The Issue -

​

There has been discussion at the council meeting about charging money for open record requests.  Residents have been quoted from no charge to thousands of dollars for requesting records. Charging an exorbitant amount for open records discourages residents from requesting records, therefore obstructing public review.

​

Texas Government Code Title 5 Sec. 552.001 of the Texas Statutes state: Under the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of representative government that adheres to the principle that government is the servant and not the master of the people, it is the policy of this state that each person is entitled, unless otherwise expressly provided by law, at all times to complete information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees.

​

This amendment is to seeks to clarify Section 14.08 by adding requirements for all records request to be responded to within 10 business days AND there will be no fees for electronic record requests; and a nominal fee for printed records AND...to ease the burden on the city of responding to multiple requests for information on the same issue/item or matter; all records request responses shall be properly organized and archived by subject and made available on the city's website. This repository shall be searchable by title allowing residents to find responses and print them.

​​

​

This is a way we can safeguard Princeton.

​

Amendments to the charter can only be done every 2 years, now is the time.

​

​

If any part of this/these CHARTER ITEMS shall be found in violation of state code at any time by a valid court of law outside of the City of Princeton, only that portion of the item found of violation may be modified if possible or stricken if necessary, as ordered by that court of law. Any remaining portion of that item shall NOT be modified or removed and shall remain valid and intact.