Farmers Branch, Texas

From Sunshine Review

Farmers Branch Texas is a city in Dallas County Texas.

Budget [1] Meetings [2] Elected Officials [3] Administrative Officials [4] Permits, zoning Audits [5] Contracts [6] Lobbying Public records Local taxes [7]

Contents 1 Evaluating The Website 1.1 The good 1.2 The bad 2 Renting to illegal immigrants - lawsuits 3 Taxpayer-funded lobbying 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Evaluating The Website

[edit] The good

• The website for Farmers Branch Texas includes the names and contact information of all city council members.
• City council meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes are published.
• The current budget is published.
• City Audits, Contract information, and tax rate information are published.
• Building permits^[8] and zoning information available.^[9]

[edit] The bad

• There is no procedure for requesting public records.
• There is no information on lobbying

[edit] Renting to illegal immigrants - lawsuits

"Farmers Branch officials have approved several ordinances to prevent illegal immigrants from renting in the city." Former City Council member Carol Dingman has filed Texas Public Information Act requests for legal and consulting bills connected to the city council's attempts to limit illegal immigrants from renting. The City Council contends that the legal bills fall under attorney-client privilege, and are therefore exempt from the open records law. The Council referred her requests to the Attorney General's Office, which informed the city that "claims of attorney-client privilege are not compelling reasons to withhold the information" and ordered that the records be released. Farmers Branch has filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General questioning that ruling, meanwhile, Carol Dingman has filed a lawsuit against the city for continuing to refuse to provide her with the legal bills she has requested. ^[10]

[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying

Main article: Texas Municipal League members list

Farmers Branch pays membership dues to the Texas Municipal League, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association.

[edit] External links

• City of Farmers Branch website

[edit] References

1. ↑ Documents
2. ↑ Meetings
3. ↑ City Council
4. ↑ Staff Directory
5. ↑ City Documents
6. ↑ Purchasing Dept.
7. ↑ Tax Rate
8. ↑ Permits
9. ↑ Zoning
10. ↑ Former FB council member sues city , Associated Press, December 17, 2008

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