Big Tempe Turns to Tiny Maricopa for Record Request Rescue

Tempe’s City officials are turning to their northern neighbor, Maricopa, for insights on improving their public records request process. This initiative stems from a recent public records inquiry where Tempe requested information on how Maricopa selects its software, including options like JustFOIA, GovQA, and Next Request.

According to Tempe city staffer Martin Moreno, the collaboration aims to enhance the efficiency of their public records management system. Moreno emphasized the importance of understanding Maricopa’s use of JustFOIA as part of their research.

Kris Baxter-Ging, a spokesperson for Tempe, elaborated on their efforts, stating that they are reaching out to various cities to gauge their satisfaction with existing systems. “We want to ensure we are getting the best value for our residents,” she said, highlighting the practice as a standard approach to assess software options.

In contrast, Maricopa’s spokesperson, Monica Williams, declined to comment on the matter. This inquiry reflects a growing trend among municipalities in Arizona to share best practices in public administration, potentially leading to improved service delivery for residents.