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Community Corner

Public Records Request - I-90 Tolling Email List‏

From: I-90TollingInfo@mercergov.org
Subject: Public Records Request - I-90 Tolling Updates Email List
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 21:21:01

Hello All, I am writing to advise you that the City has received a public records request from Lisa Belden for a copy of the list of email addresses the City has put together to provide updates regarding the I-90 tolling proposal.  Ms. Belden stated the following in her request: “I am co-chair of the No Toll on I-90 organization, which is registered with the state PDC as an L-6 grass roots lobbyist organization.  As you know, we have been concerned and active in the community on the I-90 tolling issue since 2008.  The city's email list would be used for the purposes of No Toll on I-90, and for no other purpose.“ Pursuant to the Public Records Act, the City must release a copy of the list (which includes only your email address) to the requestors. The City has stringent legal obligations under this law.  At the time a public records request is made, the City is required to determine which records are responsive to the request.  The City examines whether any exemptions exist under which those records might be protected from disclosure.  Failure to disclose public records that are not exempted can lead to severe financial penalties against the City. When a records request is made, any responsive records must be maintained in the state that the records existed in at the time of the request.  The City is prohibited by law from altering the requested records, so no email addresses may be removed from the I-90 tolling email addresses list prior to the City releasing the list, despite any requests to do so. The City wishes to honor requests to have email addresses removed from the I-90 Tolling Update email list.  Please respond to this message with REMOVE in the body or subject line and we will promptly remove your email address once the records request is complete. Very Truly Yours,Katie Katie Knight | City Attorney, City of Mercer Island
P: 206.275.7650 F: 206.275.7663 | www.mercergov.org

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