09/22/2008 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 APPROVED 90 A special edition of the city newsletter was discussed. Mr. Deets recommends that if a 91 newsletter is done it shouldn't be a passive effort - it is very important to make sure that a 92 newsletter gets to every home in enough time. Utilizing a cheaper mailing option such as 93 bulk rate may not be an option. 94 95 The council discussed the cost of mailing a newsletter. Deb Barnes, Editor of The Citizen 96 added that the paper has approached both the city (through Administrator Heitke) and the 97 Charter Commission offering to run side by side pieces on the charter amendment issue. 98 That would be a lower cost method of getting information into homes, although that 99 newspaper doesn't serve the entire city. 100 101 The council directed Mr. Deets to formulate a communication plan proposal that consists 102 of a moderate to reasonable up front information campaign combined with the exit poll in 103 case it doesn't pass. The up front campaign should include a special edition of the city 104 newsletter. 105 106 The council recessed at 6:30 p.m. to the regular council meeting. 107 108 The work session was reconvened at 7:15 p.m. 109 110 Mr. Deets and reviewed his recommendations for a communication plan based on the 111 council's direction. With the goal of educating and actively engaging people in the issue, 112 he recommends the following: 113 a) a special edition eight -page newsletter (mailing on the 16th of October); the 114 council can review the content (including balance) of the newsletter at the work session 115 on October 6; 116 b) newsletter content goes to the city Website; 117 c) key content from the newsletter will be run in an ad in the community papers; 118 d) an opinion piece that comes from the community; 119 e) an exit poll done quickly after the election by the Springsted Center for Public 120 Research, normally accomplished by phone utilizing a voter data base from either this 121 year's election or a previous election depending on what is available quickly. The exit 122 poll won't be done if the amendment passes. 123 124 Economic Development Coordinator Divine was identified as the city contact person for 125 the communication effort. 126 127 The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. 128 129 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on 130 October 13, 2008. 131 132 133 Julianne rtell, City C -rk 134 3