Colorado Springs updates CORA processes and fees to align with state law and peer cities

The City of Colorado Springs is updating how it manages Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests following a review of the City's program, including how other Colorado municipalities manage public records requests. The changes, effective today, are intended to create a more efficient process as the City manages growing demand for public records while maintaining its commitment to transparency and public access.

The updated approach includes improved coordination across City departments and allows related requests from the same requester involving the same or similar records to be consolidated into one coordinated process. The update also includes a new policy that allows the City to post information publicly and direct requestors to that information when several requestors are interested in the same information.

As part of the update, the City is also changing its research and retrieval fees. The first hour of staff time will continue to be provided at no charge to the requester. After the first hour, the City will charge $41.37 per hour in 15-minute increments. Previously, the City provided two hours at no charge and charged $30 per hour after that. The City's updated fee structure is consistent with several other Colorado municipalities: Denver, Fort Collins and Lakewood charge $41.37 per hour after the first hour, while Aurora and Boulder charge $41 per hour.

Colorado law requires the first hour of research and retrieval to be provided at no charge and allows government entities to charge up to $41.37 per hour for additional time.

The updated CORA policy and information about requesting City records are available at ColoradoSprings.gov/CORA.