Seneca adopts records-request fee schedule to align with state law

The Seneca City Council voted Sept. 11 to adopt Resolution 08-18, formalizing a records-request fee schedule intended to bring the city into compliance with state public-records law. Mayor Brad Smith read the resolution title aloud before discussion and a vote.

City Manager Raamin Burrell told the council the schedule and procedures were modeled on fee schedules from other small Oregon cities. Burrell said the statutory timelines and procedures are set in state law, noting that "all of that was contained in the ORS Chapter 192.324 as cited in the ordinance." Councilor Barbara Northington asked whether the response-time language needed to be spelled out in the city resolution; Burrell replied the statute specifies those requirements.

Councilor Northington moved to adopt Resolution 08-18; Councilor Lilly Foster seconded. The council voted "all in favor," and Mayor Smith directed signing of the resolution.

The adoption puts an explicit local schedule and process in the city code for handling records requests and establishes the fees Seneca will charge for copying and staff time consistent with comparable small cities.