Chapter 1 · Administration

Article 6. Open Records

Sections 1-601 to 1-610 · 10 sections

1-601 Policy.

(a)It is hereby declared to be the policy of the city that all public records which are made, maintained or kept by or are in the possession of the city, its officers and employees, shall be open for public inspection as provided by, and subject to the restrictions imposed by, the Kansas Open Records Act.

(b)Any person, upon request, shall have access to such open public records for the purpose of inspecting, abstracting or copying such records while they are in the possession, custody and control of the appointed or designated record custodian thereof, or his or her designated representative.

(K.S.A. 45-216; Code 1998)

1-602 Record custodians.

The city clerk shall preserve and protect all public records from damage, disorganization and theft and shall assist, in a timely and efficient manner, any person making request for access to any open public record.

(Code 1998)

1-603 Public request for access.

All city offices keeping and maintaining open public records shall establish office hours during which any person may make a request for access to an open public record. Such hours shall be no fewer than the hours each business day the office is regularly open to the public. For any city office not open Monday through Friday, hours shall be established by the record custodian for each such day at which time any person may request access to an open public record.

(Code 1998)

1-604 Facilities for public inspection.

All city offices keeping and maintaining open public records shall provide suitable facilities to be used by any person desiring to inspect and/or copy an open public record.

(Code 1998)

1-605 Procedures for inspection.

Any person requesting access to an open public record for purposes of inspecting or copying such record, or obtaining a copy thereof, shall abide by the procedures adopted by the governing body for record inspection and copying, including those procedures established by record custodians as authorized by the governing body. Such procedures shall be posted in each city office keeping and maintaining open public records.

(Code 1998)

1-606 Appointment of official custodians.

The following city officers are hereby appointed as official custodians for purposes of the Kansas Open Records Act and are hereby charged with responsibility for compliance with that Act with respect to the hereinafter listed public records:

(a)City Clerk. All public records kept and maintained in the city clerk’s office and all other public records not provided for elsewhere in this section.

(b)City Treasurer. All public records not on file in the office of the city clerk and kept and maintained in the city treasurer’s office.

(c)Fire Chief. All public records not on file in the office of the city clerk and kept and maintained in the city fire department.

(d)City Attorney. All public records not on file in the office of the city clerk and kept and maintained in the city attorney’s office.

(e)Clerk of the Municipal Court. All public records not on file in the office of the city clerk and kept and maintained in the municipal court.

(Code 1998)

1-607 Designation of additional record custodians.

(a)Each of the official custodians appointed in Section 1-606 is hereby authorized to designate any subordinate officers or employees to serve as record custodian. Such record custodians shall have such duties and powers as are set out in the Kansas Open Records Act.

(b)Whenever an official custodian shall appoint another person as a record custodian he or she shall notify the city clerk of such designation and the city clerk shall maintain a register of all such designations.

(Code 1998)

1-608 Duties of custodians.

All city officers and employees appointed or designated as record custodians under this article shall: protect public records from damage and disorganization; prevent excessive disruption of the essential functions of the city; provide assistance and information upon request; insure efficient and timely action and response to all applications for inspection of public records; and shall carry out the procedures adopted by this city for inspecting and copying open public records.

(Code 1998)

1-609 Requests to be directed to city clerk.

All members of the public, in seeking access to, or copies of, a public record in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas Open Records Act, shall address their requests to the city clerk.

(Code 1998)

1-610 Fee administration.

The city clerk shall transmit all record fee moneys collected to the city treasurer not less than monthly.

(Code 1998)