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Right to Access Public Data
<br /> The Government Data Practices Act(Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13) presumes that all government
<br /> data are public unless a state or federal law says the data are not public. Government data is a term
<br /> that means all recorded information a government entity has, including paper, email, DVDs,
<br /> photographs,etc.
<br /> The Government Data Practices Act also provides that this government entity must keep all government
<br /> data in a way that makes it easy for you,as a member of the public,to access public data. You have the
<br /> right to look at(inspect),free of charge,all public data that we keep. You also have the right to get
<br /> copies of public data. The Government Data Practices Act allows us to charge for copies. You have the
<br /> right to look at data,free of charge, before deciding to request copies.
<br /> How to Make a Data Request
<br /> To look at data or request copies of data that this government entity keeps,you must make a specific
<br /> written request to the City identifying the data you seek. Make your request for data to the appropriate
<br /> individual listed in the Data Practices Contacts on page 4. You may make your request for data by mail,
<br /> fax, or email, using the data request form on page 6.
<br /> If you choose not to use the data request form,your request should include:
<br /> • that you, as a member of the public,are making a request for data under the Government Data
<br /> Practices Act, Minnesota Statutes,Chapter 13;
<br /> • whether you would like to look at(inspect)the data,get copies of the data,or both; and
<br /> • a clear description of the data you would like to inspect or have copied.
<br /> This government entity cannot require you, as a member of the public,to identify yourself or explain the
<br /> reason for your data request. However,depending on how you want us to process your request(if,for
<br /> example,you want us to mail you copies of data),we may need some information about you. If you
<br /> choose not to give us any identifying information,we will provide you with contact information so you
<br /> may check on the status of your request. In addition, please keep in mind that if we do not understand
<br /> your request and have no way to contact you,we will not be able to begin processing your request.
<br /> How We Respond to a Data Request
<br /> Upon receiving your request,we will work to process it.
<br /> • If we do not have the data,we will notify you in writing as soon as reasonably possible.
<br /> • If we have the data, but the data are not public,we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible
<br /> and state which specific law says the data are not public.
<br /> • If we have the data,and the data are public,we will respond to your request appropriately and
<br /> promptly,within a reasonable amount of time by doing one of the following:
<br /> • arrange a date,time, and place for you to inspect data,for free, if your request is to look at
<br /> the data,or
<br /> • provide you with copies of the data as soon as reasonably possible. You may choose to pick
<br /> up your copies, or we will mail or fax them to you. If you want us to send you the copies,
<br /> Policy required by Minnesota Statutes,section 13.025,subdivision 2. Page 2
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