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Public Hearings
<br />In addition to the opportunity afforded at each regular City
<br />Council meeting to comment on items not on the agenda, most
<br />City Council actions provide opportunity for public com-
<br />ment through a public hearing process. For example, the City
<br />Charter provides that a public hearing shall be held on every
<br />ordinance before its adoption. This includes opportunities for
<br />public comment prior to initial City Council discussion of the
<br />ordinance, as well as after Council's initial discussion but be-
<br />fore action. Many actions of the City are required to be taken
<br />by ordinance, and thus this device allows for citizen public
<br />hearing comments on matters ranging from zoning ordinances
<br />to ordinances establishing offenses that are subject to enforce-
<br />ment through the municipal court.
<br />Additionally, federal, state, and/or local law requires a
<br />public hearing on a number of matters irrespective of whether
<br />an ordinance is involved. For example, a public hearing is held
<br />on the City budget, the City Comprehensive Plan and similar
<br />plans, and a variety of site - specific or person - specific activi-
<br />ties, such as annexations of land into the city, rezonings, spe-
<br />cial use permits, variances, and new liquor licenses. Anyone
<br />may provide comments during these hearings.
<br />Public Records
<br />Access to public records is an important aspect of citizen
<br />participation in government. Louisville follows the Colorado
<br />Open Records Act (CORA) and the additional public records
<br />provisions in the City Charter. In particular, the Charter pro-
<br />motes the liberal construction of public records law, so as to
<br />promote the prompt disclosure of City records to citizens at no
<br />cost or no greater cost than the actual costs to the City.
<br />The City Clerk is the custodian of the City's public records,
<br />except for fmancial, personnel, and police records which are
<br />handled, respectively, by the Finance, Human Resources, and
<br />Police Departments. The City maintains a public policy on
<br />access to public records, which include a records request form,
<br />a statement of fees, and other guidelines. No fee is charged
<br />for the inspection of records. No fee is charged for locating
<br />or making records available for copying, except in cases of
<br />voluminous requests or dated records, or when the time spent
<br />in locating records exceeds two hours. No fees are charged for
<br />the first 25 copies requested or for electronic records.
<br />Many records, particularly those related to agenda items for
<br />City Council and current Board and Commission meetings, are
<br />available directly on the City's website (www.LouisvilleCO.
<br />gov). In addition to posting agenda - related material, the City
<br />maintains communication files for the City Council and Plan-
<br />ning Commission. These are available for public inspection at
<br />the City Clerk's Office, 749 Main Street.
<br />CORA lists the categories of public records that are not gen-
<br />erally open to public inspection. These include, for example,
<br />certain personnel records and information, financial and other
<br />information about users of city facilities, privileged informa-
<br />tion, medical records, letters of reference, and other items
<br />listed in detail in CORA. When public records are not made
<br />available, the custodian will specifically advise the requestor
<br />of the reason.
<br />Citizens are encouraged to review the City's website (www.
<br />LousivilleCo.gov) for information, and to contact the City
<br />with any questions regarding City records.
<br />Public Involvement
<br />Policy
<br />Public participation is an essential element of the City's
<br />representative form of government. To promote effective
<br />public participation City officials, advisory board members,
<br />staff and participants should all observe the following guiding
<br />principles, roles and responsibilities:
<br />Guiding Principles for Public Involvement
<br />Inclusive not Exclusive - Everyone's participation is
<br />welcome. Anyone with a known interest in the issue will be
<br />identified, invited and encouraged to be involved early in the
<br />process.
<br />Voluntary Participation - The process will seek the support
<br />of those participants willing to invest the time necessary to
<br />make it work.
<br />Purpose Driven - The process will be clearly linked to when
<br />and how decisions are made. These links will be communi-
<br />cated to participants.
<br />Time, Financial and Legal Constraints - The process will
<br />operate within an appropriate time frame and budget and ob-
<br />serve existing legal and regulatory requirements.
<br />Communication - The process and its progress will be com-
<br />municated to participants and the community at -large using
<br />appropriate methods and technologies.
<br />Adaptability - The process will be adaptable so that the
<br />level of public involvement is reflective of the magnitude of
<br />the issue and the needs of the participants.
<br />Access to Information -The process will provide partici-
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