HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 Schedule 40 - General Administrative Records40-1
Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.010
General Description: This schedule addresses common records that are found across the organization, such
as correspondence, agreements and contracts or project records.
40.010 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS RECORDS
Records of formal administrative proceedings conducted by staff or an administrative hearing
officer (possibly subject to appeal to the governing body or the courts) to make administrative
rulings or determinations regarding a variety of matters (examples: sales tax exemptions, nuisance
abatements, stormwater appeals, minor personnel matters not otherwise covered by the retention
manual).
Retention: 3 years after proceeding concludes, provided that all rights of appeal have expired
40.20 AFFIDAVITS OF PUBLICATION
Proof of publication provided by newspapers regarding legal publications. Affidavits of publication
are also sometimes known as "legals" or "proofs."
A. Affidavits of Publication - Ordinances
Affidavits of publication of ordinances of a general or permanent nature and those imposing
any fine, penalty or forfeiture.
Retention: 6 years or until ordinance is repealed or reenacted, whichever is later
B. Other Affidavits of Publication
Affidavits of publication other than those relating to ordinances.
Retention: 6 years
40.030 AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS
Agreements and contracts of various kinds that document some form of agreement that is
enforceable by law, including but not limited to intergovernmental agreements, memoranda of
understanding, franchise agreements, lease agreements, professional services agreements,
cancelled agreements and contracts, etc. See also 40.230.A, Activities and Events - Short-Term Agreements,
Contracts and Supporting Documentation.
Retention: 6 years after expiration or cancellation, fulfillment of all terms of agreement or contract
or resolution of any disputes, whichever is later, provided that audit has been completed and
agreement or contract no longer has any binding effect; except prior to destruction, evaluate for
continuing legal, administrative or historical value
No record may be destroyed under this Retention Schedule if it is pertinent to any current, pending or anticipated investigation, audit or legal proceeding. The minimum retention periods specified in this schedule apply to the information contained within the record copy, regardless of the physical format of the record copy (paper, microfilm, electronic). Each municipality must decide on the physical format for each type of record, ensuring authenticity, readability and accessibility for the entire retention period. Duplicate Copies: Retain duplicated copies until no longer needed but not longer than the record copy.
SCHEDULE NO. 40
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS
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Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.040
40.040 AWARDS AND HONORS
Awards and honors received from various public or private sources.
Retention: Until no longer useful
40.050 CALENDARS
Records for routine planning and scheduling of meetings, appointments and similar activities;
includes calendars, appointment books, diaries and similar records with routine content.
Retention: Until no longer needed for reference
40.60 CHARTERS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
A. Charter Proceedings
Records relating to the adoption, amendment or repeal of Home Rule Charters or provisions of
the Charter, including records of Charter conventions and not including Charter initiative
petitions.
Retention: Permanent
B. Charters - Published
Governing documents for Home Rule Municipalities published separately or as part of the
municipal code book.
Retention: Permanent [Important Note: Charters are considered to be essential municipal records, and the
State Archives therefore recommends that the "record" copy be retained in paper format.]
40.70 CODE BOOK RECORDS
A. Codes Adopted by Reference
Includes model traffic code, uniform and international building and construction codes, fire
codes and supplements to such codes, and other similar codes adopted by ordinance.
Retention: Permanent
B. Codifications/Supplements
All compilations of ordinances codified into a Municipal Code book and all supplements
containing amendments to the initially adopted Code.
Retention: Permanent
40.80 COMMITTEES - INTERNAL
Records of committees, task forces or similar groups composed of members of the staff that meet
on an ongoing basis or that are set up for specific purposes. Examples include management
teams, technology teams, policy teams, employee safety committees, budget strategy teams, etc.
A. Ongoing Committees
Retention: 3 years, provided that records have no enduring value
B. Special Committees
Retention: Until work of committee concludes, provided that records have no enduring value
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Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.090
40.090 COMPLAINTS, ROUTINE SERVICE REQUESTS AND NONBINDING PETITIONS
Communications that convey objections, dissatisfaction or disagreement with actions or positions
taken or not taken; routine requests for service or information; and petitions with no legal effect that
are submitted to express the opinions of the signers.
Retention: 2 years after response or action or 2 years if no response or action is required
40.100 CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL DOCUMENTATION
Correspondence is a written communication that is sent or received via the U.S. mail, private
courier, facsimile transmission or electronic mail, including letters, postcards, memoranda, notes,
telecommunications and any other form of written communications. The term general documen-
tation is intended to cover a wide variety of records created in the normal course of business.
A. Enduring Long-Term Value
Documentation or correspondence, including e-mail messages, with lasting long-term admin-
istrative, policy, legal, fiscal, historical or research value; records that relate to policy issues and
actions or activities in which an important precedent is set; records of historic events; and other
similar records and documentation.
Retention: Permanent
B. Routine Value
Routing operating documentation or correspondence with limited administrative, legal, fiscal,
historical, informational or statistical value. Includes routine e-mail messages, letters or
memoranda, reading or chronological files that contain duplicates of memos or letters also filed
elsewhere, routine requests for information, transmittal documents, etc.
Retention: 2 years
C. Transitory Value
General documentation or correspondence of extremely short-term value, including advertise-
ments, drafts and worksheets, desk notes, copies of materials circulated for informational
"read only" purposes, other records, including e-mail messages, with preliminary or short-term
informational value.
Retention: Until material has been read
40.105 DONOR RECORDS
Records relating to cash and material donations for municipal use. Note: Donations of materials or
records to museums, local history collections, or similar repositories are covered in 70.020
Museum and Other Repository Records. Records relating to donations of vehicles or equipment
are covered in 35.010 Equipment Records in General.
Retention: Until donated item is no longer under municipal control or life of donated item + 1 year
and/or after audit, unless another retention period is specified elsewhere in this retention schedule.
40.110 EVENT RECORDS
Records pertaining to promotion and organization of special and historic community events or
celebrations in which the municipality has a role, such as festivals, fairs, rodeos, 4th of July
celebrations, pioneer days, holiday display lighting, etc.
Retention: 2 years after event concludes
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Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.120
40.120 EXTERNAL GROUPS AND AGENCIES
Records such as meeting agendas and minutes, studies and reports and other material provided
for courtesy or informational purposes from associations, organizations, groups and agencies that
are not part of the municipal organization but which have some form of association or relationship
with the municipality.
Retention: Until no longer needed
40.130 FORMS - BLANK
Blank forms are not considered to be records and should be separated from the records. However,
a master forms file may be maintained to track the evolution of the form and instructions regarding
use of the form.
Retention: Until superseded, except retain 1 copy permanently if master forms file is maintained
40.140 HOUSEKEEPING FILES
Records of a general housekeeping nature that do not relate directly to the primary program
responsibility of the office. Includes records such as charity fund drives, office parties, copies of
custodial service requests, parking space assignments, telephone and fax logs, etc.
Retention: Until no longer needed for reference
40.150 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RECORDS
Records relating to copyrights, trademarks, service marks, seals, logos, taglines and other similar
intellectual property.
Retention: Permanent
40.160 LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY ACTIONS - EXTERNAL
Records such as review copies of proposed or adopted state or federal bills, legislation or
regulations; notices of proposed rulemaking by federal or state agencies, etc.
Retention: Until no longer needed for reference
40.170 MAILING AND DISTRIBUTION RECORDS
A. Envelopes
Envelopes that contained communications.
Retention: Dispose of immediately, unless needed as documentation of mailing and receipt
dates
B. Mailing Record
Documentation of mailing dates, content of mailings, mailing and distribution lists for specific
mailings; certified or registered mail return receipts; etc.
Retention: 2 years
C. Meeting Notification Lists
Listings of persons who, within the previous 2 years, have requested advance notification of all
meetings or meetings with specific content. [CRS 24-6-402(7)]
Retention: Until updated
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Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.170
D. Undeliverable Mailings
Mailings (excluding mailed ballots) returned as undeliverable.
Retention: 1 year after matter referenced in mailing is concluded
40.180 MAPS, DRAWINGS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Final versions of architectural, cartographic or other visual representations, such as maps,
drawings, renderings, charts, photomaps, field survey notes, architectural and engineering draw-
ings; "as built" drawings of facilities; plats and plans; boundary maps, zoning district maps; USGS
topographical maps of the area; other similar documents; and indexes or other finding aids.
Retention: Permanent
40.190 MAPS - INFORMATIONAL
Maps that are acquired from external sources and are used for reference and informational
purposes, such as county maps.
Retention: Until superseded or no longer needed for reference
40.200 OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Formal requests for records submitted in accordance with state law and supporting documentation
relating to the response to or denial of the request. Note: Supporting documentation includes material such as
follow-up correspondence relating to the open records request and does not include the records that are the subject of the
open records request.
Retention: 2 years after request is answered
40.210 ORGANIZATION FILES
Records that document the incorporation of the municipal corporation or statutory or home rule
status and those that contain organization charts, reorganization studies and similar information
about organizational structure or legal status.
Retention: Permanent [Important Note: Incorporation papers are considered to be essential municipal records, and
the State Archives therefore recommends that the "record" copy be retained in paper format.]
40.215 PASSPORT RECORDS
Retention: 2 years from date of processing<Added 8/24>
40.220 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES DOCUMENTATION
Written directives, instructions, rules and guidelines documenting policies and procedures, includ-
ing departmental or organization-wide directives or orders, policy or operations manuals, instruc-
tion manuals, handbooks and memoranda setting out responsibilities and guidelines or outlining
policies and procedures.
A. Clerical or Other Routine Manuals
Retention: 2 years after superseded or obsolete
B. Policies and Procedures and Supporting Documentation
Documentation, including written materials such as personnel policy manuals and standard
operating procedures, that have long-term value in determining current and past policies or
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Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.220
procedures in liability cases, personnel disputes and other circumstances; includes supporting
documentation relating to the development, formulation, establishment, rationale, approval
and implementation of such policies and procedures.
Retention: Permanent
40.230 PROGRAM RECORDS
Records pertaining to program development and ongoing or special events or activities held at
facilities.
A. Activities and Events - Short-Term Agreements, Contracts and Supporting Documen-
tation
Contracts, agreements and supporting documentation relating to entertainment, sporting
events, performances, shows, displays of artwork, vendors and concessions, facility or park
usage, room rentals, equipment rentals and similar activities and events that have a duration
of less than one (1) year.
Retention: 2 years after activity or event, provided that audit has been completed
B. Facility and Program Use Records
Records relating to registration and admission to programs, annual or seasonal passes for
recreational programs, program and event descriptions, etc.
Retention: 2 years after use, provided that audit has been completed
C. Liability Waivers
Forms signed by program participants to release the municipality from any liability related to
various activities.
Retention: 3 years
D. Incident Reports
Reports of incidents that may happen during the course of programs, events, activities, etc.,
that are exceptions to the normal course of business, such as rescue, accident or injury
incident reports.
Retention: 3 years
E. Program Development Records
Records with long-term value documenting the establishment, evolution and rationale for
programs. Examples of "programs" include transmission line undergrounding program, neigh-
borhood watch program, energy efficiency program, graffiti removal program, spring clean-up
program, pothole patrol program, sister city program and similar coordinated activities.
Retention: Permanent
40.240 PROJECT FILES
A. Capital Project Files
Records of capital projects, professional services relating to capital improvements and projects
relating to the design, engineering, construction, major repair, renovation or demolition of
structures, buildings, facilities, bridges, streets and roadways, utility system features, public
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Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.240
works, parks, stormwater and storm drainage facilities, dams and reservoirs, other water
projects, fiber optics and communication structures and other infrastructure. Project files may
include documentation such as final project reports, specifications and contract documents,
certificates of insurance, project-related permits and licenses issued by other entities, notices
to proceed and of final settlement, project pay estimates, change orders and correspondence
and general documentation. [General Reference: CRS 24-16-105; project cost records are to be retained for 6
years after project completion.]
Retention: 6 years after replacement, demolition or transfer of the improvement to another
entity, except that routine material may be purged when eligible for destruction under this
Retention Schedule and except that, prior to destruction, records must be evaluated for
continuing legal, administrative or historical value
B. Project Bonds
1. Labor and Materials Bonds
Surety or other types of bonds received from contractors to guarantee payment by the
contractor to workers, subcontractors and suppliers.
Retention: 6 years after expiration or project completion, whichever is later
2. Performance and Payment Bonds
Surety or other types of bonds received from contractors to guarantee performance and
payments for projects.
Retention: 2 years after expiration of warranty period or project completion, whichever is
later
C. Project Control Files
Contain routine memoranda, preliminary reports and other general documentation and re-
cords documenting assignments and the progress of projects. Note: Does not include final reports,
which are to be retained as part of the project file (see 40.240.A, Activities and Events - Short-Term Agreements,
Contracts and Supporting Documentation).
Retention: 1 year after project is closed
40.250 PUBLIC RELATIONS RECORDS
A. Lobbying Records
Records of official positions and lobbying efforts with regard to state or federal legislation or
ballot measures, lobbyist registrations, municipality's written reviews, analyses or positions
regarding legislation or regulations, etc.
Retention: 4 years, except that resolutions adopting legislative positions are permanent
B. News Releases
1. Releases - Policy or Historical Value
Prepared statements or announcements issued to the news media announcing events,
new programs, program changes or termination, major shifts in policy and changes in
officials or senior administrative personnel.
Retention: Permanent
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Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.250
2. Releases - Routine
Prepared statements or announcements of routine events, activities, etc.
Retention: 3 years
C. Speeches and Public Comments
Recorded speeches, addresses, and comments of public officials representing the municipal-
ity at public venues, such as state of the city addresses. Includes only those with significant
historical value, in any format, including paper, videotape, motion picture or tape recordings.
Retention: Permanent
40.260 PUBLICATIONS
Material that has long-term historical or research value produced for wide internal or external
distribution, including annual reports, brochures, pamphlets, leaflets, newsletters, instructional
materials and similar materials.
Retention: Permanent
40.270 RECORDS FINDING AIDS
Manual or automated indexes, lists, registers and other finding aids designed to make it easier to
locate pertinent files or information.
Retention: Life of the record for which the finding aid is designed to facilitate use and retrieval
40.280 REFERENCE FILES
Non-record copies of articles, periodicals, reports, studies, vendor catalogs and similar materials
that are needed for reference and information but are not considered part of the office's records.
Retention: Until no longer needed for reference
40.290 REPORTS
Written reports regarding operations or activities.
A. Annual Reports
Summary annual reports on primary activities and accomplishments for the previous year; may
include statistics, narrative reports, graphs and diagrams.
Retention: Permanent
B. Daily Reports
Reports documenting daily activities.
Retention: 2 years
C. Monthly Reports
Reports on activities and accomplishments for the previous month.
Retention: 2 years
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Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.290
D. Quarterly Reports
Reports on activities and accomplishments for the previous three months.
Retention: 3 years
E. Weekly Reports
Reports on activities and accomplishments for the previous week.
Retention: 2 years
40.300 RETENTION SCHEDULES AND COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES
Authorizations for the retention or disposition of records issued by the Colorado State Archives and
certificates or other records of authorized destruction of records.
Retention: Permanent
40.310 RULES, REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Documentation of rules, regulations, standards and similar guidelines and requirements. Exam -
ples include building regulations and standards, subdivision and zoning regulations, cemetery
rules and regulations, streetscape standards, street and sidewalk construction standards, water
and sewer line installation standards, mobile home standards, etc.
Retention: Permanent
40.320 SPECIAL DISTRICT RECORDS
Records pertaining to water, sanitation, flood control, urban drainage, metropolitan, airport, library,
museum, fire, ambulance and other special districts that provide services, including service area
plans, boundary maps, service agreements, intergovernmental agreements, memoranda of un-
derstanding, other agreements and contracts, and supporting documentation.
Retention: 6 years after agreement no longer has any binding effect, then evaluate for continuing
value prior to destruction
40.330 STUDIES, PLANS AND REPORTS
Documents providing detailed examinations of specific topics of interest to the municipality.
Examples include feasibility studies, planning and land use studies, basin plans, capital projects
reports, transportation system plans, master street plans and similar documents that have
long-term reference or historical value. Studies, plans and reports prepared by or on behalf of other
entities, and which include information of interest to the municipality, should be evaluated for
long-term reference or historical value.
Retention: Permanent
40.340 SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY MUNICIPALITIES
Broad surveys, conducted by the municipality or a contractor on behalf of the municipality, that
have enduring value and community-wide scope and significance, such as (but not limited to)
community opinion surveys regarding municipal services or long-range planning initiatives.
A. Compilations
Retention: Permanent
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Schedule 40 — General Administrative Records Supp. 14
COLORADO MUNICIPAL RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE §40.340
B. Survey Responses
Retention: 2 years after compilation is complete
C. Routine
Retention: Until no longer needed.
40.350 WORKSHEETS, DRAFTS AND OTHER PRELIMINARY WORKING MATERIAL
Documents such as rough notes, calculations or drafts assembled or created and used to prepare
or analyze other documents; records of a preliminary or working nature which do not represent
significant steps in the preparation of the final version of documents; draft or working material
relating to a matter that is never completed; includes informal notes, preliminary drafts of letters,
memoranda, reports, computer or printer output used to verify information entered into a computer
and not considered to be a final copy, etc.
Retention: Until no longer needed
Cross references
Electronic records - 55.040, Electronic Records in General
Information technology projects - 55.060, Project Records - Information Technology and Communication Systems
Licenses and permits - Schedule 75, Licenses and Permits
Minutes - 20.060, Minutes and Supporting Documentation; 45.090, Minutes and Supporting Documentation
News clippings - 50.050, Newspapers and News Clippings - Local; 50.080, Scrapbooks