City adopts updated data practices model language and approves airport optimization study

City administrator Andrew Brimseth briefed the committee on state-recommended updates to the local data practices policy, noting the Department of Administration’s model language removes the fixed 'within 10 business days' requirement and replaces it with an 'as soon as reasonably possible' standard to reflect high volumes of requests. Brimseth also proposed adding local designees for responsiveness and a two-business-day consolidation window for multiple requests for the purpose of computing copy costs.

Council discussed what 'as soon as reasonably possible' means in practice and requested a communication protocol (e.g., acknowledging requests within a target period). Staff said most routine requests are answered within 24 hours and that they would send interim updates if a request will take longer than about 10 days.

Separately, Brimseth asked the committee to approve a regional airport optimization study to evaluate whether Otter Tail County airports should move to a regional authority model. The study fee is $25,500; a state grant covers 70% ($17,850) and the city share is $7,650. The committee approved committing the city share and authorized moving forward; the scope includes an economic-impact analysis and a presentation to the county board to inform whether a regional authority is advisable.

What’s next: staff will publish the updated data-practices policy language for council action and execute the airport study contract and present findings to county and city stakeholders when complete.