[1-7-2019]
A representative government is dependent upon an informed electorate
and therefore it is declared to be the public policy of the City that
all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding
the affairs of their government and the official acts of those officers
and employees who represent them. Further, providing persons with
such information is an essential function of a representative government
and an integral part of the routine duties of officers and employees
whose responsibility it is to provide such information. To that end,
this chapter shall be construed in every instance with a presumption
of complete public access, consistent with the conduct of governmental
business. The denial of public access generally is contrary to the
public interest and only in an exceptional case may access be denied.
[1-7-2019]
The City does hereby adopt and incorporate, as though fully
set forth herein, the provisions of Wisconsin's Public Records
laws, Wis. Stats. §§ 19.31 through 19.39, inclusive
of all future amendments and revisions to such sections of the Wisconsin
Statutes. The following provisions in this chapter are intended to
supplement, not to replace or to supplant, the Wisconsin Public Records
Laws.
[1-7-2019]
Any legal custodian may keep and preserve a record in his or
her possession by means of microfilm or another reproductive device,
optical imaging or electronic formatting. Any photographic reproduction
of a record shall be deemed an original record for all purposes if
it meets the applicable standards established in Wis. Stats. §§ 16.61(7)
and 16.612, and shall be considered preserved, shall be open to public
inspection and copying according to the provision of state law and
of this chapter, and may be legally destroyed.
[1-7-2019]
The City hereby adopts and incorporates, as though fully set
forth herein, the records retention schedule as stated in the General
Records Schedule for Wisconsin Municipal and Related Records approved
by the Public Records Board on August 27, 2018, inclusive of all future
amendments and revisions to such retention schedule. A copy of the
General Records Schedule shall be maintained in the office of the
City Clerk.
[1-7-2019]
The provisions of this chapter are severable. If a section,
subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase shall be adjudged
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the decision shall
not affect the validity of this chapter.