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Council votes to redact applicant addresses from boards and commissions summary lists
Summary
Council instructed the city clerk to remove addresses from the publicly posted summary list of boards and commissions applicants (the agenda attachment). The full applications, including addresses, remain available to council and via public records requests; the motion passed with one 'no' vote.
The Columbia City Council voted Feb. 3 to instruct the city clerk to redact addresses from the boards and commissions application summary list that appears on city council meeting agendas.
Councilmember Nick Foster moved the measure and it was seconded; the clerk called a roll. The motion passed 6‑1: Councilmember Meyer voted no; all other recorded voting members voted yes. Council discussion noted that applicants’ addresses would remain available to councilmembers on the full applications and obtainable through public‑records (sunshine) requests, and that historical practice required address disclosure at podium speakers but that many residents now provide only ward information when speaking.
Supporters said redacting addresses from the public agenda reduces the ease of locating applicants’ home addresses from a politically visible posting; opponents observed that assessor and other public databases can still provide addresses and that the change would not make addresses wholly inaccessible. The clerk said the summary list will continue to show applicant name and ward when published; the full application with address will remain on file for council review.
