Media, City Officials to Discuss Recording Rules

Fredericksburg officials have invited local media representatives to discuss crafting rules governing the use of recording devices during City Council meetings. The invitation was extended to staff at Fredericksburg Patch, the Free Lance Star and WFVA-AM.

Currently, the use of recording devices at City Council meetings is not regulated. Over the past few weeks, staff in the City Attorney's office has been reviewing the city's legal authority to implement rules governing the use of recording devices, looking to examples in other Virginia jurisdictions for potential inspiration. City Attorney Kathleen Dooley says that at this point, no new rules have yet been drafted.

"We have just kind of gone out there with a Google search to see what's out there," said Dooley in an interview. "We are trying to think broadly about how the rules and regulations may apply."

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act allows people to document public meetings with audio recorders, video and photographic equipment and other recording devices, but it also allows for some regulations governing the use of the devices so as to avoid disruptions. The City Attorney's office has also been in contact with the Virginia FOIA Advisory board seeking guidance on the matter.

Dooley says the effort is designed to be proactive, hoping to avoid a situation where regulations are added in a piecemeal fashion as issues relating to the use of recording devices may arise.

"We'd like to have something in place so council isn't having to make some ad-hoc decision in the heat of the moment," said Dooley. 

The meeting with media representatives is slated for Friday morning at City Hall. If all goes smoothly, Dooley says that rules governing recording devices during meetings could go before the City Council for approval by the end of the summer.