Del City council adopts revised open-records form and fee schedule under new state rules

Del City councilors voted Dec. 1 to adopt a revised open-records request form and fee schedule intended to reflect recent changes in state law and to limit burdensome requests.

The measure, approved unanimously, sets explicit hourly rates for staff time when responding to requests — for example, $25 per half hour for clerical personnel — and removes the town’s previous policy of providing the first 10 pages for free, instead establishing a per-page charge starting at $0.25. The ordinance change follows state amendments effective Nov. 1, 2025 that, according to the city attorney, give municipalities new tools to narrow or require payment for expansive requests.

City Attorney (speaker 5) told councilors that "if it's gonna be over $75, we can now require that fee to be paid upfront before we begin working on the request," explaining the change lets the city avoid unpaid, time-consuming 'fishing expedition' requests. One council member proposed clear, tiered rates for clerical, supervisory and management time and removing the free 10-page threshold so residents would better understand likely costs.

Councilmembers debated practical details — whether rates should be per half-hour or per hour and how to communicate fees to residents — and asked staff to simplify the form so it clearly states what fees apply. The mayor and council unanimously approved the modifications as read into the record.

City Manager (speaker 4) said the city will post the fee schedule and provide contact information for the high-school student proposing a beautification project, which staff noted will appear on a future agenda. The council did not change the city's statutory obligations to comply with the law; instead, members focused on making cost calculations transparent and enforceable.