Port fined $159K for Public Records Act violation

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma was fined $159,000 for being negligent in withholding public information and violating the Public Records Act.

A Tacoma citizens group, Save Tacoma Water, tried to get an initiative on the ballot that would stop a proposed Methanol Plant and LNG Plant.

The initiative didn’t get on the ballot after the port and other groups challenged it in court.

Self-proclaimed “open government activist” Arthur West filed a Public Record Request to get emails between the port and other agencies.

A judge ruled the port didn’t hand over all of the documents it should have at the time.

A Port of Tacoma spokesman says port officials are disappointed in the ruling and believe it is inconsistent with similar case law.