Students in Mercer’s Civic & Community Journalism class reviewed agency websites and information to assess how transparent they are when it comes to making decisions about how taxpayer dollars are spent. The students also reviewed each agency’s adherence to Georgia’s open record and open government laws.
Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning was established on Nov. 4, 1952 through a joint ordinance by the City of Macon and Bibb county. The agency adapted to the newly consolidated Macon-Bibb county in January 2014.
Planning & Zoning carries out their duties under the Comprehensive Land Development Code. According to their website, their mission is to coordinate the development process with local, state, and federal partners, administer all aspects of the Comprehensive Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan with efficiency, fairness, and consistency, and to protect and enhance quality of life for all citizens of Macon-Bibb county through friendly, fair, and consistent enforcement of the Comprehensive Land Development Code.
They work with Macon Area Transportation Study Metropolitan Planning Organization and Macon-Bibb County Zoning Regulations. This organization serves and includes taxpayers by holding public meetings twice a month, where citizens can participate in projects and voice comments on issues before the Board.
Open Records Access
Records that were requested: We requested a copy of problems reported to the Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning website from the report a problem page between March 16-26. The request was emailed to Butch Sementilli, III, who is the Zoning Director.
When did you first hear back from the agency: We filed the request on March 26. We got an automated out of office response a few moments later telling us he is out for training.
Did the agency request a fee: There was no fee for a request.
Describe the response to the request: The agency did not respond. An automated out of office response was sent right after the request was sent stating Sementilli was out of office for training. A follow-up email was sent on April 2 and that also got an automated response. The email stated that Sementilli would be out until April 6. No official response has been received from the office.
Grade for contact: C. The agency has contact information for staff but nothing specific about how to request public information/open records.
Grade for response: F. We did not receive the records we requested in our open records request.
Public Transparency
- Website: Planning & Zoning Commission
- The key staff and their contact information is listed on the website. Jeffrey C. Ruggieri is the Executive Director and can be contacted at 478-241-2561 or [email protected], and Randi Doveton is the Assistant Executive Director and can be reached at 478-241-2563 or [email protected]. Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning website also has additional commissioners listed.
- Do they have a public information or communications officer? According to their website, they do not have a public information officer on staff.
- Do they have information on meeting announcements/meeting dates and times? Yes, this information is located on the home page, along with an events calendar and links to review previous hearing results.
- Does the website have meeting agendas? Yes, the agenda meetings are located under the “Hearings” tab on the home page.
- Do they have provided meeting minutes? Yes, they do have it posted. Under “hearings” tab.
- Do they provide a way for the public to watch its meetings? Yes, all of the meetings are recorded and posted on the website listed above. It is also on YouTube.
- Do they have social media platforms? The social media platforms are Twitter: @BibbZoning, YouTube: @MBPZ-Teams , Facebook: Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning Commission, and LinkedIn: Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission
- Do they provide any way to make an open records request? There is a section to “Report A Problem,” but nothing specifically about an open request request.
- Helpful information: The calendar of events is posted on the home page of the website for people to see time and places of events and upcoming hearings that are happening, and what they will be about.
Grading
TRANSPARENCY: Excellent. Transparency is well executed. All the meeting times and agendas are posted on the website, along with the meetings being posted on YouTube. Every general question you need to know about the organization can be answered by looking at the website and YouTube channel.
PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY: Superior. There is contact information posted for leaders/commissioners. The meetings are audio and/or video recorded. They also use social media to share important information that could be of interest to the public.
