The City of Pineville, Louisiana

Public records are defined by the Louisiana Public Records Law as "[a]ll books, records, writings, accounts, letters, and letter books, maps, drawings, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, memoranda, and papers, and all copies , duplicates, photographs, including microfilm, or other reproductions thereof, or any other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, including information contained in electronic data processing equipment, having been used, being in use, or prepared, possessed, or retained for use in the conduct, transaction, or performance of any business, transaction, work, duty, or function which was conducted, transacted, or performed by or under the authority of the constitution or laws of this state, or by or under the authority of any ordinance, regulation, mandate, or order of any public body or concerning the receipt or payment of any money received or paid by or under the authority of the constitution or the laws of this state." Every record made or received by the City is presumed to be a public record, unless it is subject to an exemption. Public records exempt from disclosure are those that federal, state or local law prohibits the City from disclosing or permits the City to decline to disclose. Louisiana Public Records Law and its exemptions appears in La. R.S. 44:41.1, et. seq.

To review or receive a copy of a public record, you must first make a request to the "custodian" of the document in question. The efficient way to make a public record request is by contacting the City Clerk.

The custodian of a public record is "the public official or head of any public body having custody or control of a public record, or a representative specifically authorized by him to respond to request to inspect any such public records."

There is no specific form that must be used to request records, nor is there any language you must use in your request. To expedite processing of your request, please be as specific as possible. Keep in mind that all public records requests must request a record, not ask a question.

Any person of the age of majority may request a public record.

Examinations of records must be conducted during regular office or working hours (Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm), unless the custodian authorizes examination of records in other than regular office or working hours. In this latter event, the persons designated to represent the custodian during such examination shall be entitled to reasonable compensation to be paid to them by the public body having custody of such record, out of funds provided in advance by the person examining such record in other than regular office or working hours.

The City Council of the City of Pineville has adopted a fee schedule with Resolution 2024-0312-14. Please refer to the fee schedule for fees that will apply to your request. Once responsive documents have been identified so that page numbers and required medium of production can be determined, you will be notified of the applicable charges. You will be required to pay those charges prior to having your documents released to you.

View the Staff Directory on the website for contact information of the department for which your question is related to.