SAN ANGELO, TX -- The City of San Angelo has launched a more efficient online system for requesting public information that will deliver documents more quickly.
Administered by the Office of the City Clerk, the new system can be accessed at cosatx.us/OpenRecords. Citizens requesting an open record or a piece of public information will fill out a short, simple online form. Responses to common requests will include answers and links to existing information. That will reduce wait times for the public. Data will be transmitted through secure links.
According to a press release, the system also offers an archive of past and frequent requests.
“We believe citizens will love this system,” interim City Clerk Julia Antilley said. “It’s excessively friendly for users, and has proven it can produce information seamlessly. We’re eager for the public to use it and to offer us feedback.”
The system also allows for a more efficient use of City resources. By eliminating attachments, it saves bandwidth and space on computer servers. It also reduces staff time by: monitoring due dates, tracking which employees have responded to multi-department requests, eliminating the need to deliver large files on thumb drives, and automatically processing requests for existing information.
The system also assists with redactions by identifying patterns, such as credit card numbers, and labeling redactions to provide clarity to requestors.
In addition, it tracks staff time spent on requests that require reimbursement of reasonable costs related to reproducing the information that’s sought.
Requests may also continue to be filed in the City Clerk’s office on the second floor of City Hall, 72 W. College Ave., from 8 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: