On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, Saint Paul-based non-profit Public Record Media (PRM) will host a free Freedom of Information (FOI) workshop at the Chanhassen Library (Carver County) in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The event will run from 6:30pm-8:00pm. The library is located at 7711 Kerber Blvd. in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
The workshop will explore how members of the public can use the Minnesota's Data Practices Act to obtain government records on a wide range of issues - from property records, to police reports, to school board plans and government budgets. The presentation will feature comments by Rich Neumeister, a long-time record requester and open government advocate.
PRM is hosting this January event in light of the City of Victoria being in the news last week on a recent decision by the Minnesota Commissioner of Administration that says the mayor of Victoria's Facebook content is not considered government data. The opinion causes questions if social media communications of public officials are government data and are accessible to the public.
The event is free to the public. Participants are encouraged to bring ideas for their own public record requests.
