FAQs

  1. How do I make a Public Records request? Please visit the City's public records portal, NextRequest, to make your request. Requests received in person or by mail are also accepted, and will be entered into the portal for processing.
  2. Who can initiate a Public Records request? Anyone may initiate a request for public records.
  3. What are some tips for making a proper records request? Although no specific language is required to make a request, you must at least identify the records requested with the sufficient clarity and specificity to allow the City to identify, retrieve, and review the records. The City may decline to create a record that contains the information requested if the record does not already exist.
  4. Are there any costs associated with obtaining public records? The City of Shawnee may charge twenty-five cents ($0.25) per page for letter or legal size records. Per the Oklahoma Open Records Act, (Title 51 O.S. ยง 24A.5.4(b)), "... the public body may charge a reasonable fee to recover the direct cost of record search and copying."
  5. How long will it take to process my request? The Oklahoma Open Records Act entitles prompt, reasonable access to its records. Reasonableness takes into account many factors such as the size and scope of the request, the ability to gather records from a single or multiple sources and/or locations, the need to review records for legal reasons and for redactions, and other factors. There is no fixed time within which public bodies must respond, so long as that time is reasonable under the law.


Other Resources