee is aimed at people who take up much of the city staff’s time with “extensive research” and not at those residents who walk into City Hall for a copy of a record, said Frank Dunnavant, the city’s finance director.

With the council’s 5-0 vote last Tuesday, Placentia joins at least five other county cities that charge residents for researching public records, Dunnavant said. During the Tuesday meeting, several residents objected to the proposal, saying that it was meant to prevent a small group of people from receiving voluminous amounts of city information.

Councilman John Tynes said earlier this week that residents who objected to the $15 fee “have a good point.”

“They (public records) should be open to the people,” Tynes said. But, he added, average requests can be answered within the first 15 minutes, which city officials agreed Tuesday would be free.