The municipality of Summerland received 37 Freedom of Information requests in 2024, coming from 28 applicants in the community.

This figure is down from the 2023 figure, when the community received 73 requests, said Kendra Kinsey, Summerland91裸聊视频檚 director of corporate services.

However, because of the volume of requests received in 2023, some of the 53 files closed during the past year included older requests. 

Throughout the year, the municipality searched around 119,163 pages and released 8,652 pages of information.

The searches were busiest in the first two quarters of the year. From January to March, staff searched 58,497 pages and released 1,278 pages. Then, from April to June, staff searched 56,492 pages, releasing 5,009 pages of information.

Kinsey said the requests cost around $40,000 in external consultants91裸聊视频� fees. These fees are in addition to the costs of municipal staff time. She added that the cost for the consultants is down from 2023.

Broad and far-reaching requests in 2023, coming from a single respondent, led to legal action.

In late February 2024, the province91裸聊视频檚 Information and Privacy Commissioner released a 20-page report. The report stated that 10 requests, all from the same person, were were 91裸聊视频渟ystematic91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渆xcessively broad,91裸聊视频� and that responding would interfere unreasonably with the municipality91裸聊视频檚 operations.

Nine of these 10 requests would have generated 46,791 pages and three video files. The volume of pages from the 10th request was not calculated.

The applicant has since filed an appeal of the decision, claiming that the adjudicator showed bias in favour of the municipality. The appeal has not yet been resolved.

The high volume of Freedom of Information requests in 2023 would have provided enough work for two full-time staff members, at a cost of around $200,000, including wages and benefits.

Coun. Erin Trainer suggested presenting more information on the municipality91裸聊视频檚 website. This would save time for those searching for specific information from the municipality.

Coun. Janet Peake said providing increased opportunities to access information would give an element of increased transparency to the municipality.