pages: CityCouncil/2021-04-06.pdf, 12
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CityCouncil | 2021-04-06 | 12 | reports included on the City's website; questioned how to provide information in a way which is useful. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she agrees in part with her Councilmembers; there are valid points about the need to inform residents of crimes and how people can protect themselves; only a fraction of attacks on Asian and Pacific Islander (API) are reported; expressed support for a framework on reporting; stated there is a place for all good suggestions; Council has provided direction to staff and that she looks forward to an updated policy coming back for further review. (21-232) Consider Directing Staff to: 1) Obtain All Emails Sent to apdreforms@gmail.com; 2) Create Protocols for the Website, Email and Social Media; and 3) Provide Training to All Employees who Post on the Website or Social Media or Staff City Bodies. (Councilmember Herrera Spencer) Councilmember Herrera Spencer gave a brief presentation. In response to Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry, the City Clerk stated that her office has experienced a higher than regular volume of Public Record Act (PRA) requests; many requests have an extremely high volume of documents to produce; noted the City Clerk's Department performs e-mail searches; stated there were under 40 email searches last year and are already over 20 this year; e-mail searches are one of the most involved record requests received. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether there is any hope on the horizon for PRA requests. The City Clerk responded new PRA software is being reviewed to help streamline the PRA process; rolling out the software will take a little time; the software is used by the City of Oakland and City of Berkeley. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the software will help with duplicative requests. The City Clerk responded in the affirmative; stated the software has many features such a keyword search, which will help the public search for information as a request is being submitted. The City Attorney stated the number of PRA requests received by the City Attorney's office are astronomically high; there has been an increase from an average of 50 requests per year to over 100; this years' request are already at 100 with 25 pending requests, each containing thousands, if not tens of thousands of documents to review; staff is doing the best they can with the limited resources available; requests will be responded to in a timely manner to the extent possible on a first come, first served basis; the requests will take a lot of time, especially due to multiple requests each day containing thousands of documents; he asks for the public's patience in the process. Discussed the Open Government Commission (OGC) meeting; stated the balancing test for PRA requests determine whether or not releasing the records contributes to the overall public discussion; there has been discussion about redacting records pertaining to minors; urged the City to be cautious in releasing records that can potentially make people in the community targets or more vulnerable to Police harm, especially minors: Jenice Anderson, Alameda. Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 12 April 06, 2021 | CityCouncil/2021-04-06.pdf |