Public Records Access Policy and
The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission was established in 1960 under the provisions of Section 66.945 of the Wisconsin Statutes as the official areawide planning agency for the seven-county Southeastern Wisconsin Region. The Commission exists to provide the basic planning and engineering data required to make sound development and redevelopment decisions within the Region, and the planning services necessary to solve developmental and environmental problems which transcend the corporate boundaries and fiscal capabilities of the local units of government comprising the Region. The seven counties concerned are: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha.
Pursuant to Section 19.31 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the Regional Planning Commission has established this policy statement and attendant fee schedule to the provision of public access to the records of the Commission. As an entirely advisory agency, it is in the Commission’s own interest to promote the widest possible dissemination and use of the data collected and plans prepared by the Commission. Accordingly, this policy is specifically intended to facilitate ready public access to Commission data and plans.
The Commission has officially designated the following Commission employees as the custodians of the records of the Commission: 1) Philip C. Evenson, Executive Director; 2) Kenneth R. Yunker, Assistant Director; and 3) Elizabeth A. Larsen, Business Manager.
The offices of the Commission are to be open between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week, excepting official holidays. The records of the Commission shall be available to the public during those regular office hours. The Commission offices are located at W239 N1812 Rockwood Drive, Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Anyone wishing to obtain access to, and/or a copy of, any record from the Commission offices should request the record from one of the aforenamed custodians, indicating the specific record desired to be reviewed and also whether or not a copy is desired. The custodian may ask that the request be written and will advise as to approximately how long it may take to obtain the record for perusal and a copy of the record if desired. Copies of many Commission records can be readily made by ordinary photocopying machine while the requestor waits for the copy. Some Commission records, however, because of their size and character, cannot be readily copied using basic photocopying machines and special arrangements may have to be made by the custodian for copying.
Some of the Commission records are archived and may not be readily available. Where a record is not readily available, the custodian will inform the requestor that research is necessary to find the desired record. Any costs for locating records will be charged at the hourly rate for the Commission employees required to do the necessary research, should those costs exceed $50. Prepayment of such fees is required based upon an estimate. An adjustment will be made should the actual time spent locating the desired records be more or less than the estimate.
Where copies of Commission records are requested, the cost of reproduction will be borne by the requestor. The cost of reproduction by basic photocopying machinery shall be $0.20 per page.
Where the data are to be produced in electronic format, or where making a copy requires reproduction by means other than basic photocopying machinery, the actual cost of the reproduction shall be paid by the person making the request. The custodian may require the payment of costs in excess of $5.00 entailed in accessing and reproducing Commission records in advance in cash, certified check, or U. S. Postal Money Order.
In no case shall the originals of any Commission records be taken from the Commission offices by the person requesting the records. If the records must be removed from the Commission offices for reproduction, a Commission employee shall be charged with delivering the records to, and collecting the records and the attendant copy or copies from, any private reproduction agency. Any private agencies so used shall be subject to the approval of the custodian. Commission negatives of aerial photographs and of maps, figures, charts, and other similar materials shall be handled only by Commission employees and Commission-approved private production agencies.
The foregoing policy statement and fee schedule, as revised, was adopted by the Executive Committee of the Regional Planning Commission on October 27, 2005.
