Ago

QUESTION: May a city impose a fee upon persons wishing to hear tape recordings of city commission meetings?

SUMMARY: A state, county, or local agency may not precondition the inspection of a public document on the payment of a fee. The fact that the document sought to be inspected is a tape or sound recording as opposed to a written document is of no import insofar as the imposition of a fee for inspection pursuant to Ch. 119, F.S., is concerned. According to your letter, the Coral Gables City Commission tapes all hearings at commission meetings in addition to having stenographically reported…