The South Florida Water Management District Office of the Ombuds and Open Government is a neutral resource for citizens seeking professional assistance in problem resolution and accurate, timely responses to public records requests. The Office strives to build public trust by acting as a citizen liaison. We work to facilitate communication on issues of concern at the most appropriate level, respond to public records requests, and promote accessible, responsive government. This Office is the primary contact for public records requests.
Florida enjoys an exceptionally broad public records law. Open Government, or Government-in-the-Sunshine, provides a right of access to government proceedings at both the state and local levels. The law applies to both elected and appointed boards and has been applied to any gathering of two or more members of the same board to discuss a matter which may come before that board for action. There is also a constitutionally guaranteed right of access to meetings of collegial public bodies. Virtually all state and local public bodies are covered by the open meetings requirements -- with the exception of the judiciary and the state Legislature. These units of government have their own constitutional provisions relating to access.
2.
Who is the Open Government contact for the South Florida Water Management District?
Carolyn L. Williams Ombuds, Office of Ombuds and Open Government 3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406 Phone: (561) 682-6335
3.
What is a Public Record?
The Florida Supreme Court has determined that public records are all materials made or received by an agency in connection with official business which are used to perpetuate, communicate or formalize knowledge. They are not limited to traditional written documents. Tapes, photographs, films and sound recordings are also considered public records subject to inspection unless a statutory exemption exists. For more information, see Chapter 119.07, Florida Statutes.
4.
How do I submit a Public Records Request to the South Florida Water Management District?
It is easy to submit a records request to the District. You may request a record by e-mail, regular mail, telephone, fax, or by using the District's online Public Request Form.
You can help the District expedite your request by providing a detailed description. Very broad requests will take longer to process.
To request a record by postal mail, send to:
South Florida Water Management District Office of Ombuds and Open Government [Mail Stop 2510] Attention: Public Records Officer 3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406
To reach the District's 24-hour Public Records information line, call (561) 682-2729
5.
How much can the South Florida Water Management District charge for public documents?
By law, the DISTRICT may charge the following fees for Inspection of, and Copying Public Records:
Standard single-sided letter/legal black and white copies - .15 cents per page
Standard double-sided letter/legal black and white copies - .20 cents per page
Certified Copies - $1.00 per copy Get full Fee Schedule [PDF]
6.
How long does it take to fulfill a public records request?
Florida law states that an agency must respond within the "limited reasonable time" it takes an agency to retrieve and record the record, and delete those portions of the record that are exempt. The length of time it takes this agency to provide the records varies somewhat with the volume of the request, but South Florida Water Management District is committed to providing requested records as quickly and efficiently as possible.
7.
Is the South Florida Water Management District required to give out information from public records or produce public records in a particular form?
The Sunshine Law addresses the right to access, inspect, and copy existing public records but it does not mandate that an agency give out information from the records or create new records to accommodate a request for information. In addition, an agency is not generally required to reformat its records to meet a requestor's particular needs.
8.
If I want to review records at a South Florida Water Management District office, when can I do so?
If you have determined that the records you are requesting are located at a particular South Florida Water Management District office and you would like to review the records in person, you may do so during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
9.
Who can I contact with concerns about South Florida Water Management District operations, governance, programs, departments, or offices?
Jurisdiction
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