FOIPub Livingston, Montana
Open government. Source-linked information.
Citizen tool

Draft a focused public-records request

Turn a broad question into a specific records request that identifies the records, date range, likely location and useful search terms.

FOIPub does not submit requests for you. This tool only drafts language in your browser. Review it, then use the City of Livingston's official public-records process.

Start with a common request

Choose a template, then customize it.
Your draft stays in your browser. FOIPub does not submit the text you enter here. You decide whether to copy, download or send it through the City’s official records process. Privacy details →
Draft request
Open City's official forms →

What makes a request easier to process?

Borrowed from the City's own form prompts
Be specific

Name the records

Describe what you want rather than only describing the issue you are investigating.

Narrow the search

Add dates and people

A useful time frame, author, recipient, office or organization can make the request easier to locate.

Identify format

Say what kind of records

The City's form specifically invites descriptions such as reports, letters, memoranda, forms and email.

FOIPub request ideas

Common accountability questions
Policy originsEmails, draft language, presentations and communications with named outside organizations before an ordinance or resolution appeared on an agenda.
Consultants & contractsContracts, scopes of work, invoices, deliverables and correspondence related to a consultant's work on a City decision.
Compensation decisionsSalary studies, comparator data, draft employment agreements and communications used to prepare a compensation proposal.
Public complaintsComplaint logs or responsive records for a defined subject and date range, with personal information excluded when appropriate.
Development decisionsStaff correspondence, application materials, consultant analysis and communications connected to a land-use proposal.
Meeting preparationStaff reports, drafts, attachments or correspondence used to prepare a specific agenda item.

After you submit

Keep your own paper trail.
1Save the exact request you submitted and the date you submitted it.
2Keep any confirmation email, request number or acknowledgment from the City.
3If staff asks you to clarify or narrow the request, keep that correspondence with the original request.
4When records arrive, preserve the original files before reorganizing, renaming or annotating copies.
5Note anything that remains unresolved so a follow-up request can be specific instead of starting over.
6If the records answer a FOIPub issue or policy-origin question, compare them with the meeting, vote and source record already on the site.
Official source

Submit through the City.

The City publishes a Public Records Request Form and asks requesters to describe the records sought, where they may be located, the time frame, author, recipient and record type. FOIPub's builder is designed around those prompts. Open the City of Livingston forms page →

This drafting tool is informational and is not legal advice.