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<br /> <br /> STAFF REPORT <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: Mayor Keis and Members of City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Heidi Heller, City Clerk <br /> <br />DATE: January 5, 2018 <br /> <br />RE: 2018 Legal Newspaper Designation <br /> <br />The City has received a quote from Lillie Suburban Newspapers and the Pioneer Press for 2018 Legal <br />Newspaper designation. Below is a comparison of this quote with last year’s rates: <br /> <br /> 2017 2018 2018 <br /> Lillie Suburban Lillie Suburban Pioneer Press <br /> <br /> Legal Rate $10.50/Col. Inch $5.75/Col. Inch $6.00/Col. Inch <br /> <br />In 2000, the City began mailing Council meeting minutes to property owners who requested this <br />service in lieu of publishing the minutes. Currently, there are 2 property owners on the mailing list, <br />which means the cost for mailing minutes to a few property owners is substantially less than <br />publication costs. Given the limited number of requests for mailed minutes, as well as their <br />availability on the City’s website, staff recommends that the City continue the practice of mailing <br />minutes upon request rather than publishing them. <br /> <br />This year the Pioneer Press has submitted a very competitive price for publishing public notices. The <br />Lillie Suburban (Roseville/Little Canada Review) also submitted a quote and has reduced their rates <br />considerably from previous years, assumingly to beat the Pioneer Press quote. There has consistently <br />been a concern from Staff and the Council about the delivery of the Lillie Suburban newspapers to <br />the residents. Staff reached out to the Lillie Suburban staff with these concerns, and only heard that <br />many of their drivers quit in the winter, and that my concern was forwarded to the heads of the paper. <br />Staff has not received any further response. <br /> <br />Over the last three years, the City has spent $3,200-$5,700 annually for publication costs. Due to the <br />43-45% reduction in rates, the City will save approximately $1,850-3,300 a year. Both newspapers <br />have agreed to a 3-year rate lock. <br /> <br />Pioneer Press Pros: <br />- Quick turnaround for publishing notices (usually next day, or 3 days at most) <br />- 7 day a week availability for publishing notices <br />- Public notices are available for anyone to view online for free <br /> <br />Pioneer Press Cons: <br />- The paper is not delivered to/subscribed by every resident in Little Canada <br />- Concern that if too much public notice revenue is lost by the local papers, they will not be <br />able to stay in business <br />