Public Records Requests

The California Public Records Act (CPRA) provides the public with the right to inspect or obtain copies of records maintained by state and local government agencies. The law promotes transparency and accountability by providing public access to information about the conduct of public business.

Under California Government Code Section 7920.530, a public record is any writing containing information related to the conduct of the public’s business that is prepared, owned, used, or retained by a public agency, regardless of physical form or characteristics.

Public records may include documents, emails, correspondence, reports, photographs, audio recordings, videos, electronic files, and other records maintained by the City in connection with City business.

No. While the California Public Records Act provides broad access to government records, certain records or information may be exempt from disclosure under state or federal law.

Examples may include:

• Personnel records where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
• Medical or other confidential personal information
• Certain law enforcement and investigative records
• Records protected by attorney-client privilege or other legal privileges
• Certain records related to pending litigation
• Preliminary drafts, notes, or memoranda that are not retained by the City in the ordinary course of business
• Certain records or information related to public safety, security, or critical infrastructure
• Other records or information made confidential or exempt from disclosure by state or federal law

Each public records request is reviewed individually to determine whether any exemptions apply. When only a portion of a record is exempt, the City may redact the exempt information and provide the remaining disclosable portions.

To help us process your request efficiently, please include:

• A clear description of the records being requested
• Relevant dates or date ranges, if known
• Names of individuals, departments, programs, projects, or locations related to the request, if applicable
• Your preferred method of receiving responsive records, such as electronic or paper copies
• Contact information where you would like to receive records or correspondence regarding your request

Please be as specific as possible. Clear and detailed requests can help the City identify responsive records and process your request more efficiently.

Public records requests may be submitted to the City of Los Banos City Clerk’s Office using one of the methods below:

Email: cityclerk@losbanos.org

Phone: (209) 827-7000

Mail or In Person:

City of Los Banos
Attn: City Clerk’s Office
520 J Street
Los Banos, CA 93635

Upon receiving a public records request, the City of Los Banos will review the request and respond in accordance with the timelines established by the California Public Records Act.

The City generally has 10 calendar days to determine whether it has disclosable records responsive to the request and to notify the requester of that determination. In certain circumstances, the City may extend this determination period by up to 14 additional days, as permitted by law.

The 10-day determination period is not a deadline for producing records. Requests involving a large volume of records, extensive review or redaction, consultation with legal counsel, retrieval of archived records, or compilation of electronic data may require additional time to process.

The City will make every effort to keep requesters informed about the status of their request and anticipated response timeframes.