Santaquin council tables council-member records-access proposal after legal review

Council member Brian Del Rosario introduced a resolution on July 7 that would set an expectation that city staff respond to written information requests from council members within two business days, but the Santaquin City Council voted to table the proposal for further work.

The proposal grew out of Del Rosario’s contention that some document requests and small audio files have been delayed or routed through the formal GRAMA (public records) process rather than provided directly to council members. “When I asked Norm Beagley for an audio recording of the cutoff meeting, which should be legally available, I was told to initially do a GRAMA request,” Del Rosario said, describing back-and-forth email exchanges and a requirement from staff that he listen to the file at City Hall rather than receive a copy. He told the council he had repeatedly sought budget and check-register information to analyze expenditures and that a clearer, formal process would reduce confusion and demonstrate accountability.

A member of the public, Dustin Holden, spoke in support of the concept before the debate, calling the proposed process “great” and urging council members to use it to review contracts, impact-fee analyses, and public-safety technology records.

City Attorney Brett Ridge advised caution. “I do have concerns,” Ridge told the council, saying the draft as written could create conflicts with the mayor’s statutory role overseeing city staff and could increase legal exposure by distributing potentially sensitive information to many recipients. Ridge recommended consolidating requests, clarifying routing, and providing training for staff and recipients so confidential material is not inadvertently disclosed.

Council members discussed possible edits that would narrow recipients (for example, routing written requests to the city manager and copying the mayor), require written requests, and include safeguards for records that remain GRAMA-protected. Del Rosario said he supported narrowing the process and working with the city attorney.

After extensive discussion about scope, process and cybersecurity risks of shared drives, Del Rosario moved to table the resolution so staff, legal counsel and council members could rework the language; the motion passed on a council vote. The mayor indicated the revised draft will return to a future work session or regular meeting for further consideration.

The council did not adopt the requested access changes on July 7; the item was tabled for revision and additional legal review.