Advanced Search Help

Advanced search provides a great number of ways to more accurately find desired results. All fields work in conjunction with each other. In other words, all search results will need to match all criteria, not just one or two of them.

Example: Type = Ordinance; Sponsor = Joe Frazier
Returns: ordinances sponsored by Joe Frazier

Number of results - limits the number of records returned.

Date - limits the year(s) to be searched.

Legislative text - searches the text entered into Legistar for keywords. This will not search attachments.

Title - searches for keywords specifically in the title.

File/enactment # - searches the designated file numbers or enactment numbers of legislation.

Type - limits search results to a specific file type.

Status - limits search results to a specific file status.

File created (with operators) - uses the File created date fields and operators to search for legislation created in the system between two dates or before or after a specific date.

In control - limits search results to files that are currently controlled by the specified body.

On agenda (with operators) - uses the On agenda date fields and operators to search for legislation on an agenda between two dates or before or after a specific date.

Final action (with operators) - uses the Final action date fields and operators to search for legislation that had a final action taken between two dates or before or after a specific date.

Sponsor - limits search results to files sponsored by the selected sponsor.

Index - limits search results to files using the selected index.

Code section - limits search results to files affecting the selected code section.

Attachment - searches for keywords in the names and content of attachments of legislative files.

Logic Control Words

OR - search supports the logical "OR" operator. This will search for records that contain either one or both of the search terms on either side of the logic control word.
Example: drinking or water
Returns: all records that contain just the word "drinking" or just the word "water" or records that contain both

AND NOT - search supports the logical "AND NOT" operator. This will search for all records that, within each single field, contain the first search term, but excludes any items that contain the second search term.
Example: water and not sewer
Returns: any records that contain the word "water" but do not include the word "sewer", within each single field

Tips & Tricks

Search supports combining wildcards with control words. This works in all textual fields, such as the title, attachment, etc.
Example: water* and not revenue

*Note - special characters (!, #, %, etc.) aren't searchable by text searches.