Policy

This public records policy ("Policy") of the Las Vegas Valley Water District ("District") is established to operate an effective and efficient records management program. Pursuant to this Policy, the District shall: 1) encourage transparency and public participation in government, 2) comply with all applicable state and federal laws, 3) include processes and procedures that protect confidential records from disclosure; and 4) promote innovation and collaboration between District employees and departments.

In accordance with this Policy, the District is committed to responding to requests to inspect or receive copies of public records maintained by the District in an orderly, consistent and lawful manner.

Purpose

The District recognizes that the Nevada Public Records Act (NRS 239.001–239.340) (NPRA) gives members of the public the right to inspect and copy certain public records maintained by the District. The purpose of this Policy is: 1) to establish an orderly and consistent procedure for receiving and responding to public records requests from the public; 2) to establish, in compliance with NPRA guidelines, a comprehensive fee schedule that will serve as the basis for assessing any and all authorized fees or costs associated with a public records request; and 3) to inform citizens and members of the media of the procedures and guidelines that apply to public records requests.

Procedure

Public records requests may be made via the District's web page (www.lvvwd.com), over the telephone, in person, or through written correspondence. Public records requests by a member of the media shall be directed to Public Services at 702-258-3939. Additionally, public records requests may be made by contacting the Information Governance Division at 702-258-3117. The Information Governance Division shall be the designated records official for the District.

A person may request a copy of a public record in any medium in which the public record is readily available to the District. An officer, employee or agent of the District who has legal custody or control of a public record shall not refuse to provide a copy of that public record in a readily available medium because the officer, employee or agent has already prepared or would prefer to provide the copy in a different medium.

Upon receipt of a public records request, District staff shall respond to the request within five (5) business days. If staff is unable to provide the records within five business days, staff shall provide the requestor, in writing, with notice of one of the following:

1. If the District does not have legal custody or control of the requested public record, District staff shall communicate that fact to the requestor and provide the requestor the name and address of the governmental entity that has legal custody or control of the record, if known.
2. If the public record has been destroyed, District staff shall communicate this to the requestor and cite approved records retention schedule.
3. If the District is unable to make the public record available by the end of the fifth business day after receiving the request, District staff shall so notify the requestor and shall specify to the requestor a date and time when the record will be available.

Some public records requests may seek information that would require the creation of a new public record. However, under the NPRA, public bodies are not generally obligated to create new records where none exist to fulfill such requests. If the public record or any portion thereof is confidential, and access is denied, staff shall communicate this to the requestor and cite the specific statute or other legal authority that declares the record and/or any portion of the record to be confidential.

Non-record materials are not considered official public records and are not subject to disclosure under the NPRA. Non-record materials are published materials printed by a governmental printer, worksheets, unused blank forms except ballots, brochures, newsletters, magazines, catalogs, price lists, drafts, convenience copies, ad hoc reports, reference materials not relating to a specific project and any other documentation that does not serve as the record of an official action of a local governmental entity. (NAC 239.051)

Confidential and Restricted Public Records

The Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) identify many statutes that declare records to be confidential or restricted and, therefore, are not publicly accessible. Statutes that reference confidential or restricted records which are “declared by law to be confidential” are cited in NRS 239.010 and are therefore exempt from public access. They include, without limitation, the following sections of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS):

NRS: 1.4683, 1.4687, 1A.110, 41.071, 49.095, 62D.420, 62D.440, 62E.516, 62E.620,62H.025,
62H.030, 62H.170, 62H.2 20, 62H.320, 75A.100, 75A.150, 76.160, 78.152, 80.113, 81.850,82.183, 86.246, 86.54615, 87.515,87.5413, 87A. 200, 87A.580, 87A.640, 88.3355, 88.5927,88.6067, 88A.345, 88A.7345, 89.045, 89.251, 90.730, 91.160, 116.757, 116A.270,116B.880,118B.026, 119.260, 119.265, 119.267, 119.280, 119A.280, 119A.653, 119B.370, 119B.382,120A.690, 125.130, 125B.140, 126.141,126.161, 126.163, 126.730, 127.007, 127.057, 127.130,127.140, 127.281 7, 130.312, 130.712, 136.050, 159.044, 172.075, 172.245, 176.015,176.0625,176.09129, 176.156, 176A.630, 17 8.39801, 178.4715, 178.5691, 179.495, 179A.070, 179A.165,179A.450, 179D.160, 200.3771,200.3772, 200.5095, 200.604, 202.3662, 205.4651, 209.392,209.3925, 209.419, 209.521, 211A.140, 213.010, 213.040, 213.095, 213. 131,217.105, 217.110,217.464, 217.475, 218A.350, 218E.625, 218F.150, 218G.130, 218G.240, 218G.350, 228.27 0,228.450, 228.495, 228.570,231.069, 231.1473, 233.190, 237.300, 239.0105, 239.0113, 239B.030,239B.040, 2 39B.050, 239C.140, 239C.210, 239C.230, 239C.250,239C.270, 240.007, 241.020,241.030, 241.039, 242.105, 244. 264, 244.335, 250.087, 250.130, 250.140, 250.150, 268.095,268.490, 268.910,271A.105, 281.195, 281A.350, 28 1A.440, 281A.550, 284.4068, 286.110,287.0438, 289.025, 289.080, 289.387, 289.830, 293.5002, 293.503,293.55 8, 293B.135, 293D.510, 331.110, 332.061, 332.351, 333.333, 333.335, 338.070, 338.1379, 338.16925, 338.1725, 338.1727, 348.420,349.597, 349.775, 353.205, 353A.049, 353A.085, 353A.100, 353C.240, 360.240, 360.247, 360. 255, 360.755, 361.044, 361.610, 365.138,366.160, 368A.180, 372A.080, 378.290, 378.300, 379.008, 385A.830, 3 85B.100, 387.626, 387.631, 388.1455, 388.259, 388.501, 388.503,388.513, 388.750, 391.035, 392.029, 392.147, 392.264, 392.271, 392.850, 394.167, 394.1698, 394.447, 394.460, 394.465, 396.3295, 396.405,396.525, 396.535, 398.403, 408.3885, 408.3886, 408.3888, 408.5484, 412.153, 416.070, 422.2749, 422.305, 422A.342, 422A.350, 425.400,427A.1236, 427A.872, 432.205, 432B.175, 432B.280, 432B.290, 432B.407, 432B.430, 432B.560, 433.534, 433A.360, 439.840, 439B.420,440.170, 441A.195, 441A.220, 441A.230, 442.330, 442.395, 445A.665, 445B.570, 449.209, 449.245, 449.720, 450.140, 453.164, 453.720,453A.610, 453A.700, 458.055, 458.280, 459.050, 459.386 6, 459.555, 459.7056, 459.846, 463.120, 463.15993, 463.240, 463.3403, 463.3407,463.790, 467.1005, 480.365, 4 81.063, 482.170, 482.5536, 483.340, 483.363, 483.575, 483.659, 483.800, 484E.070, 485.316, 503.452, 522.040, 534A.031, 561.285, 571.160, 584.583, 584.655, 587.877, 598.0964, 598.098, 598A.110, 599B.090, 603.070, 603A .210, 604A.710, 612.265,616B.012, 616B.015, 616B.315, 616B.350, 618.341, 618.425, 622.310, 623.131, 623A.3 53, 624.110, 624.265, 624.327, 625.425, 625A.185,628.418, 628B.230, 628B.760, 629.047, 629.069, 630.133, 63 0.30665, 630.336, 630A.555, 631.368, 632.121, 632.125, 632.405, 633.283,633.301, 633.524, 634.212, 634.214, 634A.185, 635.158, 636.107, 637.085, 637B.288, 638.087, 638.089, 639.2485, 639.570, 640.075,640A.220, 640B. 730, 640C.400, 640C.745, 640C.760, 640D.190, 640E.340, 641.090, 641A.191, 641B.170, 641C.760, 642.524, 643.189,644.446, 645.180, 645.625, 645A.050, 645A.082, 645B.060, 645B.092, 645C.220, 645C.225, 645D.130, 645D .135, 645E.300, 645E.375,645G.510, 645H.320, 645H.330, 647.0945, 647.0947, 648.033, 648.197, 649.065, 649. 067, 652.228, 654.110, 656.105, 661.115, 665.130,665.133, 669.275, 669.285, 669A.310, 671.170, 673.430, 675. 380, 676A.340, 676A.370, 677.243, 679B.122, 679B.152, 679B.159, 679B.190,679B.285, 679B.690, 680A.270, 68 1A.440, 681B.260, 681B.410, 681B.540, 683A.0873, 685A.077, 686A.289, 686B.170, 686C.306, 687A.110,687A.1 15, 687C.010, 688C.230, 688C.480, 688C.490, 692A.117, 692C.190, 692C.3536, 692C.3538, 692C.354, 692C.420, 693A.480,693A.615, 696B.550, 703.196, 704B.320, 704B.325, 706.1725, 706A.230, 710.159, 711.600, sections 35, 38 and 41 of chapter 478, Statutes of Nevada 2011 and section 2 of chapter 391, Statutes of Nevada 2013 and unless otherwise declared by law to be confidential.

The most common public records that are deemed confidential are, without limitation, as follows:

1. Personal Identifying Information – NRS 239B.030. Each governmental agency may ensure that any personal information contained in a document that has been recorded, filed or otherwise submitted to the governmental agency, which the governmental agency continues to hold, is maintained in a confidential manner if the personal information is required to be included in the document pursuant to a specific state or federal law, for the administration of a public program or for an application for a federal or state grant.
2. Bids and Proposals under Negotiation or Evaluation – NRS 332.061(2). Bids which contain a provision that requires negotiation or evaluation may not be disclosed until the bid is recommended for award of a contract. Upon award of the contract, all of the bids, successful or not, with the exception of proprietary/confidential information, are public record and copies shall be made available upon request.
3. Bids and Proposals Containing Proprietary Information – NRS 332.061(1). Proprietary information does not constitute public information and is confidential.
4. Recreation Program Registration – NRS 239.0105. Records of recreational facility/activity registration where the name, address, and telephone number of the applicant are collected are confidential.
5. Emergency Action Plans and Infrastructure Records – NRS Chapter 239C. Records detailing the District’s Emergency Response Plans and critical infrastructure are restricted and may be confidential under state law.
6. Personnel Records –To the extent permitted by law employee personnel records are considered confidential.
7. Databases Containing Electronic Mail Addresses or Telephone Numbers – NRS 239B.040. Electronic mail addresses and/or telephone numbers collected for the purpose of or in the course of communicating with the District may be maintained in a database. This database is confidential in its entirety, is not public record, and it must not be disclosed in its entirety as a single unit; however, the individual electronic mail address or telephone number of a person is not confidential and may be disclosed individually in certain circumstances.
8. Protected Medical Records – HIPAA 45 CFR Part 160 and Part 164. Medical records collected during medical transports may only be disclosed to the patient or as authorized by the patient. Medical records related to the District's insurance plan are also confidential.
9. Attorney/Client Privileged Records – NRS 49.095. Confidential communications between a client or a client’s representative and the client’s lawyer or the representative of the client’s lawyer are privileged and not subject to disclosure. Documents may be protected by the attorney-client privilege and/or work product doctrine even if they are not direct exchanges between an attorney and a client.
10. Restricted Documents – NRS 239C.010 to NRS 239C.270. Blueprints or plans of schools, places of worship, airports other than an international airport, gaming establishments, governmental buildings or any other building or facility which is likely to be targeted for a terrorist attack, including plans detailing the location and design of District information technology, water and sewer infrastructure are considered "Restricted Documents." These plans can only be inspected after supplying: (a) name; (b) a copy of a driver's license or other photographic identification that is issued by a governmental entity; (c) the name of employer, if any; (d) citizenship; and (e) a statement of the purpose for the inspection.
11. Records Detailing Investigations or Relating to Litigation or Potential Litigation. To the extent permitted by law, records involving certain criminal or employee investigations, litigation or potential litigation are considered confidential.
12. Local Ethics Committee Opinions – NRS 281A.350(4). Each request for an opinion submitted to a specialized or local ethics committee, each hearing held to obtain information on which to base an opinion, all deliberations relating to an opinion, each opinion rendered by a committee and any motion relating to the opinion are confidential unless:
    
    
    1. The public officer or employee acts in contravention of the opinion; or
    2. The requester discloses the content of the opinion.
13. Economic Development Initial Contact and Research Records (NRS 268.910). An organization for economic development formed by one or more cities shall, at the request of a client, keep confidential any record or other document in its possession concerning the initial contact with and research and planning for that client. If such a request is made, the executive head of the organization shall attach to the file containing the record or document a certificate signed by the executive head stating that a request for confidentiality was made by the client and showing the date of the request.
14. Copyright-Protected Material. If the District maintains public records containing copyright-protected material, the District will permit the person making the request to inspect the copyrighted material and may allow limited copying of such material if allowed under Federal copyright law. The District may require written consent from the copyright holder or an opinion from the person's legal counsel before allowing copying of such materials.
15. Trade Secrets. Means information, including, without limitation, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, product, system, process, design, prototype, procedure, computer programming instruction or code that:
    
    
    1. derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by the public or by any other persons who can obtain commercial or economic value form its disclosure or use; and
    2. is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain secrecy
    3. Trade Secrets do not include any information that is otherwise required to be disclosed by those sections.
16. Balancing Test Analysis. In those instances when the legislature has not specified a particular record to be confidential, a balancing test will be applied to determine whether a record is a public record subject to the provisions of the NPRA. This test balances the interest and justification of the District in maintaining the confidentiality of the document against the interest or need of the public to review the document. The test should be done by legal counsel in full consultation with the District.

Fees

NRS 239.052 authorizes the District to charge a fee for providing a copy of a public record. The District-wide fee schedule for public records and document services shall be posted on the District website and in all other locations required by NRS Chapter 239. The fee schedule can also be found at the following link: Public Records and Documents Fee Schedule. 

The current fee schedule is located on the District's website at www.lvvwd.com. Information Governance may approve the waiver of fees.

In accordance with NRS 239.054, the District may recover costs for providing information from Geographic Information Systems (“GIS”). In addition to the actual cost of the medium in which the information is provided, the District may recover reasonable costs related to: 1) gathering and entering data, 2) maintaining and updating system databases, 3) hardware, 4) software, 5) quality control, and 6) consultation.