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<title>Association of Washington Cities - Local Open Government Blog</title>
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<copyright>Copyright 2011</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:40:08 -0800</lastBuildDate>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:32:47 -0800</pubDate>
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<title>Public Records Act Subject to Legislative Consideration</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>The Association of Washington Cities, a non-profit organization, has reported on <a href="http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/awcleg/issues/2011-01-07/4.html">potential bills to be considered in the upcoming legislative session</a>. In working with other local government groups, bills have been developed that would allow agencies to charge the actual personnel costs exceeding five hours of staff time per month on a request. A second bill would provide for a voluntary conference between an agency and a requestor before any court action could be filed. If a conference is not accepted, a court may reject daily penalties upon finding a violation of the Public Records Act. These bills are in addition to proposals from the Washington Attorney General, including one that would establish an Office of Open Records. The Attorney General&rsquo;s proposal would provide for resolution of public records disputes through the State&rsquo;s Office of Administrative Hearings, rather than through the courts. See, <em><a href="http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2011/jan/03/mckenna-rein-prisoners-use-public-records-act/">&ldquo;McKenna: Rein in prisoners&rsquo; use of Public Records Act&rdquo;</a></em> from <em>The Spokesman-Review</em>.</p>]]></description>
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<category>AWC</category><category>Association of Washington Cities</category><category>Attorney General</category><category>Bills</category><category>Non-Profit</category><category>Office of Open Records</category><category>Public Records</category><category>Public Records Act</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:40:08 -0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Steve DiJulio</dc:creator>

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<title>&quot;Lauderdale city attorney tells politicians: Stay off Facebook&quot;</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Update 7/12/09</p>
<p>Here is another article from Florida on whether governments should use web 2.0 sites: <br />
&quot;<a href="http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jul/07/attorneys-legislators-pull-plug-marco-governments-/?printer=1/">Attorneys, legislators to pull plug on Marco government&rsquo;s use of social Web sites?</a>&nbsp;<em>Increased accessibility to candidates and officials, public records concerns among the pros and cons being considered in use of Facebook, Twitter</em>&quot;<br />
<br />
Update 7/7/09</p>
<p>Spies should also stay off Facebook:&nbsp; &quot;<a href="http://www.watoday.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/british-spy-chief-outed-on-wifes-facebook-page-20090706-d9ma.html">British spy chief outed on wife's Facebook page</a>&quot;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Update 6/2</p>
<p>Apparently Judges should stay off Facebook too.&nbsp; Here's <a href="http://www.abajournal.com/news/judge_reprimanded_for_friending_lawyer_and_googling_litigant">an article</a> about a Judge who was reprimanded after accessing a litigant's Facebook site.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Original Post&nbsp; 5/18</p>
<p>As the benefits of Web 2.0 personalized communication -- like <a href="http://www.facebook.com">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com">YouTube</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com">Twitter</a> -- become more apparent, public agencies and politicians are quickly looking to these tools to communicate with the public.&nbsp;Several Washington State agencies, including the <a href="http://www.secstate.wa.gov/office/osos_news.aspx?i=NRHaDqpkyQb7Q9fqyKVDdQ%3d%3d">Secretary of State </a>and <a href="http://www.atg.wa.gov/Default.aspx">Attorney General </a>(links Twitter, Facebook and YouTube at the bottom of the AG's homepage) use Web 2.0 sites such as Facebook.&nbsp; Here's a <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/mschaff/government-and-web-20">PowerPoint presentation</a> from the Secretary of State's office explaining the benefits of Web 2.0 sites.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Use of Web 2.0 sites is not without risk, however.&nbsp; As highlighted in <a href="http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2009/05/lauderdale_city_attorney_tells.html">this article about the advice of a city attorney in&nbsp;Florida to his city council -- stay off Facebook</a>, there are concerns about whether the use of such sites affects a government's ability to comply with public records, records retention&nbsp;and open public meetings laws.&nbsp; The city featured in the article concludes:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It is a simple fact that the state of the law is lagging woefully behind the state of the art in communications technology. This presents unique challenges in following the intent and the letter of these laws regulating public meetings and communications of local government.&nbsp; For this reason, this office discourages the City&rsquo;s participation in a Facebook page or any similar interactive communication technology.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Earlier this year the Obama administration <a href="http://www.fcw.com/Articles/2009/03/09/White-House-and-YouTube.aspx">highlighted some other issues</a> with the &quot;terms of service&quot;&nbsp;users of YouTube and other Web 2.0 sites, such as one-sided reimbursement clauses and sites' use of cookies to track visitors.&nbsp; Both were inconsistent with federal law or federal policy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Here is an <a href="http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/e-government_meets_web_20.php">article reviewing the use of Web 2.0 products by governments throughout the country</a>.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.localopengovernment.com/2009/07/articles/lauderdale-city-attorney-tells-politicians-stay-off-facebook/</link>
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<category>AWC</category><category>Articles</category><category>Association of Washington Cities</category><category>Electronic Records</category><category>Facebook</category><category>Federal</category><category>Freedom of Information Act</category><category>In the news</category><category>Myspace</category><category>Public Records</category><category>Public Records Act</category><category>Retention</category><category>Secretary of state</category><category>Twitter</category><category>Web 2.0</category><category>Youtube</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:16:09 -0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Foster Pepper Municipal Group</dc:creator>

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