Public Records and Statutes
In 1972, the voters of the State of Washington adopted Initiative 276. This law requires that most records maintained by state, county and city governments be made available to members of the public. The public disclosure statutes have been frequently revised over the past three decades. As of July 2006, these disclosure statutes can be found in Chapter 42.56 RCW and the statutes are now referred to as the Public Records Act.
Although the public records disclosure statutes do not apply to judicial records (case files), the Washington State Legislature has specifically extended their coverage to state legislative records. In addition, the public records disclosure statutes apply equally to "every county, city, town, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or special purpose district" or "any office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or agency thereof, or other local public agency."
To learn more about your rights as a citizen of Washington to obtain public records from the city of Renton - or any other governmental entity in this state - visit the Office of the Attorney General or the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington. The City Clerk, Bonnie Walton, is the Public Records Officer for the City of Renton.
Links:
Renton Public Records Policies: Disclosure of Public Records & Information (100-05); Records Management Services (230-02); Microfilm Services (230-03).
Request for Public Records Form.
Exemptions from Public Records Disclosure & Confidential Records.
Appointment of Public Records Officers (RESOLUTION NO. 3800).