El Paso city councilors filed a lawsuit asking a judge to block their work emails and notes from being made public, said public information officer Juli Lozano.

A press release from the city indicates the petition was filed by the city attorney, after expressing concern about a recent public information request.

"There is no reason not to," said west El Pasoan Ashley Carey. "It's like a personal email, Why would you have it private if you don't want people to know what's going on?"

This request comes just one day after City Manager Joyce Wilson received a performance evaluation.
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As KFOX reported, that evaluation was moved up by Mayor John Cook after Wilson's work emails criticized other city representatives were leaked to the public. However, the city says the petition has nothing to do with Wilson.

"Keeping things a secret is not what's going to help our city," said Carey "How are we supposed to know what they're doing behind our backs?"

Other residents KFOX14 interviewed agreed with Carey.

"Our bosses can get into them, and see what it is that we are writing, and see that it should be the same for any city official," said El Paso resident Crystal Resto. "Where is the transparency if you are hiding something, what are you trying to hide?"

"They are city officials they're here to serve us, anything that they're talking about on city computers, taxpayer money should be public," said Resto.

The city also says it doesn't collect personal records from city staff or elected officials.

City representatives have yet to respond to our calls.