6 of 14. Board Has History Of Making Up Their Own Rules, Not Always Subject To Adherence To Law:

It has historically been extremely difficult to have the park district furnish answers to questions. For the purposes of the information contained within this website, the only manner information has at all been forthcoming has been to invoke the The California Public Records Act (GOVT.CODE Sections 6250-6276.48), which is designed to give the public access to information in possession of public agencies. 

As it happens, in the case of MPRPD, when this right was finally invoked in order to obtain information the public has a right to know and which had not earlier been forthcoming, the agency then demanded a fee of $45 per hour of staff time in order to provide such information. This was perhaps not surprising for an agency that is in the business of putting up roadblocks to transparency, but what they are still not aware of is that access to such information is purposely free (Section 6253). As addressed by the legislature, costs are limited to the direct cost of duplication, typically $.10-25/page. Any charges for searching or reviewing are not allowed. In their zeal to discourage the public’s right to know, why do they feel it’s appropriate to construct such roadblocks? Could it be that they felt it might dampen the public’s resolve to find out what is really happening with this district?