City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  01/15/08

Item No.:        

Recommendation:  That the Common Council adopt Ordinance No. 2488, An Ordinance to Repeal and Recreate Section 3.40 (c) (18) (h) and (18) (j), and Section 3.40 (c) (39) of the Municipal Code Relating to Fees for Information Requests and Voter and Computer Records

Background:   Municipal Code Section 3.40 contains all of the fees charged by the City. Fees for various public information requests were established before the use of electronic files became widespread, and the Code needs to be updated to reflect the types of media on which records are provided.  In addition, Wisconsin voter registration records are now maintained on a statewide data system known as the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS).  The State Elections Board approved a mandatory price structure for sale of SVRS data to the public, which is higher than the fees currently listed in our Municipal Code.

This ordinance will accomplish the following:

• Change the terminology used in the Code to reflect the use of electronic media and delete obsolete terminology
• Increase the fee for providing the tax roll and/or assessment roll electronic files from $50 to the actual cost with a $100 minimum, to match the amount charged by other comparable communities
• Delete the references to the generation of mailing labels, which is a service that is no longer provided
• Include the state’s mandatory fee structure for the SVRS voter registration information

It is anticipated that all City fees will be reviewed as part of the Revenue Analysis to be done in 2008, but mandatory fees established by the State of Wisconsin must be adhered to in any case.

Fiscal Impact:  Miscellaneous Revenue Account 349.00 may see a slight increase depending on the number of requests received.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Patrick DeGrave, City Administrator

Prepared by and fiscal review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, City Clerk/Comptroller