ResidentsB次元官网网址� pushback on plans to introduce a new fee for information requests at the City of Langford has prompted a quick rethink by councillors.
To reflect the B次元官网网址渃onsiderable amount of timeB次元官网网址� taken to prepare and produce documents in response to information requests from the public, a new fee of $15 for every 15 minutes of staff time was proposed as an amendment to the Fees and Charges Bylaw.
Currently, staff time to B次元官网网址渙btain and photocopy documentsB次元官网网址� is free for the first three hours, followed by a charge of $11.33 per 15 minutes thereafter.
The proposed amendment to charge for staff time to B次元官网网址渙btain, photocopy, produce and research documents" after the first 15 minutes, met with strong opposition from residents in attendance at the March 3 council meeting.
B次元官网网址淚 believe this will create a massive barrier to people trying to access information from our city,B次元官网网址� said Chris Foxhall, who described the move as a B次元官网网址渄eterrentB次元官网网址� for residents.
B次元官网网址淭he proposed fee B次元官网网址� is fundamentally at odds with the principles of transparency, equality and democratic governance,B次元官网网址� said Steve Rossander, urging councillors to B次元官网网址渆nhance accessB次元官网网址� to information rather than B次元官网网址渋mpose financial barriers.B次元官网网址�
The comments resonated with Coun. Colby Harder, who was B次元官网网址渃ompelledB次元官网网址� to rethink her stance on the subject when asked to consider how she would have felt about the revision if it had been proposed before she was a councillor.
B次元官网网址淎s a member of the public I would have perceived this as a barrier to me accessing information,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut as a member of council I also understand that there are steps for us to provide that information too.B次元官网网址�
In an attempt to B次元官网网址榮trike a balanceB次元官网网址�, Harder proposed the first hour of staff time be free, with the $15 per quarter-hour fee applicable thereafter.
According to Marie Watmough, director of legislative and protective services, HarderB次元官网网址檚 proposal to not charge for the first 60 minutes would mean B次元官网网址渂etween 80 to 90 per centB次元官网网址� of requests would be exempt from the fee.
The majority of councillors voted in favour of Harder's amended bylaw. Mayor Scott Goodmanson, Coun. Lillian Szpak and Coun. Kimberley Guiry all opposed the motion.
The new fee will not apply to Freedom of Information requests, which are governed by provincial legislation. Also exempt are property information requests, which are free to property owners requesting their own information B次元官网网址� a proposed $25 fee for requests made by "other interested parties" is another addition to the revised Fees and Charges Bylaw.
The fee will also not be applicable for documents required to be provided by statute.
The amended bylaw was given its first three readings at the March 3 meeting. It will be considered for adoption at a future meeting.
