Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

Yes, there is a way to force the city to comply, but whether you have a real case or not is another matter.

The CPRA defines �public records� as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public�s business prepared, owned, used or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. ��Public records� includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public�s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.� (Gov�t Code, � 6252, subd. (e).)

The CPRA is codified at Government Code sections 6250 through 6276.48. It was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in 1968, mandating disclosure of governmental records to the public upon request, unless there is a specific reason not to do so. The law is similar to the Freedom of Information Act (commonly called �FOIA�), except for the fact that the provision that �the people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people�s business� is enshrined in Article 1 of the California Constitution due to California Proposition 59 (the Sunshine Amendment).

The CPRA authorizes any person to institute a proceeding for injunctive or declarative relief to

enforce his right to inspect or receive a copy of a public record.

Any person may institute proceedings for injunctive

or declarative relief or writ of mandate in any court

of competent jurisdiction to enforce his or her right

to inspect or to receive a copy of any public record

or class of public records under this chapter. The

times for responsive pleadings and for hearings in

these proceedings shall be set by the judge of the

court with the object of securing a decision as to

these matters at the earliest possible time.

(Gov�t Code, � 6258.)

There are exemptions from disclosure, however, and it is not clear from your post alone whether these exemptions would apply to the records you are looking for.