Washington State General Administration records related to trespass warnings
Request #1
On February 15, 2006, I requested all records from the Washington State Department of General Administration pertaining to trespass warnings (complete email), specifically:
- what grounds a trespass warning can and/or will be issued under General Administration's authority;
- what laws, rules or case law provide authority to issue trespass warnings;
- what recourse citizens have against trespass warnings issued under General Administration's authority;
- the appeals process for trespass warnings;
- how many trespass warnings have been issued under General Administration's authority;
- how many appeals of trespass warnings issued under General Administration's authority have occured;
- the outcome of appeals.
On February 17, 2006 I received a response from Steve Valandra (complete email) stating that I should receive a response the week of February 20, 2006.
On February 24, 2006 I received email from Steve Valandra (complete email) stating that the answer to parts 1 and 2 of my request are contained in RCWs 46.08.150 and 46.08.160. The first RCW allows the agency to create rules to control traffic on capitol grounds, and GA seems to have created no such rules to authorize trespass warnings. My second public disclosure request is an attempt to get a more specific answer on this. The second RCW directs the state patrol to assure proper enforcement of traffic control; state patrol has no records authorizing the use of trespass warnings.
On March 15, 2006 I received email from Stephanie Darnell (complete email) addressing points 3-7 of my first request. She stated that General Administration has no records related to the appeals process for trespass warnings, and that 52 trespass warnings have been issued since 2004.
On March 18, 2006, I reiterated my request for the actual records Ms. Darnell cited (complete email).
On March 21, 2006, I received a response from Stephanie Darnell (complete email) requesting my address so that she could mail me copies of the trespass warnings cited in her previous response.
I responded with my mailing address (complete email).
On March 22, 2006, Stephanie Darnell responded in more detail to points 3-7 of my first request (complete email) and rescinded her previous statement that GA had records related to the number of trespass warnings issued under GA's authority. To get the records that substantiate GA's knowledge that 52 trespass warnings have been issued under their authority, I must write to the state patrol again.
Request #2
On February 24, 2006, I sent a second public disclosure request (complete email) asking:
- I'd like all records related to rules and regulations devised and promulgated by General Administration pursuant to RCW 46.08.150 that authorize the use of trespass warnings.
- Rules and regulations devised under RCW 46.08.150 must be promulgated "by publication in one issue of a newspaper published at the state capitol and shall be given such further publicity as the director may deem proper." I'd like all records related to the publishing of any General Administration rules and regulations that authorize the use of trespass warnings. Not sure exactly what you might have, but maybe a newspaper clipping, date of publishing, receipt entry, etc.
General Administration failed to respond to my request within five business days, violating the public disclosure act. Over two weeks later, on March 15, 2006, I received a response from Stephanie Darnell (complete email) stating that General Administration would need more time to respond to my second public disclosure request.
On March 29, 2006, Stephanie Darnell responded (complete email) stating that they would need more time.
GA never responded to this public disclosure request. I think their final response to my third request may have been intended to cover this, though it does not address the records I requested here.
Request #3
On March 22, 2006 I sent a third public disclosure request (complete email) requesting "all records related to General Administration orders, decisions or opinions about public access to Powerhouse Road, or about the restricted access status of Powerhouse Road, or about whether Powerhouse Road is or isn't part of Heritage Park." I also requested a copy of their "index of records."
That same day, I received a response from Stephanie Darnell (complete email) asking for clarification of my request.
I responded with a more thorough explanation of my request (complete email).
On March 27, 2006, Steve Valandra responded that they would respond the week of April 3 (complete email).
On April 7, 2006, I received email from Steve Valandra (complete email) stating that he would be mailing me "some things" in regards to my public disclosure requests. Later he sent me an email with this press release attached.
Shortly after, I received postal mail from Steve Valandra containing a letter, scanned below, some construction maps of the park, and a printout of their public records index.
