HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 1978-180~~ ~_ __ _
~-~
z
INTRODUCED P ^OUNCILWOMAN CLICK
CITY OF KENAI
RESOLUTION NO. ?8-180
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA RESCINDING
RESOLUTION #78-157 AND ADOPTING IN ITS PLACE A GENERAL POLICY
STATEMENT EMBODYING THE CITY'S POSITION AS IT RELATES TO THE
RELEASE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION .
WHEREAS, Resolution #78-157 was adopted by the Council of the City of Kenai
fn order to provide a policy regarding the release of public information by
the Administration, and
WHEREAS, said Resolution was met with strong opposition by members of
the press for the reason that it might be interpreted as restricting the release
of public information. and
WHEREAS, it was not the intent of the Council in adopting Resolution #78-157
to restrict the release of public information , but merely to provide orderly
guidelines for its release so as to be an aid to both the Administration and members
of the press seeking information, and
WHEREAS, in order to be as fair as possible as it concerns all the dtizens
of the City of Kenai, the Council elected to hold Resolution #78-157 in abeyance
until it could be replaced by a more formalized ordinance fashioned after
the Federal Freedom of Information Act, and
WHEREAS, upon the advice of the City Attorney who researched this matter,
it was his conclusion that the passage of a formalized ordinance fashioned
after the Freedom of Information Act and the amendment of the personnel ordinance
to deal with the release of verbal information, might only create additional
bureaucratic problems in its enforcement and interpretation, and
WHEREAS, it would be in the beat interests of the citizens of the City of
Kenai that the City Council (rather than presently passing such a sophisticated
public information ordinance) simply rescind Resolution #78-157 and adopt
in its place this resolution which would merely set forth a general policy
statement as it concerns the release of public information, and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that representative government entails direct
communication between the people and its representatives, to air problems
that maq from time to time arise , and that should problems or differencEta arise
as it concerns the free flow of information from the Administration to the press
and public that such problems should be presented to the Council who may
address such issues at a regular or special meeting .
M
~--- -
~~
~~ Resolution 78-180, rage 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI,
ALASKA, as follows:
Section 1:
Resolution #?8-157 is hereby rescinded.
Section 2:
It is the policy of the City to provide the fullest and most
rapid public access to City records and information tiD the
extent as permitted by state, federal and municipal laws
or other judicially recognized rules so that the right of the
people to remain informed is protected. In stating this policy,
the Council recognizes the competfng interests of personal
privacy and the right of the public to have access to information
concerning the conduct of the peoples' business .
Section 3:
I
~ Section 1 above will become effective immediately upon
the adoption hereof . Section 2 , although embodying only
a general policy statement, will become effective 30 days
after the adoption hereof in order to give additional opportunity
for public response .
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 1st day of
November, 1978. ,
~. /
VINCENT O'REILLY, MAYOR
ATTEST:
~ (y~~,~,
8 e C . Peter, City Clerk
r