It's at 5:30 p.m. at The Coffee Groundz, 2503 Bagby. If you're approaching on Bagby, you may not see the coffeehouse sign, but look for the building with two green awnings on the Bagby side.

The topic: How to file a public records request, a tool that anyone may use when seeking information from a government office. Here's an example, a request filed by my colleague Jennifer earlier this year.

Jennifer Peebles

Texas Watchdog

5535 Memorial Drive, Suite F, #601

Houston, TX 77007

Jan. 19, 2009

The Honorable John Cook

Mayor, City of El Paso

2 Civic Center Plaza

El Paso, Texas 79901

Dear Mayor Cook:

This request is made under the Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552, Texas Government Code, which guarantees the public's access to information in the custody of governmental agencies. I respectfully request copies of the following information:

·        Documents showing the amount of compensation received by all El Paso city employees from Jan. 1, 2007 to Jan. 1, 2008. Specifically, I request documentation that shows each employee’s name, job title, the department/office/agency which employs them, their base pay, their overtime pay and their total compensation from the city. I request this information be provided in an electronic format, as I assume it is maintained in such a format by the city for its own record-keeping purposes.

·        Copies of the personal financial disclosures for calendar year 2007 (filed in 2008) for yourself and all the members of the El Paso City Council.

Disclosure of this information is in the public interest because providing a copy of the information primarily benefits the general public.  I therefore request a waiver of all fees and charges pursuant to Section 552.267 of the act.

I shall look forward to hearing from you promptly, as specified in the law. Thank you for your cooperation.



Sincerely,

Jennifer Peebles

Texas Watchdog

jennifer@texaswatchdog.org

Hope to see you at the meet-up! Questions? E-mail leeann@texaswatchdog.org or call 713-980-9777.

Added 10:36 a.m. Saturday, April 11: We need to give credit for the letter text that we often use. It's a model that the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas makes available on its Web site. The foundation also provides a free hotline for the public, where anyone may connect with a freedom-of-information expert. The number is 1-800-580-6651.