How to File a Public Records Request in Lee's Summit, Missouri

What Is the Missouri Sunshine Law?

The Missouri Sunshine Law is the common name for Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 610.010–610.035), originally enacted in 1973. It establishes a broad public right to inspect and copy the records, meetings, votes, and deliberations of any public governmental body. The law applies to all levels of state and local government, including cities, counties, school boards, and special districts. Any member of the public may request records — access is not limited to Missouri residents or citizens.

Under the Sunshine Law, a "public record" includes any written or electronically stored record retained by a public governmental body, including reports, surveys, memoranda, contracts, meeting minutes, emails, permits, and studies prepared by outside consultants paid with public funds. Records held by private contractors on behalf of a public body are also covered.

Key exemptions include personnel records, active law enforcement investigative files, legal files and attorney-client communications, sealed bids, real estate negotiation records, and records whose disclosure could endanger individuals. When a record is only partially exempt, the agency must separate and release the non-exempt portions. The burden falls on the government — not the requester — to justify withholding. Sections 610.010 to 610.200 shall be liberally construed and their exceptions strictly construed to promote openness.

Read the full text of the Missouri Sunshine Law (Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 610 (§§ 610.010–610.035))

How to File a Public Records Request with the City of Lee's Summit

How to Submit Your Request

The City of Lee's Summit accepts Sunshine Law requests through its online records request portal at cityofls.net/city-of-lees-summit/records-request. This is the fastest and most trackable method. You may also print the public records request form from the City Clerk's page and deliver it in person or by mail to City Hall at 220 SE Green Street, Lee's Summit, MO 64063. While the City offers a form to help structure your request, the Missouri Sunshine Law does not require you to use a specific form. A clearly written letter or email identifying the records you seek is legally sufficient. Include your name and contact information so the City can reach you with a cost estimate or response. Be as specific as possible — identifying dates, departments, projects, and record types — to minimize research time and keep costs down.

What to Include in Your Request

• Your full name and mailing or email address for the response
• A specific description of the records sought, including dates, subject matter, department, or project name
• Your preferred format for receiving records (electronic copies, paper copies, or in-person inspection)
• A request to waive fees if you believe the records serve the public interest (explain how)
• A dollar threshold above which you want to be notified before the City proceeds
• A statement that you are requesting records under the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610, RSMo)
• Contact phone number in case the City needs to clarify your request

Response Deadlines and What to Expect

Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.023.3, the City of Lee's Summit must respond to your Sunshine Law request no later than the end of the third business day following receipt. The day the request is received does not count as one of the three business days.

Importantly, a "response" within three business days does not always mean you will receive the records themselves within that window. The City may fulfill the three-day requirement by (1) providing the requested records, (2) informing you that the records are closed and citing the specific statutory exemption, or (3) explaining the cause of the delay and providing the earliest specific calendar date on which the records will be available. Per the Missouri Supreme Court's 2021 ruling in Gross v. Parson, if the City notifies you of a delay, it must provide a specific estimated date — a vague reference to a general timeframe is not sufficient.

Fees are governed by Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.026. The City may charge up to 10 cents per page for standard paper copies, the hourly rate of the lowest-salaried employees capable of fulfilling the request, and actual costs for research time. Attorney review time cannot be charged. If you believe your request serves the public interest, you may ask for a fee waiver by explaining the public benefit of the disclosure. All fees must typically be paid before records are released.

For police records specifically, the Lee's Summit Police Department Records Unit processes report requests, and requests may take 7–10 business days depending on complexity.

What to Do If Your Request Is Denied or Delayed

If the City of Lee's Summit denies your public records request, fails to respond within three business days, or provides only a vague delay notice without a specific date, you have several options under Missouri's Sunshine Law.

First, review the denial carefully. The City is required to cite the specific statutory exemption under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.021 that authorizes withholding each record or category of records. A generic or unexplained denial is itself potentially a violation of the Sunshine Law.

If any portion of a requested record was withheld, check whether the City separated and released the non-exempt portions. Under § 610.024, agencies must release all non-exempt material even when parts of a record are legitimately closed.

For informal resolution, contact the City Clerk's Office directly to ask for clarification or to narrow your request in a way that reduces any claimed burden. Sometimes a records issue can be resolved quickly through conversation.

If informal efforts fail, Missouri's Sunshine Law allows you to escalate. You may file a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, which is authorized to investigate and pursue enforcement of the Sunshine Law. You may also bring a civil action in the Circuit Court of Jackson County under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.027.

If the court finds a knowing violation, it may impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and order the City to pay your costs and reasonable attorney fees. A purposeful violation can result in penalties up to $5,000 plus attorney fees. Unlike some states, Missouri does not award attorney fees to all prevailing requesters — a court finding of a knowing or purposeful violation is required under § 610.027.3–4.

Steps to Appeal

1. Review the denial: Confirm the City cited a specific statutory exemption under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.021 and check whether all non-exempt portions were released per § 610.024.
2. Contact the City Clerk's Office informally: Call (816) 969-1000 or visit City Hall to ask for clarification, request the specific exemption basis, or offer to narrow your request.
3. Resubmit in writing: Put your follow-up request in writing, noting the original request date and restating your statutory right to the records under Chapter 610, RSMo.
4. File a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General: Submit a written complaint at ago.mo.gov. The AG is authorized under § 610.027.1 to investigate violations and pursue enforcement, though it cannot act as your personal attorney.
5. Bring a civil action in Jackson County Circuit Court: Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.027, any aggrieved person may petition the circuit court to compel disclosure. Suit must be filed in the county where the City has its principal place of business.
6. Seek civil penalties and attorney fees: If the court finds a knowing violation, it may award a civil penalty up to $1,000 and order payment of your costs and attorney fees (§ 610.027.3). A purposeful violation raises penalties to $5,000 (§ 610.027.4). Note that attorney fees require a court finding of knowing or purposeful conduct, not merely an error.
7. Consult a media law or public interest attorney: Organizations like the Missouri Press Association and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press offer resources to help requesters navigate contested Sunshine Law disputes.

Types of Records You Can Request from Lee's Summit, Missouri

The City of Lee's Summit generates a wide range of public records across its departments. Under Missouri's Sunshine Law, these records are presumptively open unless specifically exempt by statute.

• City Council meeting minutes, agendas, and voting records
• City ordinances and municipal code amendments
• Contracts and agreements between the City and vendors or developers
• Building permits, inspection records, and zoning applications
• Police incident reports and arrest records (subject to law enforcement exemptions)
• City budget documents, financial statements, and expenditure records
• Subdivision plats, annexation records, and land use planning documents
• Code enforcement complaints and violation records
• Parks and recreation facility use agreements and event permits
• Public works project records, bids, and infrastructure contracts
• City employee salary schedules and organizational charts
• Economic development incentive agreements and TIF records
• Environmental compliance and utility records
• City Clerk's official records: ordinances, resolutions, and proclamations
• Settlement agreements and legal judgments involving the City

If you're unsure whether a specific document is a public record, file the request anyway. The burden is on the City of Lee's Summit to justify withholding — not on you to pre-determine what's available.

Tips for Effective Public Records Requests in Lee's Summit