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Kenmore council gets PRA refresher from Attorney General consultant; officials warned of large fines and tighter closing rules
Summary
Melissa Drury of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General gave Kenmore City electeds a detailed refresher on the Public Records Act, emphasizing retention rules, documenting searches, third‑party notice, and that closing a request now requires explanatory 'closing' language following court decisions.
Melissa Drury, local government public records consultant with the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, told the Kenmore City Council that Washington’s Public Records Act aims to ‘‘let people see what’s behind the curtain’’ and that agencies must treat public‑records requests with consistent procedures and clear documentation.
Drury, who said she has worked on public records for roughly 13 years, highlighted penalties and practical compliance steps. She cited as an example a large judgment against the city of Tacoma that originally reached $2.6 million before being reduced on appeal, and warned that attorney fees can rapidly increase total liability. ‘‘If they win, then we do have to take care of those legal fees as well,’’ she said.
At the heart of Drury’s guidance was the PRA’s three‑part definition of a public record: a writing related to…
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