Public records at Metro | Metro Looking for public records? Many frequently requested records such as meeting minutes, ordinances and resolutions can be found by searching Metro's online records. Tips and FAQ Explore Metro's history Metro's archives and special collections preserve the history of the agency for current and future generations. Find oral history transcripts, photographs, publications and more. Metro archives Metro Regional Center under construction, 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR (1991-1993) Records are the evidence of what Metro does as an agency. They capture its business activities, transactions, legal obligations, policies and procedures. They also document the decision-making activities of Metro’s elected officials and employees. Records come in many formats, including physical paper, electronic documents, website content and data in databases. All of the records Metro creates are public records. Federal and state laws enumerate government agencies’ responsibilities for providing stewardship of their information assets. To ensure regulatory compliance and in support of public accountability, Metro is committed to: Documenting agency activities Managing its information assets throughout their lifecycle to facilitate the accomplishment of Metro's programmatic and administrative missions Exercising responsible stewardship of public records in a way that allows information assets to be shared, utilized, reused and disposed of in compliance with appropriate statutes and guidelines Promoting access to information by Metro staff, partners and the public as appropriate Preserving records of enduring value for the benefit of agency staff, researchers and the public at large. How to submit a public records request Step 1: Read through Metro’s public records request policy and FAQs to learn more about Metro’s public records request process. Metro Records and Information Management policy PDF 186.37 KB Aug. 26, 2020 Policy and procedures for public records requests PDF 344.33 KB Sept. 2, 2024 Public records request frequently asked questions PDF 210.28 KB Oct. 1, 2024 Step 2: Submit a records request through Metro's public records center. Request records Public records request fee schedule PDF 133.3 KB July 1, 2025 Fee waiver/fee reduction form If you receive a cost estimate and wish to request a fee waiver/fee reduction, complete the fee waiver/fee reduction request form. In the absence of a cost estimate, submitting a fee waiver/fee reduction request is not necessary. Record retention A retention schedule is a complete listing of all the record series an organization is responsible for. It is usually organized by departments and programs, listing the records each group is responsible for maintaining. A retention schedule provides the following information about each record series: Description of the records The minimum length of time the record must be maintained (e.g., destroy after 6 years) Which part of the organization is the official copy-holder. Metro’s retention schedule was written by Metro staff in conjunction with the Oregon Secretary of State, Archives Division . All state, county, city and other government agencies in Oregon are required to follow the record-keeping rules established by the Archives Division. These rules define Metro’s legal obligations regarding a wide range of records-related activities, including, but not limited to, the life-cycle management of the agency’s records (based on retention requirements) and the handling of public records requests. The records in Metro’s collection have been posted online when either: Permissions are received The work is determined to be in the public domain The work can be used under fair use as part of a non-commercial, educational site. These rights do not extend to the users who are accessing these records. Users will need to determine for themselves if an item is protected by copyright or if it’s in the public domain. If a user discovers an item has copyright or use restrictions, they should follow those restrictions when publishing or distributing the item. The authors of any materials in Metro’s digital collection can request limited public access to those materials. However, Metro recommends this option be carefully considered. As a public repository, the digital collections are intended to provide long term public access to records. Copyright statement from Metro Records and Information Management PDF 238.02 KB April 11, 2023 Contact Metro records officer [email protected] 971-978-9585