Frequently Asked Questions

No. The City of Seabrook is not limiting or restricting access to public records. All requestors, whether typical or classified as vexatious, can still submit and receive records in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code §§ 552.275 et seq.). 

The purpose of the ordinance is to improve efficiency and fairness in how records requests are handled, not to reduce transparency or public access.

A vexatious requester is an individual who:

• Repeatedly submits frivolous, repetitive, or harassing records requests; and
• Whose actions strain city resources.

In simpler terms, these are requesters who overuse or misuse the open records process in ways that disrupt normal operations or create an excessive burden on staff.

For the majority of requestors, the process to access public information will not change.

The ordinance introduces a few changes to improve the management of requests:

• The City may request identification from requesters to verify their identity.
• After a single requester has utilized 36 hours of staff time within a fiscal year, or wishes to remain anonymous
  • prepayment would be required prior to staff allocating time to fulfill the request.
  • processing of future requests could be temporarily suspended if costs are owed on other open requests

For questions or additional information, please email the City Secretary's Office.

No. The local legal costs are paid by our local taxpayers; however, we do log attorney hours into the times associated with each request. State taxpayers pay for the costs associated with any AG rulings initiated by the City to process requests.

The AG only allows us to bill for the time it takes to gather and review records to respond to requests. We use the AG's cost calculator, which allows us to bill $15 for every hour of labor. This means that the requester is billed for less than 1/2 the costs associated with their requests, and the taxpayers pay the remainder. We can also bill for any costs for materials, but this does not come up often in our mostly digital world.

Seldom. Aside from police records, which are often paid for, the taxpayers pay 100% of the costs associated with record requests, the vast majority of the time.

No. Requestors are given 10 business days to pay for their requests in order to receive the records. If no payment is made, then the request is closed.

After one requester reaches 36 hours of staff time within a fiscal year, a cost bill may be sent in advance of the labor taking place. If that requester refuses to pay, this results in less costs passed on to the taxpayers.