Later this December, the City of Newcastle Clerk’s Office is rolling out a new electronic platform to manage public records requests. “NextRequest” provides a cloud-based, inclusive approach to accessing city records. Some of the benefits to requestors include:
• Immediate acknowledgment and assignment of a reference number for every records request
• Direct access in one place to the records request, all communications with city staff about it, and the responsive records (which means no more FTP sites or OneDrive links to records)
• Enhanced searchability of requests and responsive records
• Increased transparency to the public on nearly every aspect of providing public records
There are efficiency benefits to staff as well:
• Automation of request logging and deadline updates will free up a lot of time for records management activities
• Redaction of exempt content within the application and automating the required exemption logs
• Communication with the public and staff within the same platform where the records are being shared
All requests will be channeled through NextRequest, where requestors will be able to see our deadlines and staff efforts to provide records whenever they log on. Of course, we will still accept requests in person, and staff will enter them into the platform as needed. Once requests are complete and published, the public will be able to see both their requests and the responsive records, a major shift in the city’s records transparency.
Frequent requestors should expect an invitation to come by email within a few weeks with the opportunity to activate a user account and set a password. To learn more, call or email City Clerk Paul White:
[email protected] or 425-386-4102.