Complaint confidentiality policy
The City’s enforcement-related confidentiality policy is based on State of Oregon public records’ statutes. Enforcement records are public records, but the name of complaint is exempt from disclosure. The exemption is entitled “information submitted to a public body in confidence.” As such, any record that identifies a complainant is exempt from disclosure. However, notes in a file or a complaint letter, that does not specifically identify the complainant, may be disclosed.
The City will disclose the complainant’s name if required under a valid court order or if that person is going to be a witness in an enforcement case—the “right of cross examination” requires this provision.