Public Disclosure
Requests for public records from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) can be made by contacting:
J. Norman Dizon
Public Disclosure Officer
700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4900
P.O. Box 34018
Seattle, WA 98124-4018
Email: jnorman.dizon@seattle.gov
Phone: (206) 733-9836
Fax: (206) 470-6868
If your request is made in writing please include:
- Name, address, telephone and or email address of the requestor
- Sufficient information to identify the public record
- Date of the request
A number of public records are available online free of charge on SPU’s web site. These records include service level reports, comprehensive plans, design standards and specifications, project information, and many more documents.
Cost of Public Records
- There is no charge for inspecting public records
- Black and white copies (8 ½ x 11) are 15 cents per page
- Mailing includes actual cost of postage and shipping container
- Large Requests (RCW 42.56.120) may:
- be charged a deposit of up to ten percent of the estimated cost of an entire request before copying records
- be provided in installments
- require advance payment prior to providing additional installments
Fees are set out in the Fee Schedule (pdf) adopted by Seattle Public Utilities.
If applicable, an invoice will be issued for copies requested. Records will be provided once payment has been received.
Responding to Public Records
You can expect that we will do one or more of the following within five business days of the receipt of the request:
- Make records available for inspection or copying
- Acknowledge receipt of request and provide a reasonable estimate of when records will be available
- Send requested copies to requestor if payment has been received
- Seek clarification of unclear requests
- Deny the request with explanation of denial
All records will be released if they do not fall within the specific exemptions of the Public Records Act or other statutes which exempt or prohibit disclosure of specific information or records.
The Public Disclosure Officer will describe why each withheld record or redacted portion of a record is exempt from disclosure.
- Common Exemptions RCW 42.56.210 through 42.56.510
- Other Statutes (pdf) produced independently by the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC)
In compliance with RCW 42.56.070(9), Seattle Public Utilities does not disclose lists of individuals for commercial purposes. An affidavit (pdf) certifying that records containing lists of individuals will not be used for commercial purposes is required prior to their release.
Additional Important Information/Careful Attention
Third Party Notification – In the event that the requested records contain information that may affect the rights of others and may be exempt from disclosure, the Public Disclosure Officer in accordance with RCW 42.56.540 may, prior to providing the records, give notice to such others whose rights may be affected by the disclosure, including providing a copy of the request.
Later discovered documents – In the event additional responsive records are discovered that existed at the time the request was made, the requestor will be promptly notified and provided an opportunity to review and or copy the records.
Withdrawn or abandoned requests – When the requestor either withdraws the request or fails to fulfill his or her obligations to inspect the records, pay the deposit, or make payment within thirty days for the requested copies, the Public Disclosure Officer will close the request.
Administrative Appeal/Review of Denials
A requestor may submit a written request petitioning the review of any denied record to:
Amy Bonfrisco
Seattle Public Utilities Appeals Officer
700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4900
P.O. Box 34018
Seattle, WA 98124-4018
(206) 684-4190
Public Records
A "public record" is defined to include any writing containing information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristic.
"Writing" as defined in the disclosure statutes means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation, including, but not limited to, letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, motion picture, film and video recordings, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, diskettes, sound recordings, and other documents including existing data compilations from which information may be obtained or translated.