Public Records Request

Public Records are writings or documents that contain information about the City’s official business. These records may be prepared, owned, used, or retained by the City in any form. The term “writing” includes many forms of communication, such as documents, emails, building permits, and electronic files. 

A Public Records Request allows any member of the public to view or obtain copies of City records. In California, the Public Records Act ensures that local governments or public agencies make their records available to the public upon receiving a formal request.

The City of Bell supports the public’s right to access information. There are several ways to submit a Public Records Request - online, in person, by mail, email, or fax - to the Office of the City Clerk.

You can submit your request online by completing the Public Records Request Form.

If you would like to make a request in person, please visit City Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, excluding holidays.

The Office of the City Clerk is located in Bell City Hall at 6330 Pine Avenue, Bell CA 90201. For questions, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at (323) 588-6211, Ext. 2615.

The California Public Records Request Act requires the City Clerk's Office to respond to a request within 10 calendar days from the date it is received. In certain cases, the City may extend the response period by up to 14 additional days if more time is needed to locate or review records. If an extension is necessary, the City Clerk will notify the requester in writing and provide the estimated date when the records will be available. 

Note: If the request is received after 4pm on a weekday, or on a weekend or holiday, the next business day will be considered the date of receipt.

The City of Bell supports the public’s right to access City document and records while also respecting individual’s right to privacy, and the City's ability to perform its essential functions. 

Under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), the State Legislature has identified specific categories of records that are exempt from public disclosure. Some examples include:

• Preliminary drafts, notes, or inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda that are not retained by the City in the ordinary course of business. If a document goes through multiple drafts before being finalized or approved, only the final version is subject to disclosure. (Gov. Code 7927.500)
  
  
• Attorney Client Privilege and Attorney Work Product all records protected by privileges under the Evidence Code are exempt from disclosure under the CPRA. Attorney-client privileged communications and attorney work product are examples of privileged documents that are exempt from disclosure under the CPRA.

• Records pertaining to pending litigation to which the City is a party, or to claims made under Government Tort Claims Act are exempt from disclosure until such litigation or claim has been resolved. 

• Personnel, medical, or similar files are exempt from if their disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
  
  
• Law Enforcement Records. The provisions of the CPRA related to crime and law enforcement records can be found at Gov. Code §7923.600-7923.805. Law enforcement investigatory files as a whole are generally exempt from disclosure pursuant to Gov. Code §7923.600, however, local agencies are required to disclose certain pieces of information that are contained in those records.

• "Public Interest" Exemption. This exemption allows an agency to withhold records that are not listed in any specific exemptions under the CPRA, when the public interest served by withholding the records clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure.